Sec. 9 of the Shipping Act of 1984 requires that the FMC monitor the practices of controlled carriers to ensure that they do not maintain rates or charges in their tariffs and service contracts that are below a level that is just and reasonable; nor establish, maintain or enforce unjust or unreasonable classifications, rules or regulations in those tariffs or service contracts which result or are likely to result in the carriage or handling of cargo at rates or charges that are below a just and reasonable level. 46 CFR Part 565 establishes the method by which the FMC determines whether a particular ocean common carrier is a controlled carrier subject to sec. 9 of the Shipping Act. When a government acquires a controlling interest in an ocean common carrier, or when a controlled carrier newly enters a US trade, the FMC's rules require that such a carrier notify the FMC of these events. The respondents to this information collection are ocean common carriers.
The Commission previously included in this collection information submitted by carriers under other sections of Part 565, including rebuttals to Commission designation of a carrier as a controlled carrier (§ 565.3), statements of justification submitted in response to Commission requests for information on specific rates, charges, classifications, rules, or regulations (§ 565.9), and supporting letters submitted to the Commission in conjunction with replacement rates, charges, classifications, rules or regulations published in response to Commission suspension of a carrierâs rates, charges, classifications, rules or regulations (§ 565.10). As part of our review of this collection, we have determined that these information submissions are collected during the conduct of administrative actions and investigations by the Commission directed against specific carriers and are therefore exempt from the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act. See 44 U.S.C. 3518(c)(1)(B)(ii); 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2). These submissions have therefore been removed from this collection of information. The burden hour estimates and total estimated cost have likewise been limited to the notifications required by 46 CFR 565.4.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.