Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 2 / Tuesday, January 5, 2021 / Notices 355 Commission estimates that the annual DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION active, commercially-viable cable cost burden is approximately $18,105 vessels to meet national security per fund, for a total annual cost burden Maritime Administration requirements. The Cable Security Fleet, of approximately $190,754,280.3 [Docket Number MARAD–2020–0175] which will be known as the CSF, will Estimates of average burden hours are consist of privately owned, United States-documented cable vessels, whose made solely for the purposes of the Request for Applications To Be owners or operators will enter into Paperwork Reduction Act and are not Considered for Enrollment in the Cable Security Fleet Operating Agreements with MARAD to derived from a comprehensive or even set forth operating qualifications and a representative survey or study of the AGENCY: Maritime Administration, criteria in exchange for payments. costs of Commission rules and forms. Department of Transportation. Program participants will enter into Under rule 498, use of the Summary ACTION: Notice of application period for Operating Agreements that will require Prospectus is voluntary, but the rule’s the cable security fleet program. participants to: Continuously and requirements regarding provision of the actively operate the subject vessels in SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration statutory prospectus upon investor the commercial submarine cable (MARAD) requests applications from request are mandatory for funds that services market (including the laying, owners and/or operators of eligible elect to send or give a Summary maintenance, and repair of submarine vessels to enroll such vessels in the Prospectus in reliance upon rule 498. cables) and provide the United States Cable Security Fleet (CSF). The CSF The information provided under rule Government access to participating Program is a newly-authorized program 498 will not be kept confidential. An vessels in times of national emergency. intended to maintain a fleet of active, agency may not conduct or sponsor, and In administering the CSF Program, commercially viable, privately owned MARAD will work with a designated a person is not required to respond to, United States-flag cable vessels to meet agency of the Department of Defense a collection of information unless it national security requirements and to (DoD) to evaluate vessels and operators displays a currently valid OMB control maintain a United States presence in the and to confirm that operating number. international submarine cable services agreements meet the objectives of Written comments are invited on: (a) market. The CSF will consist of two supporting economic activity and vessels. This Notice describes, among Whether the collections of information national security. Establishment of the other things, statutory requirements to are necessary for the proper CSF is set forth in the United States apply and to participate in the CSF, performance of the functions of the Code, Title 46, Chapter 532, referred to recommendations as to the form and Commission, including whether the as ‘‘the statute’’ below. information has practical utility; (b) the substance of applications, and a accuracy of the Commission’s estimate deadline for submitting applications for A. Citizenship Requirements for Owners of the burdens of the collections of vessel enrollment in the CSF program. and Operators information; (c) ways to enhance the The Maritime Administration will An applicant seeking to enroll its quality, utility, and clarity of the negotiate agreements ready for vessels in CSF must meet certain information collected; and (d) ways to execution with the successful qualifications for vessel control and minimize the burdens of the collections applicants. citizenship. First, an applicant must be of information on respondents, DATES: Applications to enroll vessels a vessel’s registered owner or operate including through the use of automated into the CSF should be made by the vessel as its principal demise collection techniques or other forms of February 4, 2021. Applications should charterer, such that it operates the information technology. Consideration be submitted to the address listed in the vessel at its own risk and expense. will be given to comments and ADDRESSES section below. MARAD will not consider applications suggestions submitted in writing within ADDRESSES: Applications should be from sub-demise charterers, time 60 days of this publication. addressed to the Director, Office of charterers, vessel managers, or other Sealift Support, Maritime vessel stakeholders. Additionally, Please direct your written comments Administration, U.S. Department of candidate vessel ownership or operation to David Bottom, Director/Chief Transportation, 1200 New Jersey must meet the requirements of one of Information Officer, Securities and Avenue SE, Room W25–310, four citizenship categories: Exchange Commission, C/O Cynthia Washington, DC 20590. 1. Vessel owned and operated by Roscoe, 100 F Street NE, Washington, United States citizens, known as 50501 _ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DC 20549; or send an email to: PRA Rhonda Davis, Office of Sealift Support, Citizens, within the meaning of Section [email protected]. Maritime Administration, U.S. 50501 of Title 46, United States Code; December 29, 2020. Department of Transportation, 2. Vessel owned by a U.S. citizen, J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Telephone (202) 366–6379, or known as a 50501 Citizen, under 46 U.S.C. 50501 or United States Citizen Assistant Secretary. [email protected]. For legal questions, contact Joseph Click, Trust under 46 U.S.C. 53201(11) and [FR Doc. 2020–29155 Filed 1–4–21; 8:45 am] Attorney Advisor, Maritime chartered to a United States citizen BILLING CODE 8011–01–P Administration, U.S. Department of eligible to document vessels, known as Transportation, Telephone (202) 366– a Documentation Citizen, under Chapter 5882, or [email protected]. 121 of Title 46, United States Code, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: subject to: a. Verifications of the U.S.-citizenship I. Program Overview of the board and principal officers of the 46 U.S.C. 53202(a)(1) directs the charterer; and Secretary of Transportation (Secretary), b. Certifications by the charterer that in consultation with the Secretary of no treaty, statute, or person would 3 $18,105 per fund × 10,536 fund = $190,754,280. Defense (SecDef), to establish a fleet of influence the vessel’s operations in a VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:09 Jan 04, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM 05JAN1 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 356 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 2 / Tuesday, January 5, 2021 / Notices manner contrary to the interests of the as provided by statute and cable test technicians, cable United States; appropriation. transmission technicians, and cable 3. Vessel owned and operated by an engineers), including years of II. Application for Entry Into the Cable entity that contracts with the experience. Ship Fleet Department of Defense to operate 10. Demise or bareboat charter vessels for, or charters vessels to, the A. Application Elements arrangements, if applicable; United States; or 4. Vessel owned by a Documentation Qualified cable vessel owners and/or 11. Applicant’s stated assessment of Citizen and chartered to a 50501 operators seeking to apply for a CSF the vessel’s national security value to Citizen. Operating Agreement may submit DoD with respect to cable services; applications (one (1) original with two 12. Copies of any Special Security B. Vessel Technical Considerations (2) copies) with the following Agreements into which the Applicant information and materials for ease of Vessels proposed for enrollment in has entered with DoD, per 46 U.S.C. review; however, conformity with this the CSF must meet certain minimum 53202(c)(3)(A)(iii). technical and legal requirements as of applicant guidance, except where the time of application. In addition to explicit in the statute, is voluntary only. B. Protection of Confidential the citizenship requirements for each MARAD will review and consider all Commercial or Financial Information vessel’s owner and operator, each vessel applications it receives and may contact If an application includes information must be: applicants for additional information: 1. 40 years of age or less on the date 1. Full name of Applicant and address that the applicant considers to be a trade on which the vessel is enrolled in CSF of principal executive office; secret or confidential commercial or (unless waived by the Secretary under 2. Notarized affidavit of citizenship financial information, the applicant 46 U.S.C. 53202(e)); status, whether as a 50501 Citizen or should do the following: (1) Note on the 2. Found suitable by DoD for cable Documentation Citizen; front cover that the submission servicing work in the interest of national 3. Certificate of incorporation; ‘‘Contains Confidential Commercial or security; 4. Copy of corporate by-laws or other Financial Information (CCFI)’’; (2) mark 3. Found commercially viable by governing instruments; each affected page ‘‘CCFI’’; and (3) MARAD for submarine cable services. 5. Description of domestic and highlight or otherwise denote the CCFI 4. Classed as a cable vessel by the international corporate affiliations; portions. MARAD will protect such American Bureau of Shipping or 6. Financial data; information from disclosure to the another classification society accepted 7. Vessel’s base port where it may be extent allowed under applicable law. In by the United States Coast Guard inspected by MARAD or a designated the event MARAD receives a Freedom of (USCG); and marine surveyor, and a description of Information Act (FOIA) request for the 5. Documented by USCG under the vessel’s regular area of operation; information, procedures described in Chapter 121 of Title 46, United States 8. Locations and descriptions of any the Department’s FOIA regulation at 49 Code, or have its owners demonstrate marine depots worldwide where the CFR 7.29 will be followed. Only their intent to document the vessel vessel has access to servicing, spare information that is ultimately under Chapter 121 of Title 46.