MARAD Seeks Comments on U.S. Citizenship Requirements Collection
Summary
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is seeking public comments on its intention to renew an information collection regarding U.S. Citizenship requirements for program participation. This notice is published in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and seeks OMB approval for the collection, OMB Control Number 2133-0012.
What changed
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has issued a notice seeking public comments on its plan to renew an existing information collection, OMB Control Number 2133-0012, titled "Requirements for Establishing U.S. Citizenship." This collection is used to verify the eligibility of applicants and submitters for MARAD programs, as outlined in 46 CFR parts 355 and 356, and related statutory authorities. The agency is required to publish this notice to solicit feedback from the public and other agencies before seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the extension without change of this collection.
Affected parties, including shipowners, charterers, equity owners, and ship managers, are invited to submit written comments within 30 days of publication to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. The notice specifies that the collection is an extension without change and estimates 550 respondents submitting 550 responses annually, with an estimated 5 hours per response, totaling 2,750 annual burden hours. While this is a notice for comment on an existing collection, compliance with the underlying requirements for establishing U.S. citizenship remains in effect as per MARAD regulations and statutes.
What to do next
- Submit written comments on the information collection renewal within 30 days of publication to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Source document (simplified)
Content
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
MARAD invites public comments on its intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information
collection in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed collection OMB 2133-0012, Requirements for
Establishing U.S. Citizenship is used to determine if applicants and submitters are eligible to participate in the various
programs administered by the agency. MARAD is required to publish this notice in the
Federal Register
to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.
ADDRESSES:
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections should be sent within 30 days of publication
of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by
using the search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Pucci, 202-366-5167, Division of Maritime Programs, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington,
DC 20590, Email: Michael.Pucci@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Requirements for Establishing U.S. Citizenship.
OMB Control Number: 2133-0012.
Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: MARAD regulations at 46 CFR parts 355 and 356 set forth requirements for establishing U.S. citizenship in accordance with
MARAD statutory authority. Those receiving benefits under 46 U.S.C. Chapters 531, 535, and 537 (formerly the Merchant Marine
Act, 1936, as amended), or applicants seeking a fishery endorsement eligibility approval pursuant to the American Fisheries
Act (AFA) must be citizens of the United States within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. 50501, (formerly Section 2 of the Shipping
Act, 1916, as amended). In either case, whether seeking program benefits or fishery endorsement eligibility determinations,
Section 50501 sets forth the statutory requirements for determining whether an applicant, be it a corporation, partnership,
or association is a U.S. citizen. 46 CFR part 356 is distinguished from 46 CFR part 355 in that Part 356 establishes requirements
for U.S. citizenship exclusively in accordance with the AFA, while Part 355 is applied for purposes of establishing citizenship
across multiple MARAD programs arising under other statutory authorities. MARAD requires most program participants to submit
to MARAD on an annual basis the form of affidavit prescribed by Part 355 or Part 356.
Respondents: Shipowners, charterers, equity owners, ship managers, etc.
Affected Public: Businesses or other-for-profit.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 550.
Estimated Number of Responses: 550.
Estimated Hours per Response: 5.
Annual Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,750.
Frequency of Response: Annually.
A 60-day
Federal Register
Notice soliciting comments on this information collection was published on December 16, 2025, 90
Federal Register
58367.
(Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.49.)
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr. Secretary, Maritime Administration. [FR Doc. 2026-03677 Filed 2-23-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-81-P
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