Billing Code 3510-12
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Application for Appointment
in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps
The Department of Commerce will submit the following information collection request to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite the
general public and other federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and
minimize the public's reporting burden. Public comments were previously requested via the
Federal Register on May 9, 2024 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an
additional 30 days for public comments.
Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce
Title: Application for Appointment in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps
OMB Control Number: 0648-0047
Form Number(s): NOAA Forms 56-42 & 56-42a and Form 56-80A.
Type of Request: Regular submission [revision and extension of a current information
collection].
Number of Respondents: 300
Average Hours Per Response: 2 hours – Written applications; 5 hours – Interviews; 15
minutes – References; 15 minutes – Aviation Summary
Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,550
Needs and Uses: This is a request for revision and extension of an existing information
collection.

The NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps is the uniformed service of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a bureau of the United States Department of
Commerce. Officers serve under Senate-confirmed appointments and Presidential commissions
(33 U.S.C. chapter 17, subchapter 1, sections 853 and 854). The NOAA Corps provides a cadre
of professionals trained in engineering, earth sciences, oceanography, meteorology, fisheries
science, and other related disciplines who serve their country by supporting NOAA's mission of
surveying the Earth's oceans, coasts, and atmosphere to ensure the economic and physical wellbeing of the Nation.
NOAA Corps officers operate vessels and aircraft engaged in scientific missions and
serve in leadership positions throughout NOAA. Individuals wishing to apply for an appointment
in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps must complete an application package, including
NOAA Form 56-42, at least three letters of recommendation, and official transcripts. A personal
interview must also be conducted. Eligibility requirements include a bachelor’s degree with at
least 48 credit hours of science, engineering, or other disciplines related to NOAA’s mission,
excellent health, and normal color vision with uncorrected visual acuity no worse than 20/400 in
each eye (correctable to 20/20).
This request is to add a new form to the collection in order to collect information about
an applicant’s aviation experience. Form 56-80A is included as part of the NOAA Corps Directto-Aviation application process. Form 56-80A is specific to those public applicants who wish to
follow the Direct-to-Aviation career path.
Affected Public: Individuals
Frequency: On occasion.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
Legal Authority: 33 U.S.C. chapter 17, subchapter 1, sections 853 and 854
This information collection request may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. Follow the
instructions to view the Department of Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should
be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website
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
and entering either the title of the collection or the OMB Control Number 0648-0047.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer,
Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs,
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-15625 Filed: 7/15/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 7/16/2024]