[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 69 (Thursday, April 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17579-17580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9176]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
Shipper's Export Declaration Program
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 9, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Jerome M. Greenwell, U.S. Bureau of the Census,
Room 2176, Federal Office Building #3, Washington, DC 20233-0001, (301)
457-2238.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Shipper's Export Declaration (SEDs), Forms 7525-V, 7525-V
Alternate (Intermodal), and their electronic equivalents are the basis
for the official U.S. export statistics compiled by the Bureau of the
Census (Census). The SED for In-transit Goods and Form 7513 serves as
the source document from which Census collects and compiles the
official U.S. statistics on outbound in-transit shipments. Title 13,
United States Code, Chapter 9, Sections 301-307 authorizes the
collection of all these data. The official export statistics provide a
basic component for the compilation of the U.S. position on merchandise
trade. These data is an essential component of the monthly totals on
U.S. overall trade in goods and services, a leading economic indicator.
The statistical information on the SED shows what is being exported
(description and commodity classification number), how much (quantity,
gross weight and value), how it is being exported (mode of
transportation, exporting carrier and whether containerized), from
where (state of origin and port of export), to where (port of unlading
and country of ultimate destination), and when (date of exportation).
The identification of the exporter, forwarding agent, and consignee
provide contacts for verification of the statistical information. The
Government uses every data element on the SED for (1) statistical
purposes, (2) export control, and/or (3) to obtain information to avoid
additional surveys.
The SEDs also are export control documents under Title 50, United
States Code and are used to detect and prevent the export of certain
commodities (for example, high technology or military goods) to
unauthorized destinations or end users. The SEDs as official documents
of export transactions, enable the U.S. Customs Service (Customs) and
the Bureau of Export Administration to enforce the Export
Administration Regulations and thereby detect and prevent the export of
high technology commodities to unauthorized destinations. The
Department of State uses the SED to enforce the International Traffic
in Arms Regulations to detect and prevent the export of arms and
ammunition to unauthorized destinations.
In the past, each different type of paper SED form was cleared
separately. In recent years the number of submissions via automated
programs, the Automated Export Reporting Program (AERP) operated by
Census and the new Automated Export System (AES) operated by Customs,
have grown rapidly and must now be considered as part of the SED
submissions. With this submission we will combine the various types of
SEDs, both paper and electronic, under one OMB clearance submission to
better reflect reporting burden and streamline the clearance process.
II. Method of Collection
The SEDs are required for virtually all export shipments valued
over $2500 from the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands. The SED program is unique among Census statistical collections
since it is not sent to respondents soliciting responses as is the case
in surveys. Filing the SED information is mandatory under Title 13,
Chapter 9 of the United States Code and over 5.6 million paper SEDs and
over 53 million automated records were submitted in 1996. Exporters can
purchase the paper SEDs or they may have them privately printed. In
addition, over 300 automated exporters or exporter agents submit data
using prescribed automated formats. For this reason Census attempts to
avoid frequent changes in data content and format. The paper SEDs and
automated formats in their present form have been in continuous use
since 1985 with minor revisions in 1988. Once again for this
submission, there has been no change in these formats.
Exporters or their agents file individual paper SEDs with the
[[Page 17580]]
exporting carriers at the time that each export shipment leaves the
United States. The carriers submit the documents to Customs officials
when the carrier departs the United States and Customs then transmits
the SEDs to Census on a flow basis for statistical processing. For
exports to Canada, the United States is substituting Canadian import
statistics for U.S. exports to Canada in accordance with a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) signed by both the Customs and statistical
agencies in both countries. Similarly, under this MOU, Canada is
substituting U.S. import statistics for Canadian exports to the United
States. These data exchange eliminates the requirement for U.S.
exporters to file any information with the U.S. government. This
results in the elimination of over three million SEDs annually.
The Census also allows monthly reporting of export information
directly to Census via its AERP in lieu of filing individual SEDs for
transactions submitted by automated exporters, freight forwarders, and
exporting carriers. Information for over 5.3 million export
transactions were reported through the AERP program during calendar
year 1996.
In addition, Census is participating with Customs in implementing
and expanding the new AES. The new AES, provides a voluntary automated
alternative to filing the paper SED. As the new AES grows, AERP will be
phased out with planned termination for the AERP program targeted for
1999. The AES is currently available for export transactions shipped by
vessel and is expected to be made available for reporting transactions
shipped via air and overland modes of transport in the near future. The
AES is being developed in accordance with the National Performance
review with the aim of bringing total automation to the export process
by promoting a paperless environment. Currently, Census has extracted
information on approximately 8500 export transactions since the AES
began operation in late 1996.
In summary, information on 60 percent of export transactions are
reported via automated formats and 40 percent of export transactions
continue to be reported via paper SEDs.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0607-0001 (SED forms are currently also cleared under
0607-0018 and 0607-0152. This submission will combine all forms and
eliminate these two other clearances.)
Form Number: 7525V, 7525V Alternate, 7513, AERP and AES
submissions.
Type of Review: Regular Submission.
Affected Public: Exporters, Freight Forwarders, Export Carriers.
Estimated Number of Responses: 11,052,902: 7525V--3,711,470; 7525V
Alt--1,855,735; 7513--144,080; AERP--5,332,717; AES--8,900;
Estimated Time Per Response: 11.166 minutes for 7525V, 7525V Alt
and 7513; 3 minutes for AERP and AES submissions.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,329,951: 7525V--690,705;
7525V Alt--345,352; 7513--26,813; AERP--266,636; AES--445;
Estimated Total Annual Cost: 1,329,951 @ $10/hour=$13,299,510.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Chapter 9, Title 13, United States Code.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: April 4, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-9176 Filed 4-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P