[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10001-10002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5101]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Watch Duty-Exemption Program Forms

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2) (A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 28, 1998.

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. Phone 
number: (202) 482-3272.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to: Faye Robinson, Statutory Import Programs Staff, Room 
4211, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; Phone number: 
(202) 482-3526, and fax number: (202) 482-0949.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Pub. L. 97-446, as amended by Pub. L. 103-465, requires the 
Department of Commerce and the Interior to administer the distribution 
of duty-exemptions and duty-refunds to watch producers in the U.S. 
insular possessions and the Northern Mariana Islands. The primary 
consideration in collecting information is the enforcement of the law 
and the information gathered is limited to that necessary to prevent 
abuse of the program and to permit a fair and equitable distribution of 
its benefits. Form ITA-340P provides the data to assist in verification 
of duty-free shipments and make certain the allocations are not 
exceeded. Forms

[[Page 10002]]

ITA-360P and ITA-361P are necessary to implement the duty-refund 
program.

II. Method of Collection

    The Department of Commerce issues Form ITA-360P to each watch 
producer annually. No information is requested unless the recipient 
wishes to transfer the certificate. Form ITA-361P is obtained from the 
Department of Commerce and must be completed each time a certificate 
holder wishes to obtain a portion, or all, of the duty-refund 
authorized by the certificate. The form is then sent to the Department 
of Commerce for validation and returned to the producer. Form ITA-340P 
may be obtained from the territorial government or may be produced by 
the company in an approved computerized format or any other medium or 
format approved by the Department of Commerce and the Interior. The 
form is completed for each duty-free shipment of watches and watch 
movements into the U.S. and a copy is transmitted to the territorial 
government. Only if entry procedures are not transmitted electronically 
through Customs' automated broker interface, do the regulations require 
a copy of the permit be sent to Customs along with other entry 
paperwork.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0625-0134.
    Form Number: ITA-340P, 360P, 361P.
    Type of Review: Revision-Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 83 hr. 10 min.
    Estimated Total Annual Costs: The estimated annual cost for this 
collection is $10,831.67 ($831.67 for respondents and $10,000 for 
federal government (included are some administration costs of 
program)).

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 costs) 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 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: February 24, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
(FR Doc. 98-5101 Filed 2-26-98; 8:45 am)
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P