[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 215 (Friday, November 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59937-59938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29699]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Export Administration


Survey of U.S. Chemical Industry To Assist in Compliance 
Activities Regarding Certain Provisions of the Chemical Weapons 
Convention

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 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 January 5, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental 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 Dawn Battle, Department of Commerce, 14th & 
Constitution Ave., NW, room 6877, Washington, DC, 20230 (telephone 
number (202) 482-0637).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is a multilateral arms 
control treaty that seeks to achieve an international ban on chemical 
weapons (CW). The CWC was signed by the United States in Paris on 
January 13, 1993, and was submitted by President Clinton to the United 
States Senate on November 23, 1993, for its advice and consent to 
ratification. The CWC prohibits, inter alia, the use, development, 
production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, and direct or indirect 
transfer of chemical weapons.
    The information that will be collected by this survey is necessary 
in order to assist efforts by U.S. government officials to ensure that 
the U.S. is and will be in compliance with certain provisions of the 
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Treaty.
    The CWC, after enactment of U.S. implementing legislation and 
promulgation of appropriate agency regulations, prohibits all 
individuals and legal entities (e.g. corporations) within the U.S., as 
well as all individuals outside the U.S. possessing U.S. citizenship, 
from engaging in activities prohibited under the Convention.
    The proposed new information collection by BXA will attempt to 
survey, by telephone, private companies either known or suspected to 
have activities involving Schedule 1 chemicals. The additional data 
obtained from the proposed survey will enable BXA to determine whether 
the information collection activities already approved by OMB are all 
that are needed, for the time being, to monitor U.S. compliance with 
the 1 metric ton limit.
    BXA intends to use the CWC Schedule 1 chemical survey to obtain 
data from those U.S. facilities that are believed to be engaged in the 
production, acquisition, stockpiling, transfer, or use of chemicals 
listed in Schedule 1 of the CWC. The facilities that are asked to 
participate in the survey will be requested to respond, regardless of 
the amount of Schedule 1 chemicals that they produce, acquire, 
stockpile, transfer, or use.
    BXA will use the data obtained from the survey, as well as data 
obtained from other sources, in order to determine whether or not it 
needs to impose additional information collection burdens on the U.S. 
chemical industry in order to accurately determine U.S. compliance with 
Part VI.A.2 of the Annex on Implementation and Verification of the CWC, 
which limits the aggregate amount of Schedule

[[Page 59938]]

1 chemicals that may be produced, acquired, retained, transferred, or 
used by any state party in a single calendar year to 1 metric ton (i.e. 
1 million grams).

II. Method of Collection

    Telephone survey.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Submission for new collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals, businesses or other for-profit and 
not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes per response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 50.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $1,800 for respondents time (no 
capital expenditures required).

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 will also become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: October 30, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc.98-29699 Filed 11-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P