[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 167 (Monday, August 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 52063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21891]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request.

    DOC has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance the following proposal for collection of information under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35).
    Bureau: International Trade Administration (ITA).
    Title: Information for Certification Under FAQ 6 of the Safe Harbor 
Privacy Principles.
    Agency Form Number: None.
    OMB Number: None.
    Type of Request: Emergency submission.
    Burden Hours: 550.
    Number of Respondents: 1,500.
    Average Hours Per Response: 20-40 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: In response to the European Commission Directive on 
Data Protection that restricts transfers of personal information from 
Europe to countries whose privacy practices are not deemed 
``adequate,'' the U.S. Department of Commerce has developed a ``safe 
harbor'' framework that will allow U.S. organizations to satisfy the 
European Directive's requirements and ensure that personal data flows 
to the United States are not interrupted. In this process, the 
Department of Commerce repeatedly consulted with U.S. organizations 
affected by the European directive and interested non-government 
organizations. On July 27, 2000, the European Commission issued its 
decision in accordance with Article 25.6 of the Directive that the Safe 
Harbor Privacy Principles provide adequate privacy protection. The safe 
harbor framework bridges the differences between the European Union 
(EU) and U.S. approaches to privacy protection. Once the safe harbor 
was deemed ``adequate'' by the European Commission on July 27, 2000, 
the Department of Commerce began working on the requirements that are 
necessary to put this accord into effect. The European Member States 
have 90 days to implement any decision made by the Commission. 
Therefore the safe harbor will become operational at the end of 
October, and the U.S. Government needs to be prepared. There are two 
sets of requirements that must be completed before the 90 days have 
passed: creation of a list for U.S. organizations to sign up to the 
safe harbor and guidance on the mechanics of signing up to this list. 
If the safe harbor is to be operational by the start date (end of 
October) companies must be able to sign up before then. This list will 
be used by EU organizations to determine whether further information 
and contracts will be needed for a U.S. organization to receive 
personally identifiable information. This list is necessary to make the 
safe harbor accord operational, and was a key demand of the Europeans 
in agreeing that the Principles were providing ``adequate'' privacy 
protection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondent?s Obligation: Voluntary.
    OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, (202) 395-3897.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Madeleine Clayton, Departmental Forms Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-3129, Department of Commerce, Room 6086, 14th and 
Constitution, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent to David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, Room 
10202, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: August 23, 2000.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-21891 Filed 8-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P