[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70628-70629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26780]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Shipper's Export Declaration (SED)/Automated Export System (AES) 
Program

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce a 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 February 7, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Jerome Greenwell, Chief, Regulations, Outreach 
and Education Branch, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 3125, Federal Building 
3, Washington, DC 20233-6700, (301) 763-2255, by fax (301) 457-2645.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Shipper's Export Declaration (SED), Commerce Form 7525-V, and 
the electronic equivalent, the Automated Export System (AES), are 
instruments used for collecting export trade information. The data 
collected from these sources are compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau 
(Census Bureau) and functions as the basis for the official U.S. export 
trade statistics. These statistics are used to determine the balance of 
international trade, and are also designated for use as a principal 
economic indicator. Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), chapter 9, 
section 301 authorizes the Census Bureau to collect, compile and 
publish export trade data. Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, part 
30 contains the regulatory provisions for preparing and filing the SED 
or the AES record. These data are used in the development of U.S. 
Government policies that affect the economy. These data also enable 
U.S. businesses to develop practical export marketing strategies as 
well as provide a means for the assessment of the impact of exports on 
the domestic economy. The data collected from the SED and the AES 
record are also used for export control purposes under Title 50, 
U.S.C., Export Administration Act, to detect and prevent the export of 
certain items by unauthorized parties or to unauthorized destinations 
or end users.
    On November 29, 1999, the President signed into law the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1999, which authorized the Secretary 
of Commerce to require mandatory electronic filing of items on the 
Commerce Control List

[[Page 70629]]

(CCL) and the U.S. Munitions List (USML). The requirement to implement 
this process went into effect October 18, 2003. On July 29, 2003, the 
President signed Executive Order 13312, which executed prohibitions to 
Public Law 108-19, the Clean Diamond Trade Act thereby authorizing the 
mandatory electronic filing of rough diamonds. Implementation for this 
process went into effect October 20, 2003. On September 30, 2002, the 
President signed into law the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, 
Public Law 107-228. This law authorizes the Secretary of Commerce, with 
the concurrence of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, to publish regulations in the Federal Register detailing that 
upon the effective date of these regulations, all persons who are 
required to file export information under Title 13, U.S.C., chapter 9, 
file such information through the AES and there will no longer be 
provisions made for manual filing thereafter. On October 22, 2003, The 
Census Bureau published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 
the Federal Register (68 FR 60301) announcing the Census Bureau's 
intent to propose the rule mandating electronic filing through the AES 
of all information on export shipments that require the filing of a SED 
and allowed the public to comment on this subject.

II. Method of Collection

    A paper SED or electronic AES record is required, with certain 
exceptions, for all export shipments valued more than $2,500 from the 
United States, including Foreign Trade Zones located therein, Puerto 
Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to foreign countries; for exports 
between the United States and Puerto Rico; and for exports to the U.S. 
Virgin Islands from the United States or Puerto Rico. The AES record 
information is also required for the export of rough diamonds and all 
exports requiring a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security, a 
license or license exception from the Department of State, or other 
government agency, regardless of value, unless exempted from the 
requirement for filing AES information by the licensing government 
agency. The SED/AES program is unique among Census Bureau statistical 
collections since it is not sent to respondents to solicit responses as 
is the case with surveys. Filing export information via the SED or AES 
is a mandatory process under Title 13, Chapter 9, U.S.C. The Census 
Bureau has seen a progressive growth in the number of electronic 
filers, with a comparable decrease in the number of the paper SED 
filers. For example, the requirements to file export information 
through the AES for all USML and CCL shipments has resulted in the 
elimination of more than 360,000 paper SEDs annually. Exporters can 
access the AES via the Census Bureau's free Internet-based system, 
AESDirect, or they can integrate the AES into their company's computer 
network and file directly with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
(CBP). Exporters may also download the SED, Commerce Form 7525-V, from 
the Internet and print it on the required ``buff'' colored paper.
    For exports to Canada, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed 
by the CBP and statistical agencies in the United States and Canada 
enables the United States to substitute Canadian import statistics for 
U.S. export statistics. Similarly, in accordance with the MOU, Canada 
substitutes U.S. import statistics for Canadian exports to the United 
States. This exchange of data eliminates the requirement for U.S. 
exporters to file any information with the U.S. Government for exports 
of nonlicensed shipments to Canada, thus resulting in the elimination 
of over eight million paper SEDs annually. Export shipments to Canada 
that require a license must be filed through the AES. Also, export 
shipments from the United States through Canada destined to a country 
other than Canada require a SED or AES record.
    U.S. principal parties in interest (USPPI) or authorized agents 
file individual paper SEDs with exporting carriers at the time export 
shipments leave the United States. For the AES, USPPIs or authorized 
agents file export data electronically with the Census Bureau or the 
CBP. Carriers submit paper SED documents to CBP officials when the 
carrier departs from the United States and the CBP then transmits the 
export information to the Census Bureau for statistical processing.
    The AES enables the Government to significantly improve the 
quality, timeliness, and coverage of export statistics. Since July 
1995, the Census Bureau and the CBP have utilized the AES to improve 
the reporting of export trade information, customer service, compliance 
with and enforcement of export laws, and provide paperless reports of 
export information. The AES also enables the U.S. Government to 
increase its ability to prevent the export of certain items by 
unauthorized parties, to unauthorized destinations and end users 
through electronic filing.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0152.
    Commerce Form Number: 7525-V, Automated Export System (AES) 
submissions.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Exporters, Forwarding agents, Export Carriers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 223,213.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 11.0 minutes for 7525-V, 3.0 minutes 
for AES Submissions.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 814,140 (SEDs 198,000) (AES 
616,140).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $13,156,502.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Chapter 9; Public 
Law 107-228 Foreign Relations Authorization Act.

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 Office of Management and Budget 
approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter 
of public record.

    Dated: December 1, 2004.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-26780 Filed 12-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P