[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 1280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-276]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4950]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: DS-1504, 
Request for Customs Clearance of Merchandise, OMB Control Number 1405-
0104

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments and submission to OMB of 
proposed collection information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State has submitted the following 
information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.
     Title of Information Collection: Request for Customs 
Clearance of Merchandise.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0104.
     Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved 
collection.
     Originating Office: Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Office 
of Foreign Missions, Diplomatic Tax and Customs Program, DS/OFM/VTC/TC.
     Form Number: DS-1504.
     Respondents: Eligible foreign diplomatic or consular 
missions, certain foreign government organizations, and designated 
international organizations.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 350.
     Estimated Number of Responses: Approximately 13,700.
     Average Hours per Response: Fifteen minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden: 3,425 hours.
     Frequency: On occasion.
     Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain a 
benefit.

DATE(S): Submit comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for up to 30 days from February 7, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Direct Comments and questions to Alex Hunt, the State 
Department Desk Officer in Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs 
at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), who may be reached at 
(202) 395-7860. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. You must include the DS form 
number (if applicable), information collection title, and OMB control 
number in the subject line of your message.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: OIRA State Department Desk 
Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503.
     Fax: (202) 395-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection and 
supporting documents, to Ms. Irina Kaufman, DS/OFM/VTC, 3507 
International Place, NW., U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, 
20008, who may be reached on (202) 895-3683, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are soliciting public comments to permit 
the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper performance of our functions.
     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
technology.
    Abstract of proposed collection: Exemption from customs duties is a 
privilege enjoyed by foreign diplomatic and consular personnel on 
assignment in the United States under the provisions of the Vienna 
Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations and the terms of 
various bilateral agreements. Under the Foreign Missions Act of 1982 
(as amended), 22 U.S.C. 4301 et seq., the Department of State's Office 
of Foreign Missions (OFM) is given the authority to grant privileges 
and benefits, based on reciprocity. The application form DS-1504, 
``Request for Customs Clearance of Merchandise'' provides OFM with the 
necessary information to provide and administer the benefit effectively 
and efficiently.
    Methodology: The collected information is used by the Office of 
Foreign Missions (OFM) in determining the eligibility of foreign 
diplomatic and consular missions and personnel for exemption from 
duties otherwise imposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on 
imported goods. In some cases, the reciprocal relationship between the 
United States and other nations requires that some type of duty or 
restriction on importation be imposed. The information on this form 
provides the basis upon which to determine, in cooperation with CBP, 
the proper handling of diplomatic shipments.

    Dated: December 2, 2004.
Lynwood M. Dent, Jr.,
Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy Director, Office of Foreign 
Missions, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 05-276 Filed 1-5-05; 8:45 am]
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