[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17075-17076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4889]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Foreign Ocean 
Carriers' Expenses in the United States

ACTION: Notice.

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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 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 5 p.m. June 5, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diane 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]).

[[Page 17076]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Dozier, Current Account 
Services Branch, Balance of Payments Division, (BE-58), Bureau of 
Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; 
phone: (202) 606-9559; fax: (202) 606-5314; or via the Internet at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is responsible for the 
compilation of the U.S. international transactions accounts (ITA), 
which it publishes quarterly in news releases, on its Web site, and in 
its monthly journal, the Survey of Current Business. These accounts 
provide a statistical summary of all U.S. international transactions 
and, as such, are one of the major statistical products of BEA. They 
are used extensively by both government and private organizations for 
national and international economic policy formulation and for 
analytical purposes. The information collected in this survey is used 
to develop the ``transportation'' portion of the ITA. Without this 
information, an integral component of the ITA would be omitted. No 
other Government agency collects comprehensive annual data on foreign 
ocean carriers' expenses in the United States.
    The survey requests information from U.S. agents of foreign ocean 
carriers operating in the United States. The information is collected 
on an annual basis from U.S. agents who handle 40 or more port calls by 
foreign ocean vessels, and covered expenses for all foreign ocean 
vessels handled by the U.S. agent were $250,000 or more. U.S. agents 
who handle less than 40 port calls or where the total annual covered 
expenses for all foreign ocean vessels handled by the U.S. agent are 
below $250,000 are exempt from reporting. There are no changes proposed 
to the form or instructions.

II. Method of Collection

    Form BE-29 is an annual report that must be filed within 90 days 
after the end of the calendar year. Potential respondents are U.S. 
agents or other persons representing foreign carriers in arranging 
ocean transportation between U.S. and foreign ports and in arranging 
for port services in the United States, and that handle 40 or more port 
calls by foreign vessels and covered expenses for all foreign ocean 
vessels handled by the U.S. agent were $250,000 or more.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0608-0012.
    Form Number: BE-29.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 156 annually.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 4 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 624.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $24,960 (based on an estimated 
reporting burden of 624 hours and an estimated hourly cost of $40).
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

Legal Authority

    The International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act, 22 
U.S.C. 3101-3108, as amended.

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 will 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 also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 30, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-4889 Filed 4-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P