[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17076-17077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4890]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Ocean Freight 
Revenues and Foreign Expenses of United States Carriers--BE-30; U.S. 
Airline Operators' Foreign Revenues and Expenses--BE-37

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]).

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 these surveys 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 quarterly data on U.S. 
ocean carriers' freight revenues and foreign expenses or U.S. airline 
operators' foreign revenues and expenses.
    These surveys request information from U.S. ocean and air carriers 
engaged in international transportation of goods and/or passengers. The 
information is collected on a quarterly basis from U.S. ocean and air 
carriers whose total annual covered revenues or total annual covered 
expenses are, or are expected to be, $500,000 or more. U.S. ocean and 
air carriers whose total annual covered revenues and total annual 
covered expenses are, or are expected to be, each below $500,000 are 
exempt from

[[Page 17077]]

reporting. There are no changes proposed to the form or instructions.

II. Method of Collection

    Forms BE-30 and BE-37 are quarterly reports that must be filed 
within 50 days after the end of each quarter. Potential respondents are 
U.S. ocean and air carriers that transport passengers and/or freight 
and express to or from the United States or between foreign points, and 
that have total annual covered revenues or total annual covered 
expenses of $500,000 or more.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0608-0011.
    Form Number: BE-30 and BE-37.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 39 per quarter; 156 annually (BE-
30); 19 per quarter; 76 annually (BE-37).
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 hours (BE-30); 4 hours (BE-37).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 780 hours (BE-30); 304 hours 
(BE-37).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: For the BE-30, $31,200 (based on an 
estimated reporting burden of 780 hours and an estimated hourly cost of 
$40). For the BE-37, $12,160 (based on an estimated reporting burden of 
304 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. E6-4890 Filed 4-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P