[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 231 (Monday, December 3, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67887-67888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23311]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Shipper's 
Export Declaration (SED)/Automated Export System (AES) Program

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

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 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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before February 1, 2008.

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 Dale C. Kelly, Chief, Regulations, Outreach and 
Education Branch, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 
6K125, Washington, DC 20233-6700, (301) 763-6937, by fax (301) 763-6638 
(or via the Internet at [email protected]).

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 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 (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 a 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. Once concurrence is received from all parties involved, the 
Census Bureau intends to publish a Final Rulemaking, which will 
implement the provisions of Public Law 107-228 requiring the mandatory 
electronic filing of export information via the AES.

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 536,000 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, Canada Border Services Agency, 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 ten million paper SEDs annually. 
Export shipments to Canada that require a

[[Page 67888]]

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 Control Number: 0607-0152.
    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: 239,094.
    Estimated Time per Response: 11 minutes for 7525-V; and 3 minutes 
for AES submission.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 817,941 (SEDs, 72,280) (AES, 
745,661).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $14,592,067.
    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 OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: November 27, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-23311 Filed 11-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P