[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 37 (Monday, February 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9987-9988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3503]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Shipper's Export Declaration (SED)/Automated Export System 
(AES) Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0152.
    Form Number(s): 7525-V, AES.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Burden Hours: 817,941.
    Number of Respondents: 239,094.
    Average Hours per Response: 7525-V--11 minutes; AES--3 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The current clearance under Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) Number 0607-0152 covers the paper SED, Commerce Form 
7525-V and its electronic equivalent, the AES and related documents 
(e.g., Letter of Intent, AESDirect Registration and Certification 
Quiz).
    The Census Bureau will be using the paper SED for a limited period 
of time during 2008. This is due to the expected implementation of 
mandatory electronic filing of all export information via the AES. This 
requirement is mandated through Public Law 107-228, of the Foreign 
Relations Authorization Act of 2003.
    This law authorizes the Secretary of Commerce with the concurrences 
of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
require all persons who file export information according to Title 13, 
United States Code (U.S.C.), Chapter 9, to file such information 
through the AES. Since 2005, the Census Bureau and the U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection (CBP) have implemented the following enhancements to 
the AES: (1) Edits for rough diamond shipments for the Kimberly 
Process; (2) E-mail messaging; (3) Created the Validated End-User 
license code; (4) Automated carrier code updates; (5) Developed 
background Standard Carrier Alpha Codes (SCAC) update process from 
National Motor Freight Traffic Association file; (6) Developed SCAC 
maintenance log list; (7) Developed Consignee screens; (8) Allowed 
Option 4 vessel shipments to proscribed countries; (9) Developed method 
of transportation maintenance screens; and (10) Developed edit value 
type screens. The revisions should not affect the average three-minute 
response time for the completion of the AES record. There will be no 
changes to the paper SED; therefore, there is no expected change to the 
existing 11-minute response time to complete this form.
    The Census Bureau will allow the trade community to continue using 
the paper SED until the actual implementation of the mandatory 
electronic filing requirement occurs. Implementation of the mandatory 
electronic filing requirement is expected to take place in the second 
quarter of 2008. Currently, the Census Bureau is involved in the 
rulemaking process that will notify the trade community of the 
mandatory requirement for electronic filing.
    The SED form and its electronic equivalent, the AES record, provide 
the means for collecting data on U.S. exports. The official export 
statistics collected from these tools provide the basic component for 
the compilation of the U.S. position on merchandise trade. These data 
are an essential component of the monthly totals provided in the U.S. 
International Trade in Goods and Services Press Release, a principal 
economic indicator and a primary component of the Gross Domestic 
Product (GDP).
    The data collected from the SED and the AES records 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.
    The information collected on the paper SED and the AES record shows 
what is being exported (description and commodity classification 
number), how much is exported (quantity, shipping weight, and value), 
how it is being exported (mode of transport, exporting carrier, and 
whether containerized), from where (state of origin and port of 
export), to where (port of unloading and country of ultimate 
destination), and when a commodity is exported (date of exportation). 
The identification of the U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) 
shows who is exporting goods for consumption (control purposes), while 
the USPPI and/or the forwarding or other agent information provides a 
contact for verification of the information.
    The information is used by the Federal Government and the private 
sector. The Federal Government uses every data element on the SED/AES 
record for statistical purposes, export control, and/or to obtain data 
to avoid taking additional surveys.
    Data collected from the SED/AES serves as the official records of 
export

[[Page 9988]]

transactions. In addition, the mandatory use of the AES record will 
enable the U.S. Government to produce more accurate export statistics. 
Currently, the mandatory use of the AES in specific export situations 
facilitates the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the CBP to 
enforce the Export Administration Regulations for the detection and 
prevention of exports of high technology commodities to unauthorized 
destinations; the enforcement of the International Traffic in Arms 
Regulations (ITAR) by the U.S. Department of State; and the validation 
of the Kimberly Process Certificate for the export of rough diamonds.
    Other Federal agencies use the data to develop the components of 
the merchandise trade figures used in the calculations for the balance 
of payments and GDP accounts to evaluate the effects of the value of 
U.S. exports; to plan and examine export promotion programs and 
agricultural development and assistance programs; and to prepare for 
and assist in trade negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs 
and Trade. Collection of these data also eliminate the need for 
conducting additional surveys for the collection of information as the 
SED/AES record shows the relationship of the parties to the export 
transaction (as required by the Bureau of Economic Analysis). The SED/
AES record data are also used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as a 
source for developing the export price index and by the Department of 
Transportation for administering the negotiation of reciprocal 
arrangements for transportation facilities between the United States 
and other countries.
    A collaborative effort amongst the Census Bureau, the National 
Governors' Association and other data users resulted in the development 
of export statistics requiring the state of origin to be reported on 
the paper SED/AES record. The information collected enables state 
governments to focus activities and resources on fostering exports of 
the kinds of goods that originate in their states.
    Export statistics collected from the SED/AES record aid private 
sector companies, financial institutions, and transportation entities 
in conducting market analysis and market penetration studies for the 
development of new markets and market-share strategies. Port 
authorities, steamship lines, steamship freight conferences, airlines, 
aircraft manufacturers, and air transport associations use these data 
for measuring the volume and effect of air or vessel shipments and the 
need for additional or new types of facilities.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, U.S.C., Chapter 9, Sections 301-307, 
mandates the collection of these data. The regulatory provisions for 
the collection of these data are contained in the Foreign Trade 
Statistics Regulations, Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 
Part 30.
    OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) 
or e-mail ([email protected]).

    Dated: February 20, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-3503 Filed 2-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P