[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 50 (Thursday, March 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16392-16393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05437]



  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 50 / Thursday, March 14, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 16392]]


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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: Automated Export System.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0152.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Burden Hours: 910,115.
    Number of Respondents: 275,843.
    Average Hours per Response: 3 minutes per AES transaction.
    Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau is requesting continued clearance 
with revisions for the Automated Export System (AES) program. The AES 
record provides the means for collecting data on U.S. exports. The 
Census Bureau requires mandatory filing of all export information via 
the AES. Public Law 107-228 of the Foreign Trade Relations Act of 2003 
mandates this requirement. 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.
    The regulatory provisions for the collection of these data are 
contained in the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR), Title 15, Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 30. 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).
    These data collected from 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.
    Since 2007, the Census Bureau and the U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) have implemented the following enhancements to the 
AES: (1) modified Bureau of Industry and Security Export Control 
Classification Numbers (ECCNs); (2) developed country of destination 
drop down menu selection box; (3) developed verify messages for 
shipments destined to Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Cuba, Pitcairn Island, 
Iceland and Nicaragua; (4) modified security requirements for AESDirect 
accounts; (5) eliminated the Social Security Number (SSN) as a valid 
identification type; (6) developed a shipment manager screen; (7) added 
warnings to filers when they are submitting shipments in the education/
test region and when they are re-using a Shipment Reference Number; (8) 
upgraded the AES Broadcast messaging system to a self-managed software 
with almost immediate dissemination; and (9) upgraded AESDirect servers 
and system to a more current and scalable infrastructure. With the 
upcoming publication of the Final Rule, Foreign Trade Regulations 
(FTR): Mandatory Automated Export System Filing for All Shipments 
Requiring Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) Information: Proposed 
Substantive Changes and Corrections, the following enhancements will be 
implemented in the AES: (1) Develop ultimate consignee type drop down 
menu selection box; and (2) develop license value fields for licensed 
shipments only.
    The changes identified in this Final Rule will require the addition 
of two data elements in the AES. The added data elements include the 
ultimate consignee type and the license value. The ultimate consignee 
type is a mandatory data element and is selected from a drop down menu 
based on the knowledge the exporter has at the time of filing. If the 
ultimate consignee types listed do not apply or if the ultimate 
consignee type is unknown, the filer may select ``Other'' or 
``Unknown.'' The next data element added is the license value, which is 
a conditional data element. This value will only be required if the 
shipment contains a licensable commodity. Currently, less than two 
percent of records filed require a license.
    In addition to the two new data elements added to the AES, filers 
will be required to file in the AES when exporting used self-propelled 
vehicles. The requirement to file in the AES for all used self-
propelled vehicles applies regardless of value or country of 
destination. Currently, four percent of records filed in the AES are 
for used self-propelled vehicles. The Census Bureau does not capture 
statistics for used self-propelled vehicles valued less than $2,500. 
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics published the national 
transportation statistics in 2011 and stated that the average cost of a 
used passenger vehicle car was $8,786. By using these statistics, it 
could be conjectured that most used vehicles are currently being 
captured in the AES. However, with the new requirement to file all used 
self-propelled vehicles, we anticipate that the number of filings will 
slightly increase. Although additional filings will be required it is 
critical to capture this information for the purposes of export control 
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 Census Bureau will allow the trade community to continue using 
the current AES until the implementation date identified in the Final 
Rule. Implementation of the revised FTR is 270 days from the effective 
date of the Final Rule.
    The information collected via the AES 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 AES 
record for statistical purposes, export control, and/or to obtain data 
to avoid taking additional surveys.
    Data collected from the AES serves as the official record of export 
transactions. In addition, the mandatory use of the AES enables the 
U.S. Government to produce more accurate export statistics. Currently, 
the mandatory use of the AES allows 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. The Census Bureau delegated the authority to enforce 
the FTR to the BIS's Office of Export Enforcement along with the

[[Page 16393]]

Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) CBP and Immigrations and 
Customs Enforcement (ICE).
    Other Federal agencies use these 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 
AES shows the relationship of the parties to the export transaction (as 
required by the Bureau of Economic Analysis). These AES data are also 
used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as a source for developing the 
export price index and by the U.S. 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 AES. 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 AES 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.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Chapter 9, Sections 301-307.
    OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0336, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 email ([email protected]).

    Dated: March 5, 2013.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-05437 Filed 3-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P