[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 129 (Thursday, July 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31361-31362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14421]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Services 
Surveys: BE-29, Annual Survey of Foreign Ocean Carriers' Expenses in 
the United States

AGENCY: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of 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 comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 4, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230, or via email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Christopher Stein, Chief, Services Surveys Branch (SSB) 
BE-50, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Washington, DC 20233; phone: (301) 278-9189; fax: (301) 278-9507; or 
via email at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Annual Survey of Foreign Ocean Carriers' Expenses in the United 
States (BE-29) is a survey that collects data from U.S. agents of 
foreign ocean carriers who handle 40 or more foreign ocean port calls 
in the reporting period, or report total covered expenses of $250,000 
or more in the reporting period for all foreign ocean vessels handled 
by the U.S. agent. The covered expenses are: (1) Port call services 
such as pilotage, towing and tugboat services, harbor fees, and berth 
fees; (2) cargo-related services such as loading, unloading, and 
storing cargo at U.S. ports; (3) fuels and oils (bunkers) purchased in 
U.S. ports; (4) other vessel operating expenses such as stores and 
supplies, vessel repairs, and personnel expenses in the United States; 
and (5) other expenses such as U.S. agents' and brokers' fees and 
commissions and expenses related to maintaining U.S. offices, such as 
rent, advertising, and wages.
    The data collected on the survey are needed to monitor U.S. trade 
in transport services to analyze the impact of U.S. trade on the U.S. 
and foreign economies, to compile and improve the U.S. economic 
accounts, to support U.S. commercial policy on trade in transport 
services, to conduct trade promotion, and to improve the ability of 
U.S. businesses to identify and evaluate market opportunities. The data 
are used in estimating the transport component of the U.S. 
international transactions accounts (ITAs) and national income and 
product accounts (NIPAs).
    The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is proposing no additions or 
modifications to the current BE-29 survey. The effort to keep current 
reporting requirements unchanged is intended to minimize respondent 
burden while considering the needs of data users. Existing language in 
the instructions and definitions will be reviewed and adjusted as 
necessary to clarify survey requirements.

II. Method of Collection

    BEA contacts potential respondents by mail in January of each year. 
Respondents must file the completed BE-29 forms within 90 days after 
the

[[Page 31362]]

end of each calendar year. Reports are required from U.S. agents of 
foreign ocean carriers who handle 40 or more foreign ocean port calls 
in the reporting period, or report total covered expenses of $250,000 
or more in the reporting period for all foreign ocean vessels handled 
by the U.S. agent. Entities required to report will be contacted 
individually by BEA. Entities not contacted by BEA have no reporting 
responsibilities.
    BEA offers electronic filing through its eFile system for use in 
reporting on the BE-29 annual survey form. For information about eFile, 
go to www.bea.gov/efile. In addition, BEA posts all its survey forms 
and reporting instructions on its website, www.bea.gov/ssb. These may 
be downloaded, completed, printed, and submitted via fax or mail.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0608-0012.
    Form Number: BE-29.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 80 annually (70 reporting mandatory 
data and 10 filing exemption claims).
    Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours is the average for those 
reporting data. One houris the average for those filing an exemption 
claim. Hours may vary considerably among respondents because of 
differences in the volume and complexity of information on the foreign 
ocean carriers represented by the reporter.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 220.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: International Investment and Trade in Services 
Survey Act (Pub. L. 94-472, 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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-14421 Filed 7-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-06-P