[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 165 (Monday, August 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48391-48392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18630]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Services Surveys: BE-29, Annual Survey of Foreign Ocean 
Carriers' Expenses in the United States

AGENCY: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before October 29, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Christopher Stein, Chief, Services Surveys Branch, Bureau of Economic 
Analysis, by email to [email protected] or [email protected]. 
Please reference OMB Control Number 0608-0012 in the subject line of 
your comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Christopher Stein, Chief, Services Surveys Branch, Bureau of 
Economic Analysis, 301-278-9189, or via email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Annual Survey of Foreign Ocean Carriers' Expenses in the United 
States (BE-29) collects data from U.S. agents of foreign ocean carriers 
that handled 40 or more foreign ocean carrier port calls during the 
year, or had total covered expenses of $250,000 or more during the year 
for all foreign ocean vessels handled by the U.S. agent.
    The data are needed monitor 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 
services 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 information collected on the current BE-29. The 
language in the instructions and definitions will be reviewed and 
adjusted as necessary to clarify survey requirements.
    BEA proposes to change the due date of the survey to 45 days after 
the close of each year from 90 days, beginning with the reporting 
period for the 2021 year, which will be collected in 2022. Shortening 
the reporting timeline will allow BEA to produce more accurate and 
complete trade in transport services statistics in the ITAs, which is 
critical information for policymakers' timely decisions on 
international trade policy. The earlier due date will allow BEA to 
validate the data and integrate it into the statistics in time for the 
annual update of the ITAs, improving the accuracy of both the 
aggregates and the country detail and reducing revisions in subsequent 
statistical releases.
    BEA estimates there will be no change in the average number of 
burden hours per response, which is currently estimated to be 3 hours. 
The 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 December of the 
preceding year. Respondents would be required to file the completed BE-
29 forms within 45 days after the end of the year. Reports will be 
required from U.S. agents of foreign ocean carriers that handled 40 or 
more foreign ocean carrier port calls during the year or had covered 
expenses of $250,000 or more during the year 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 its electronic filing option, the eFile system, for use 
in reporting on Form BE-29. For more 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

[[Page 48392]]

be downloaded, completed, printed, and submitted via fax or mail.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0608-0012.
    Form Number(s): BE-29.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: U.S. agents of foreign ocean carriers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 80 annually (70 reporting 
mandatory data, and 10 that would file exemption claims or voluntary 
responses).
    Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours is the average for those 
reporting data and one hour is the average for those filing an 
exemption claim. Hours may vary considerably among respondents because 
of differences in company size and complexity.
    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 that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2021-18630 Filed 8-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P