[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 217 (Monday, November 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63037-63038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24840]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[1651-0105]


Application to Use Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of 
Homeland Security.

ACTION: 60-Day Notice and request for comments; revision of an existing 
collection of information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection will be submitting the following information collection 
request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). 
The information collection is published in the Federal Register to 
obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and must be submitted (no later than 
January 14, 2022) to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) 
contained in this notice must include the OMB Control Number 1651-0105 
in the subject line and the agency name. Please use the following 
method to submit comments:
    Email. Submit comments to: [email protected].
    Due to COVID-19-related restrictions, CBP has temporarily suspended 
its ability to receive public comments by mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional PRA 
information should be directed to Seth Renkema, Chief, Economic Impact 
Analysis Branch, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade, 
Regulations and Rulings, 90 K Street NE, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 
20229-1177, telephone number 202-325-0056 or via email 
[email protected]. Please note that the contact information provided 
here is solely for questions regarding this notice. Individuals seeking 
information about other CBP programs should contact the CBP National 
Customer Service Center at 877-227-5511, (TTY) 1-800-877-8339, or CBP 
website at https://www.cbp.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CBP invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on the proposed and/or continuing 
information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This process is conducted in accordance with 
5 CFR 1320.8. Written comments and suggestions from the public and 
affected agencies should address one or more of the following four 
points: (1) 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; (2) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (3) suggestions to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) suggestions to minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, 
including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of 
responses. The comments that are submitted will be summarized and 
included in the request for approval. All comments will become a matter 
of public record.

Overview of This Information Collection

    Title: Application to use Automated Commercial Environment.

[[Page 63038]]

    OMB Number: 1651-0105.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Current Actions: Revision of an existing collection of information.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Abstract: The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is a trade 
data processing system that is replacing the Automated Commercial 
System (ACS), the current import system for U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) operations. ACE is authorized by Executive Order 13659 
which mandates implementation of a Single Window through which 
businesses will transmit data required by participating agencies for 
the importation or exportation of cargo. See 79 FR 10655 (February 25, 
2014). ACE supports government agencies and the trade community with 
border-related missions with respect to moving goods across the border 
efficiently and securely. Once ACE is fully implemented, all related 
CBP trade functions and the trade community will be supported from a 
single common user interface.
    To establish an ACE Portal account, participants submit information 
such as their name, their employer identification number (EIN) or 
social security number (SSN), and if applicable, a statement certifying 
their capability to connect to the internet. This information is 
submitted through the ACE Secure Data Portal which is accessible at: 
http://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated.
    Please Note: A CBP-assigned number may be provided in lieu of your 
SSN. If you have an EIN, that number will automatically be used and no 
CBP number will be assigned. A CBP-assigned number is for CBP use only.
    There is a standalone capability for electronically filing protests 
in ACE. This capability is available for participants who have not 
established ACE Portal Accounts for other trade activities, but desire 
to file protests electronically. A protest is a procedure whereby a 
private party may administratively challenge a CBP decision regarding 
imported merchandise and certain other CBP decisions. Trade members can 
establish a protest filer account in ACE through a separate application 
and the submission of specific data elements. See 81 FR 57928 (August 
24, 2016).

Proposed Changes

1. New ACE Account Type
    CBP is creating a new ACE Account type for ACE Import Trade 
Carriers and their designees. This new account type: Vessel Agency, 
enables users the ability to file vessel entrance, clearance, and 
related data to CBP electronically through the new Vessel Entrance and 
Clearance System (VECS).
    The ACE Account Application will be changed to collect identifying 
information such as their name, their employer identification number 
(EIN), their company address, and their phone numbers, to be used to 
setup their Vessel Agency accounts. Users who create a Vessel Agency 
Account are automatically enrolled into the VECS public pilot.
2. Removing ACE Account Types
    In a separate action, unrelated to the Vessel Agency account type 
creation, CBP will also be removing account types ``Cartman'', 
``Claimant'', and ``Lighterman'' from the ACE Account Application. 
These account types were never used and are being removed due to that 
lack of use.
    Type of Information Collection: Application to ACE (Import).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 21,571.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 21,571.
    Estimated Time per Response: 20 minutes (0.33 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,118.

    Type of Information Collection: Application to ACE (Export).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,000.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 9,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 4 minutes (0.066 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 594.

    Type of Information Collection: Application to Establish an ACE 
Protest Filer Account.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,750.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 3,750.
    Estimated Time per Response: 4 minutes (0.066 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 248.

    Dated: November 9, 2021.
Seth D. Renkema,
Branch Chief, Economic Impact Analysis Branch, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 2021-24840 Filed 11-12-21; 8:45 am]
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