[Federal Register: December 3, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 231)]
[Notices]
[Page 67887-67888]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03de07-30]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Shipper's
Export Declaration (SED)/Automated Export System (AES) Program
AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, 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 take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on
or before February 1, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet
at dHynek@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Dale C. Kelly, Chief, Regulations, Outreach and
Education Branch, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room
6K125, Washington, DC 20233-6700, (301) 763-6937, by fax (301) 763-6638
(or via the Internet at dale.c.kelly@census.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Shipper's Export Declaration (SED), Commerce Form 7525-V, and
the electronic equivalent, the Automated Export System (AES), are
instruments used for collecting export trade information. The data
collected from these sources are compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau and
functions as the basis for the official U.S. export trade statistics.
These statistics are used to determine the balance of international
trade, and are also designated for use as a principal economic
indicator. Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Chapter 9, Section
301 authorizes the Census Bureau to collect, compile and publish export
trade data. Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, part 30, contains
the regulatory provisions for preparing and filing the SED or the AES
record. These data are used in the development of U.S. Government
policies that affect the economy. These data also enable U.S.
businesses to develop practical export marketing strategies as well as
provide a means for the assessment of the impact of exports on the
domestic economy. The data collected from the SED and 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.
On November 29, 1999, the President signed into law the
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1999, which authorized the Secretary
of Commerce to require mandatory electronic filing of items on the
Commerce Control List (CCL) and the U.S. Munitions List (USML). The
requirement to implement this process went into effect October 18,
2003. On July 29, 2003, the President signed Executive Order 13312,
which executed prohibitions to Public Law 108-19, the Clean Diamond
Trade Act thereby authorizing the mandatory electronic filing of rough
diamonds. Implementation for this process went into effect October 20,
2003. On September 30, 2002, the President signed into law the Foreign
Relations Authorization Act, Public Law 107-228. This law authorizes
the Secretary of Commerce, with the concurrence of the Secretary of
State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, to publish regulations in
the Federal Register detailing that upon the effective date of these
regulations, all persons who are required to file export information
under Title 13, U.S.C., Chapter 9, file such information through the
AES and there will no longer be provisions made for manual filing
thereafter. On October 22, 2003, the Census Bureau published a Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register (68 FR 60301) announcing
the Census Bureau's intent to propose the rule mandating electronic
filing through the AES of all information on export shipments that
require the filing of a SED and allowed the public to comment on this
subject. Once concurrence is received from all parties involved, the
Census Bureau intends to publish a Final Rulemaking, which will
implement the provisions of Public Law 107-228 requiring the mandatory
electronic filing of export information via the AES.
II. Method of Collection
A paper SED or electronic AES record is required, with certain
exceptions, for all export shipments valued more than $2,500 from the
United States, including Foreign Trade Zones located therein, Puerto
Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to foreign countries; for exports
between the United States and Puerto Rico; and for exports to the U.S.
Virgin Islands from the United States or Puerto Rico. The AES record
information is also required for the export of rough diamonds and all
exports requiring a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security, a
license or license exception from the Department of State, or other
government agency, regardless of value, unless exempted from the
requirement for filing AES information by the licensing government
agency. The SED/AES program is unique among Census Bureau statistical
collections since it is not sent to respondents to solicit responses,
as is the case with surveys. Filing export information via the SED or
AES is a mandatory process under Title 13, Chapter 9, U.S.C. The Census
Bureau has seen a progressive growth in the number of electronic
filers, with a comparable decrease in the number of the paper SED
filers. For example, the requirements to file export information
through the AES for all USML and CCL shipments has resulted in the
elimination of more than 536,000 paper SEDs annually. Exporters can
access the AES via the Census Bureau's free Internet-based system,
AESDirect, or they can integrate the AES into their company's computer
network and file directly with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP). Exporters may also download the SED, Commerce Form 7525-V, from
the Internet and print it on the required ``buff'' colored paper.
For exports to Canada, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed
by the CBP, Canada Border Services Agency, and statistical agencies in
the United States and Canada enables the United States to substitute
Canadian import statistics for U.S. export statistics. Similarly, in
accordance with the MOU, Canada substitutes U.S. import statistics for
Canadian exports to the United States. This exchange of data eliminates
the requirement for U.S. exporters to file any information with the
U.S. Government for exports of nonlicensed shipments to Canada, thus
resulting in the elimination of over ten million paper SEDs annually.
Export shipments to Canada that require a
[[Page 67888]]
license must be filed through the AES. Also, export shipments from the
United States through Canada destined to a country other than Canada
require a SED or AES record.
U.S. principal parties in interest (USPPI) or authorized agents
file individual paper SEDs with exporting carriers at the time export
shipments leave the United States. For the AES, USPPIs or authorized
agents file export data electronically with the Census Bureau or the
CBP. Carriers submit paper SED documents to CBP officials when the
carrier departs from the United States and the CBP then transmits the
export information to the Census Bureau for statistical processing.
The AES enables the government to significantly improve the
quality, timeliness, and coverage of export statistics. Since July
1995, the Census Bureau and the CBP have utilized the AES to improve
the reporting of export trade information, customer service, compliance
with and enforcement of export laws, and provide paperless reports of
export information. The AES also enables the U.S. Government to
increase its ability to prevent the export of certain items by
unauthorized parties to unauthorized destinations and end users through
electronic filing.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0607-0152.
Form Number: 7525-V, Automated Export System (AES) submissions.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Exporters, Forwarding agents, Export Carriers.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 239,094.
Estimated Time per Response: 11 minutes for 7525-V; and 3 minutes
for AES submission.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 817,941 (SEDs, 72,280) (AES,
745,661).
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $14,592,067.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13 United States Code, Chapter 9; Public Law
107-228 Foreign Relations Authorization Act.
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 shall 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.
Dated: November 27, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-23311 Filed 11-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P