70628 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 7, 2004 / Notices 

DATES: Written comments must be 

submitted on or before February 7, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments 

to Diana Hynek, Departmental 

Paperwork Clearance Officer, 

Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 

14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., 

Washington, DC 20233 (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 Julius Smith Jr., Census 

Bureau, Room 2135, Building 4, 

Washington, DC 20233–6900, (301) 763–

4683 (or via the Internet at 

julius.smith.jr@census.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract 

The Census Bureau, with support 

from the Environmental Protection 

Agency, plans to reinstate the Survey of 

Pollution Abatement Costs and 

Expenditures (PACE), MA–200 for 2005. 

In addition to the survey, the Census 

Bureau also plans to conduct a screener 

and a pilot. 

The screener will be administered in 

an attempt to identify plants, for both 

the pilot and the survey, that have 

pollution abatement activities. Once 

these plants have been identified, the 

pilot will then be administered to a 

small sample. These selected plants will 

be asked to complete and comment on 

the proposed 2005 survey form. The 

information gained from the screener 

and pilot will be used in finalizing the 

survey instrument and sample design. 

The screener will contain a small 

number of questions (approximately 3–

5), in the form of check boxes, to 

determine if pollution abatement 

activities are conducted and if so, a 

range of those costs. The pilot and the 

survey will collect data on capital 

expenditures for pollution abatement 

activities and operating costs. These 

data will be collected by categories 

(treatment, prevention, disposal and 

recycling) and media (air, water and 

solid waste). It will also collect some 

data on depreciation and cost offsets. 

The pilot will also include some 

qualitative questions to validate the 

estimates collected. 

II. Method of Collection 

The Census Bureau will use mail out/

mail back survey forms for the screener, 

pilot and survey. Companies will be 

asked to respond to each within 30 days 

of the initial mailing. 

III. Data 

OMB Number: 0607–0176. 

Form Number: MA–200S, MA–200P 

and MA–200. 

Type of Review: Regular. 

Affected Public: Manufacturing, 

mining and electric utility 

establishments. 

Estimated Number of Respondents:

The screener—40,000 facilities; the 

pilot—2,000 facilities; and the survey—

20,000 facilities. 

Estimated Time Per Response: The 

screener—.25 hours; the pilot—5 hours; 

and the survey—5 hours. 

Estimated Total Burden: 120,000 

hours. The screener—10,000; the pilot—

10,000; and the survey—100,000. 

Estimated Total Cost: $ 1,500,000. 

Respondents’ Obligation: Mandatory. 

Legal Authority: Title 13 United States 

Code, Section 182,224 and 225. 

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 information collection 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 included 

in the request for OMB approval of this 

information collection; they also will 

become a matter of public record.

Dated: December 1, 2004. 

Madeleine Clayton, 

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer.

[FR Doc. 04–26779 Filed 12–6–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–07–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau 

Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED)/

Automated Export System (AES) 

Program

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment 

request. 

SUMMARY: The Department of 

Commerce, as part of its continuing 

effort to reduce a 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: Written comments must be 

submitted on or before February 7, 2005.

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 Jerome Greenwell, Chief, 

Regulations, Outreach and Education 

Branch, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 

3125, Federal Building 3, Washington, 

DC 20233–6700, (301) 763–2255, by fax 

(301) 457–2645.

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 (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 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 7, 2004 / Notices 70629

(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 

an Advanced 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. 

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 360,000 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 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 eight million 

paper SEDs annually. Export shipments 

to Canada that require a 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 Number: 0607–0152. 

Commerce 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:

223,213. 

Estimated Time Per Response: 11.0 

minutes for 7525–V, 3.0 minutes for 

AES Submissions. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: 814,140 (SEDs 198,000) (AES 

616,140). 

Estimated Total Annual Cost:

$13,156,502. 

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 Office of 

Management and Budget approval of 

this information collection; they also 

will become a matter of public record.

Dated: December 1, 2004. 

Madeleine Clayton, 

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer.

[FR Doc. 04–26780 Filed 12–6–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–07–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau 

The American Community Survey

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment 

request. 

SUMMARY: The Department of 

Commerce, as part of its continuing 

effort to reduce paper work and 

respondent burden, invites the general 

public and other federal agencies to take 

this opportunity to comment on