Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 250 / Wednesday, December 31, 1997 / Notices 68353

deadline for submission of comments on

the EA will generally be within 30 days

of its service.

Decided: December 22, 1997.

By the Board, David M. Konschnik,

Director, Office of Proceedings.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–33860 Filed 12–30–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

International Trade Data System

Project Office; Proposed Collection;

Comment Request

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: The Department of the

Treasury, 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.

3505(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the

International Trade Data System Project

Office within the Department of the

Treasury is soliciting comments

concerning the migration of the North

American Trade Automation Prototype

(NATAP) from a prototype to an

operational pilot, and the pilot of the

International Trade Prototype both of

which will operate under the

International Trade Data System (ITDS).

DATES: Written comments should be

received on or before April 5, 1998. To

be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments

to The Department of the Treasury,

International Trade Data Systems

Project Office, Attn: William Nolle, 1300

Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Suite 4000,

Washington, DC 20229, Telephone (202)

216–2760.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or

copies of the instructions should be

directed to The Department of the

Treasury, International Trade Data

Systems Project Office, Attn.: William

Nolle, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,

Suite 4000, Washington, DC 20229,

Telephone (202) 216–2760. Information

concerning NATAP can also be obtained

at the following Web Site:

www.itds.treas.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: The International Trade Data

System; North American Trade

Automation Prototype (NATAP), and

the International Trade Prototype (ITP).

OMB Number: 1505–0162.

Abstract: After extensive consultation

with the trade community in the three

countries, the NAFTA Information

Exchange and Automation Working

Group developed the North American

Trade Automation Prototype (NATAP).

NATAP is a prototype developed by the

U.S., Canada, and Mexico to experiment

with standardized data, advanced

automation, technologies,

communications, and encryption

designed to reduce costs and improve

trade among the three NAFTA counties.

This is mandated by Article 512 of the

NAFTA. NATAP has been endorsed by

the three governments and their trade

communities as a limited six month test

to be conducted at two US/Canada and

four US/Mexico border locations. After

the prototype period ending in May

1998, NATAP will stop; the

governments and trade community will

conduct joint and individual

evaluations of the concepts experienced

in NATAP and will move NATAP from

a prototype to a pilot.

The intent of the International Trade

Prototype (ITP) is nearly identical to

that of NATAP, with some variations.

ITP is an initiative with the United

Kingdom Customs and Excise

Administration. ITP employs similar

data and technology as NATAP but

extends this type of processing to the

ocean (marine) and air environments.

NATAP, on the other hand, was limited

to land border truck and rail

transactions. While the ITP is being

done directly with the United Kingdom,

it is being carefully examined by the

European Economic Union (EEU).

These two operational pilots (NATAP

and ITP) will be used as a proof of

concept for many attributes for the

International Trade Data System (ITDS)

as defined in the National Performance

Review (NPR) under initiative ‘‘IT 06’’

and as noted in the ‘‘Access America’’

NPR report ‘‘A09’’ in which the Vice

President has designated NATAP to

validate the International Trade Data

System concept. In addition, NATAP

incorporates encryption and privacy as

noted in NPR initiative ‘‘IT10.’’ NATAP

and ITP are compatible as a proof of

concept of the International Trade Data

System and lead into other international

trade initiatives such as international

standardization of trade date being

developed by the G–7 countries, and

harmonization efforts underway with

the Asian Pacific Economic Conference

(APEC).

In addition to the international

standardization aspects of United States

international, the intent of the U.S.

Treasury, International Trade Data

System Project Office is to demonstrate

the integration of individual U.S. federal

agency trade procedures into a

comprehensive international trade

process that includes the clearance and

admissibility of goods, drivers/crew,

and conveyances for purposes of

enforcement, revenue, health and safety,

etc.

Current Actions: The three

governments have agreed to extend

NATAP as a prototype for six additional

months until May 15, 1998. At the end

of this prototype period, the three

governments have agreed to deploy

NATAP as an operational pilot. Note

that the distinction between a prototype

and operational pilots is that under the

prototype, participants were required to

conduct trade in the prototype and

duplicate the same transaction in the

current system. As an operational pilot,

the transaction processed under the

pilot will constitute the bonafide

declaration and release. It will not be

necessary under the pilot to perform

both processes to obtain release of

goods.

Since we have gained much

experience with NATAP in these

advanced methods of processing, the

International Trade Prototype effort

with the United Kingdom will

incorporate lessons learned from the

NATAP and will move directly into the

operation pilot phase.

This is a request to permit the United

States Treasury Department along with

the Federal agencies participating in the

NATAP and ITP to allow the collection

of data for these pilots for a three year

period.

Volunteers have agreed to participate

in NATAP and ITP in order to provide

traders with the opportunity to

experiment with these advanced

technologies and procedures with

minimal expense. Through their

evaluation of NATAP and ITP, they will

have input into future trade processes,

requirements and the design,

development, and deployment of the

International Trade Data System.

Type of Review: Extension.

Affected Public: Importers, exporters,

customs house brokers, carriers (truck

and rail) who have volunteered to

participate in NATAP and ITP.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

There are approximately 120 U.S.

participants. Estimated number of

respondents is 120.

Estimated Time per Respondents:

Each response will not exceed 3.5

minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 0 (No additional burden hours

required. Pilot removes the need for
68354 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 250 / Wednesday, December 31, 1997 / Notices

parallel processing as stated in original

notice of November 25, 1996. Pilot

replaces burden hours for Customs

document CF 3461–ALT 1515–0069.)

Request for Comments: Comments

submitted in response to this notice will

be summarized and/or included in the

request for OMB approval. All

comments will become a matter of

public record.

Comments are invited on: (a) evaluate

whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the function of the

agency, including whether the

information and the prototype will have

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the

agency’s estimate of the burden of the

collection of information; (c) ways to

enhance the quality, utility, and clarity

of this information to be collected; (d)

ways to minimize the burden of

information on respondents, including

the use of automated collection

techniques or other forms of information

technology; (e) estimates of capital startup costs and costs of operation,

maintenance, and purchase of services

to provide information.

Richard A. Kuzmack,

Deputy Director, International Trade Data

System Project Office.

[FR Doc. 97–34039 Filed 12–30–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4810–25–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Submission to OMB for Review;

Comment Request

December 16, 1997.

The Department of Treasury has

submitted the following public

information collection requirement(s) to

OMB for review and clearance under the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

Public Law 104–13. Copies of the

submission(s) may be obtained by

calling the Treasury Bureau Clearance

Officer listed. Comments regarding this

information collection should be

addressed to the OMB reviewer listed

and to the Treasury Department

Clearance Officer, Department of the

Treasury, Room 2110, 1425 New York

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20220.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

OMB Number: 1545–1534.

Regulation Project Number: REG–

252936–96 NPRM and Temporary.

Type of Review: Extension.

Title: Rewards for Information

Relating to Violations of Internal

Revenue Laws.

Description: The regulations relate to

rewards for information that results in

the detection and punishment of

violations of the Internal Revenue Laws.

Respondents: Individuals or

households, Business or other for-profit,

Not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

10,000.

Estimated Burden Hours Per

Respondent: 3 hours.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Total Reporting Burden:

30,000 hours.

Clearance Officer: Garrick Shear,

(202) 622–3869, Internal Revenue

Service, Room 5571, 1111 Constitution

Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20224.

OMB Reviewer: Alexander T. Hunt,

(202) 395–7860, Office of Management

and Budget, Room 10226, New

Executive Office Building, Washington,

DC 20503.

Lois K. Holland,

Departmental Reports Management Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–34024 Filed 12–30–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Submission to OMB for Review;

Comment Request

December 22, 1997.

The Department of Treasury has

submitted the following public

information collection requirement(s) to

OMB for review and clearance under the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

Public Law 104–13. Copies of the

submission(s) may be obtained by

calling the Treasury Bureau Clearance

Officer listed. Comments regarding this

information collection should be

addressed to the OMB reviewer listed

and to the Treasury Department

Clearance Officer, Department of the

Treasury, Room 2110, 1425 New York

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20220.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

OMB Number: 1545–1537.

Regulation Project Number: REG–

253578–96 NPRM.

Type of Review: Extension.

Title: Health Insurance Portability for

Group Health Plans (Temporary) Interim

Rules for Health Insurance Portability

for Group Health Plans.

Description: The regulations provide

guidance for group health plans and the

employers maintaining them regarding

requirements imposed on plans relating

to pre-existing condition exclusions,

discrimination based on health status,

and access to coverage.

Respondents: Business or other forprofit, Not-for-profit institutions, State,

Local or Tribal Government.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

1,300,000.

Estimated Burden Hours Per

Respondent: 27 minutes.

Estimated Total Reporting Burden:

591,561 hours.

Clearance Officer: Garrick Shear,

(202) 622–3869, Internal Revenue

Service, Room 5571, 1111 Constitution

Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20224.

OMB Reviewer: Alexander T. Hunt,

(202) 395–7860, Office of Management

and Budget, Room 10226, New

Executive Office Building, Washington,

DC 20503.

Lois K. Holland,

Departmental Reports Management Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–34025 Filed 12–30–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Submission to OMB for Review;

Comment Request

December 22, 1997.

The Department of Treasury has

submitted the following public

information collection requirement(s) to

OMB for review and clearance under the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

Public Law 104–13. Copies of the

submission(s) may be obtained by

calling the Treasury Bureau Clearance

Officer listed. Comments regarding this

information collection should be

addressed to the OMB reviewer listed

and to the Treasury Department

Clearance Officer, Department of the

Treasury, Room 2110, 1425 New York

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20220.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

OMB Number: 1545–1224.

Regulation Project Number: INTL–

112–88 Final.

Type of Review: Extension.

Title: Allocation and Apportionment

of Deduction for State Income Taxes.

Description: The reporting

requirements affect those taxpayers

claiming foreign tax credits and that

elect to use an alternative method of

allocating and apportioning deductions

for state income taxes. This information

will be used by the IRS to estimate the

resources to be required in auditing

income tax returns, and should facilitate

the completion of audits.

Respondents: Business or other forprofit.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

1,000.

Estimated Burden Hours Per

Respondent: 1 hour.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

Estimated Total Reporting Burden:

1,000 hours.

OMB Number: 1545–1291.

Regulation Project Number: PS–78–91

Final.