[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 69 (Thursday, April 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17579-17580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9176]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Shipper's Export Declaration Program

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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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: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 9, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Jerome M. Greenwell, U.S. Bureau of the Census, 
Room 2176, Federal Office Building #3, Washington, DC 20233-0001, (301) 
457-2238.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Shipper's Export Declaration (SEDs), Forms 7525-V, 7525-V 
Alternate (Intermodal), and their electronic equivalents are the basis 
for the official U.S. export statistics compiled by the Bureau of the 
Census (Census). The SED for In-transit Goods and Form 7513 serves as 
the source document from which Census collects and compiles the 
official U.S. statistics on outbound in-transit shipments. Title 13, 
United States Code, Chapter 9, Sections 301-307 authorizes the 
collection of all these data. The official export statistics provide a 
basic component for the compilation of the U.S. position on merchandise 
trade. These data is an essential component of the monthly totals on 
U.S. overall trade in goods and services, a leading economic indicator.
    The statistical information on the SED shows what is being exported 
(description and commodity classification number), how much (quantity, 
gross weight and value), how it is being exported (mode of 
transportation, exporting carrier and whether containerized), from 
where (state of origin and port of export), to where (port of unlading 
and country of ultimate destination), and when (date of exportation). 
The identification of the exporter, forwarding agent, and consignee 
provide contacts for verification of the statistical information. The 
Government uses every data element on the SED for (1) statistical 
purposes, (2) export control, and/or (3) to obtain information to avoid 
additional surveys.
    The SEDs also are export control documents under Title 50, United 
States Code and are used to detect and prevent the export of certain 
commodities (for example, high technology or military goods) to 
unauthorized destinations or end users. The SEDs as official documents 
of export transactions, enable the U.S. Customs Service (Customs) and 
the Bureau of Export Administration to enforce the Export 
Administration Regulations and thereby detect and prevent the export of 
high technology commodities to unauthorized destinations. The 
Department of State uses the SED to enforce the International Traffic 
in Arms Regulations to detect and prevent the export of arms and 
ammunition to unauthorized destinations.
    In the past, each different type of paper SED form was cleared 
separately. In recent years the number of submissions via automated 
programs, the Automated Export Reporting Program (AERP) operated by 
Census and the new Automated Export System (AES) operated by Customs, 
have grown rapidly and must now be considered as part of the SED 
submissions. With this submission we will combine the various types of 
SEDs, both paper and electronic, under one OMB clearance submission to 
better reflect reporting burden and streamline the clearance process.

II. Method of Collection

    The SEDs are required for virtually all export shipments valued 
over $2500 from the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands. The SED program is unique among Census statistical collections 
since it is not sent to respondents soliciting responses as is the case 
in surveys. Filing the SED information is mandatory under Title 13, 
Chapter 9 of the United States Code and over 5.6 million paper SEDs and 
over 53 million automated records were submitted in 1996. Exporters can 
purchase the paper SEDs or they may have them privately printed. In 
addition, over 300 automated exporters or exporter agents submit data 
using prescribed automated formats. For this reason Census attempts to 
avoid frequent changes in data content and format. The paper SEDs and 
automated formats in their present form have been in continuous use 
since 1985 with minor revisions in 1988. Once again for this 
submission, there has been no change in these formats.
    Exporters or their agents file individual paper SEDs with the

[[Page 17580]]

exporting carriers at the time that each export shipment leaves the 
United States. The carriers submit the documents to Customs officials 
when the carrier departs the United States and Customs then transmits 
the SEDs to Census on a flow basis for statistical processing. For 
exports to Canada, the United States is substituting Canadian import 
statistics for U.S. exports to Canada in accordance with a Memorandum 
of Understanding (MOU) signed by both the Customs and statistical 
agencies in both countries. Similarly, under this MOU, Canada is 
substituting U.S. import statistics for Canadian exports to the United 
States. These data exchange eliminates the requirement for U.S. 
exporters to file any information with the U.S. government. This 
results in the elimination of over three million SEDs annually.
    The Census also allows monthly reporting of export information 
directly to Census via its AERP in lieu of filing individual SEDs for 
transactions submitted by automated exporters, freight forwarders, and 
exporting carriers. Information for over 5.3 million export 
transactions were reported through the AERP program during calendar 
year 1996.
    In addition, Census is participating with Customs in implementing 
and expanding the new AES. The new AES, provides a voluntary automated 
alternative to filing the paper SED. As the new AES grows, AERP will be 
phased out with planned termination for the AERP program targeted for 
1999. The AES is currently available for export transactions shipped by 
vessel and is expected to be made available for reporting transactions 
shipped via air and overland modes of transport in the near future. The 
AES is being developed in accordance with the National Performance 
review with the aim of bringing total automation to the export process 
by promoting a paperless environment. Currently, Census has extracted 
information on approximately 8500 export transactions since the AES 
began operation in late 1996.
    In summary, information on 60 percent of export transactions are 
reported via automated formats and 40 percent of export transactions 
continue to be reported via paper SEDs.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0001 (SED forms are currently also cleared under 
0607-0018 and 0607-0152. This submission will combine all forms and 
eliminate these two other clearances.)
    Form Number: 7525V, 7525V Alternate, 7513, AERP and AES 
submissions.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Exporters, Freight Forwarders, Export Carriers.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 11,052,902: 7525V--3,711,470; 7525V 
Alt--1,855,735; 7513--144,080; AERP--5,332,717; AES--8,900;
    Estimated Time Per Response: 11.166 minutes for 7525V, 7525V Alt 
and 7513; 3 minutes for AERP and AES submissions.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,329,951: 7525V--690,705; 
7525V Alt--345,352; 7513--26,813; AERP--266,636; AES--445;
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: 1,329,951 @ $10/hour=$13,299,510.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Chapter 9, Title 13, United States Code.

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: April 4, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-9176 Filed 4-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P