Offsets in Military Exports

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security

Offsets in Military Exports

ACTION:

Proposed collection: Comment request.

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 November 28, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Program Analyst, (202) 482-3129, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 or via 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 Larry Hall, BIS ICB Liaison, (202) 482-4895, Department of Commerce, Room 6703, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This collection is required by The Defense Production Act. This law requires United States firms to furnish information to the Department of Commerce regarding offset agreements exceeding $5,000,000 in value associated with sales of weapon system or defense-related items to foreign countries or foreign firms. Offsets are industrial or commercial compensation practices required as a condition of purchase in either government-to-government or commercial sales of defense articles and/or defense services as defense as defined by the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Such offsets are required by most major trading partners when purchasing U.S. military equipment or defense related items.

II. Method of Collection

Submission to BIS.

III. Data

OMB Number:

0694-0084.

Form Number:

N/A.

Type of Review:

Regular submission for extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public:

Businesses or other for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

100.

Estimated Time per Response:

10 hours per response.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:

1,000.

Estimated Total Annual Cost:

No start-up capital expenditures.

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 will also become a matter of public record.

Dated: September 22, 2005.

Madeleine Clayton,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

[FR Doc. 05-19304 Filed 9-27-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-33-M