Survey of Ocean Freight Revenues and Expenses of United States CarriersBE-30; Survey of U.S. Airline Operators' Foreign Revenues and ExpensesBE-37

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis

Survey of Ocean Freight Revenues and Expenses of United States

Carriers--BE-30; Survey of U.S. Airline Operators' Foreign Revenues and

Expenses--BE-37

ACTION: Extension of collection; comments requested.

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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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 15,

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. Phone

number: (202) 482-3272.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should

be directed to: Michael Mann, Chief, Current Account Services Branch,

Room 8018, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce,

Washington, DC 20230; phone: (202) 606-9573; and fax: (202) 606-5314.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Bureau of Economic Analysis is responsible for the computation

and publication of the U.S. balance of payments accounts. The

information collected in these surveys are an integral part of the

``transportation'' portion of the U.S. balance of payments accounts.

The balance of payments accounts, which are published quarterly in the

Bureau's monthly publication, the Survey of Current Business, are one

of the major statistical products of BEA. The accounts provide a

statistical summary of U.S. international transactions. They are used

by government and private organizations for national and international

policy formulation, and analytical studies. Without the information

collected in these surveys, an integral component of the transportation

account would be omitted. No other Government agency collects

comprehensive quarterly data on U.S. ocean carriers' freight revenues

and expenses or U.S. airline operators' foreign revenues and expenses.

These surveys request information from U.S. ocean and air carriers

engaged in the international transportation of goods and/or passengers.

Information is collected on a quarterly basis from U.S. ocean and air

carriers with total annual covered revenues and total annual covered

expenses, each over $500,000. U.S. ocean and air carriers with total

annual covered revenues and expenses below $500,000 are exempt from

reporting.

II. Method of Collection

Mandatory reports are received from U.S. ocean and air carriers who

provide data regarding their revenues and expenses resulting from

international transportation. Submission of the

[[Page 38255]]

completed report form, or computer printouts in the format of the

report form, are the most expedient and economical methods of reporting

the information.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0608-001.

Form Number: BE-30/BE-37.

Type of Review: Extension-regular submission.

Affected Public: U.S. ocean and air carriers.

Estimated Number of Respondents: (BE-30)40 / (BE-37)20.

Estimated Time Per Response: (BE-30)5 hours /(BE-37)4 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: (BE-30)800 / (BE-37)320.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: For the survey of U.S. ocean carriers,

the estimated annual cost to the Federal Government is $22,000 and to

the public $24,000. For the survey of U.S. airline operators, the

estimated annual cost to the Federal Government is $18,000 and to the

public $9,600. The estimated annual cost to the public is based on an

estimated total annual burden hours and an estimated hourly cost of

$30.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

Legal Authority: The International Investment and Trade in

Services Act, 22 U.S.C. 3101-3108.

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the continued 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 burden (including

hours and cost) of the continued 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: July 14, 1997.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 97-18866 Filed 7-16-97; 8:45 am]

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