International Trade Data System Project Office; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

International Trade Data System Project Office; Proposed

Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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

[[Page 68354]]

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 start-

up 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