Shipper's Export Declaration Program

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

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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