Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request

BUREAU: International Trade Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial

Service.

TITLE: The President's ``E'' Award and The President's ``E''

Certificate of Service.

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 the

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 March 27, 1998.

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: Evelyn Scott, Room 3810, Department of Commerce, 14th

Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; phone (202)

482-1289, fax (202) 482-0729.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The President's ``E'' Award for Excellence in Exporting is our

nation's highest award to honor American exporters. ``E'' Awards

recognize firms and organizations for their competitive achievements in

world markets, as well as the benefits of their success to the U.S.

economy. The President's ``E Star'' Award recognizes the sustained

superior international marketing performance of ``E'' Award winners.

II. Method of Collection

An application form is the vehicle designed to determine

eligibility for the award within established criteria. The completed

application is submitted to the appropriate U.S. Department of Commerce

Export Assistance Center for review and endorsement, and then forwarded

to the Office of Domestic Operations in the U.S. and Foreign Commercial

Service, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of

Commerce, Washington, D.C., for processing.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0625-0065.

Form Number: ITA 725P.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: U.S. firms and organizations and American

subsidiaries of foreign-owned or controlled corporations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 60.

Estimated Time per Response: 27.4 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,644.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $68,000.

IV. Requested 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: January 20, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 98-1749 Filed 1-23-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P