Watch Duty-Exemption Program Forms

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Watch Duty-Exemption Program Forms

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 burdens, invites the general public

and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on

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 April 28, 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: Request for additional information or

copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should

be directed to: Faye Robinson, Statutory Import Programs Staff, Room

4211, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; Phone number:

(202) 482-3526, and fax number: (202) 482-0949.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

Pub. L. 97-446, as amended by Pub. L. 103-465, requires the

Department of Commerce and the Interior to administer the distribution

of duty-exemptions and duty-refunds to watch producers in the U.S.

insular possessions and the Northern Mariana Islands. The primary

consideration in collecting information is the enforcement of the law

and the information gathered is limited to that necessary to prevent

abuse of the program and to permit a fair and equitable distribution of

its benefits. Form ITA-340P provides the data to assist in verification

of duty-free shipments and make certain the allocations are not

exceeded. Forms

[[Page 10002]]

ITA-360P and ITA-361P are necessary to implement the duty-refund

program.

II. Method of Collection

The Department of Commerce issues Form ITA-360P to each watch

producer annually. No information is requested unless the recipient

wishes to transfer the certificate. Form ITA-361P is obtained from the

Department of Commerce and must be completed each time a certificate

holder wishes to obtain a portion, or all, of the duty-refund

authorized by the certificate. The form is then sent to the Department

of Commerce for validation and returned to the producer. Form ITA-340P

may be obtained from the territorial government or may be produced by

the company in an approved computerized format or any other medium or

format approved by the Department of Commerce and the Interior. The

form is completed for each duty-free shipment of watches and watch

movements into the U.S. and a copy is transmitted to the territorial

government. Only if entry procedures are not transmitted electronically

through Customs' automated broker interface, do the regulations require

a copy of the permit be sent to Customs along with other entry

paperwork.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0625-0134.

Form Number: ITA-340P, 360P, 361P.

Type of Review: Revision-Regular Submission.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 5.

Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 83 hr. 10 min.

Estimated Total Annual Costs: The estimated annual cost for this

collection is $10,831.67 ($831.67 for respondents and $10,000 for

federal government (included are some administration costs of

program)).

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 costs) 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 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: February 24, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

(FR Doc. 98-5101 Filed 2-26-98; 8:45 am)

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P