Special Access/Special Regime Export Declaration; Proposed Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Special Access/Special Regime Export Declaration; Proposed

Information Collection

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 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 May 11, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room

5327, 14th & 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: Lori E. Mennitt, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S.

Department of Commerce, Room 3009, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20230; Phone number: (202) 482-3400, and fax number:

(202) 482-0858.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The ITA-370P Form is necessary in order to implement the U.S.

Special Textile Program with the Caribbean and Andean Trade Preference

Act designated countries. The Special Access Program was established to

provide increased access to the United States market for textile

products assembled abroad from fabric formed and cut in the United

States.

Throughout the ITA-370P Form, the Committee for the Implementation

of Textile Agreements (CITA) is provided with certifications that U.S.

formed and cut fabric is being exported to a participating country,

assembled into a finished product, and imported back into the United

States.

II. Method of Data Collection

Form ITA-370 P is a three part document with pre-carboned copies.

Each part of the document, the Shipper's Declaration, the Assembler's

Declaration, and the Importer's Declaration, is in the form of a

certification which must be completed and signed by participating

companies.

The ITA-370P form and the information collected on it are used by

CITA and the U.S Customs Service to determine whether merchandise

exported for a participant Caribbean country is properly certified to

enter under the Special Access Program; and to conduct audits to

determine whether U.S. formed and cut fabric was used to produce the

final product.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0625-0179.

Form Number: ITA-370P.

Type of Review: Regular Submission.

Affected Public: Companies participating in the Special Access

Program.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 300-350 companies participate

annually.

Estimated Time Per Response: 25 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9,350 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Costs: The estimated annual cost for this

collection is $290,000.00 ($150,000 for respondents and $140,000 for

federal government).

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

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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: March 2, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 98-6140 Filed 3-9-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P