Information on Articles for Physically or Mentally Handicapped Persons Imported Free of Duty

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Information on Articles for Physically or Mentally Handicapped

Persons Imported Free of Duty

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506( c) (2) (A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 8, 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: 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

Congress, when it enacted legislation to implement the Nairobi

Protocol to the Florence Agreement, included a provision for the

Departments of Commerce and Treasury to collect information on the

import of articles for the handicapped. Form ITA-362P, Information on

Articles for Physically or Mentally Handicapped Persons Imported Free

of Duty, is the vehicle by which statistical information is obtained to

assess whether the duty-free treatment of articles for the handicapped

has had a significant adverse impact on a domestic industry (or portion

thereof) manufacturing or

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producing a like or directly competitive article. Without the

collection of data, it would be almost impossible for a sound

determination to be made and for the President to appropriately redress

the situation.

II. Method of Data Collection

The Department of Commerce and the U.S. Customs Service have copies

of Form ITA-362P and distributes the form to importers and brokers upon

request. The importer or its broker normally completes the form, which

is included in the Customs entry package. Forms are then forwarded by

Customs officials or brokers to the Department of Commerce, which keeps

the statistical records.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0625-0118.

Form Number: ITA-362P.

Type of Review: Revision-Regular Submission.

Affected Public: Commercial, non-commercial, and individual

importers of articles for the handicapped who wish to receive duty-free

entry into the U.S.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 380.

Estimated Time Per Response: 4 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 304 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Costs: The estimated annual cost for this

collection is $14,240.00 ($3,040.00 for respondents and $11,200.00 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 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 5, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 98-6146 Filed 3-6-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P