Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;

Comment Request

TITLE: Request for Duty-Free Entry of Scientific Instruments or

Apparatus.

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 March 16, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room

5327, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20230. Telephone

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: Katie Stephenson, Statutory Import Programs Staff, Room

4211, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230; telephone

number: (202) 482-2723 and fax number: (202) 482-0949.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Departments of Commerce and Treasury are required to determine

whether nonprofit institutions established for scientific or

educational purposes are entitled to duty-free entry under the Florence

Agreement of scientific instruments they import. Form ITA-338P enables

(1) Treasury to determine whether the statutory eligibility

requirements for the institution and the instrument are fulfilled, and

(2) Commerce to make a comparison and finding as to the scientific

equivalency of comparable instruments being manufactured in the United

States. Without the collection of the information, Treasury and

Commerce would not have the necessary information to carry out the

responsibilities of determining eligibility for duty-free entry

assigned by law.

II. Method of Collection

The Department of Commerce distributes Form ITA-338P to potential

applicants upon request. The applicant completes the form and then

forwards it to the United States Customs Service. Upon acceptance by

Customs as a valid application, the application is transmitted to

Commerce for processing.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0625-0037.

Form Number: ITA-338P.

Type of review: Extension-Regular Submission.

Affected Public: State or local governments; Federal agencies;

nonprofit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.

Estimated Time Per Response: 2 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 200 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Costs: The estimated annual cost for this

collection is $208,800 ($8,800 for respondents and $200,000 for the

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 included in the request for OMB approval of this information

collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: January 8, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 98-878 Filed 1-13-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P