E9-1886. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Watch Duty-Exemption and 7113 Jewelry Duty-Refund Program

AGENCY:

International Trade Administration.

ACTION:

Notice.

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 proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before March 30, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Gregory Campbell, Statutory Import Programs; phone number: [phone]; fax number: [phone]; and e-mail address: [e-mail] .

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Departments of Commerce and the Interior are required by Public Law 97-446, as amended by Public Law 103-465, Public Law 106-36 and Public Law 108-429, to administer the distribution of watch duty-exemptions and watch and jewelry duty-refunds to program producers in the U.S. insular possessions and the Northern Mariana Islands. The primary consideration in collecting information is the enforcement of the laws 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. The Form ITA-340P is used to provide the data to assist in verification of duty-free shipments of watches into the United States and make certain the allocations are not exceeded. Forms ITA-360P and ITA-361P are necessary to implement the duty-refund program for the watch and jewelry producers. Form ITA-360P requires no information unless the recipient wishes to transfer the certificate. Form ITA-361P must be completed each time a certificate holder wishes to obtain a portion, or all, of the duty-refund authorized by the certificate. The duty-refund benefit is issued biannually and the forms are used for the distribution of the duty-refund benefit.

II. Method of Collection

Paper format or electronically.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0625-0134.

Form Number(s): ITA-340P, ITA 360P, and ITA-361P.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 7.

Estimated Time per Response: 6 minutes for Form ITA-340P; 10 minutes for Form ITA-361P; and 1 minute to transfer a certificate using Form ITA-360P.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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 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 26, 2009.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.