E8-24229. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Offsets in Military Exports

AGENCY:

Bureau of Industry and Security.

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 December 15, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 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 and instructions should be directed to Larry Hall, BIS ICB Liaison, [phone], [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This collection of information is required by the Defense Production Act (DPA). The DPA requires U.S. firms to furnish information to the Department of Commerce regarding offset agreements exceeding $5,000,000 in value associated with sales of weapon systems or defense-related items to foreign countries or foreign firms. Offsets are industrial or commercial compensation practices required as a condition of purchase in either government-to-government or commercial sales of defense articles and/or defense services as defined by the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Such offsets are required by most major trading partners when purchasing U.S. military equipment or defense related items.

II. Method of Collection

Submitted electronically or in paper form.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0694-0084.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.

Estimated Time Per Response: 9 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 270.

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: October 7, 2008.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.