[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 215 (Friday, November 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59937-59938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29699]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Export Administration
Survey of U.S. Chemical Industry To Assist in Compliance
Activities Regarding Certain Provisions of the Chemical Weapons
Convention
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 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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 5, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5327, 14th
and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Dawn Battle, Department of Commerce, 14th &
Constitution Ave., NW, room 6877, Washington, DC, 20230 (telephone
number (202) 482-0637).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is a multilateral arms
control treaty that seeks to achieve an international ban on chemical
weapons (CW). The CWC was signed by the United States in Paris on
January 13, 1993, and was submitted by President Clinton to the United
States Senate on November 23, 1993, for its advice and consent to
ratification. The CWC prohibits, inter alia, the use, development,
production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, and direct or indirect
transfer of chemical weapons.
The information that will be collected by this survey is necessary
in order to assist efforts by U.S. government officials to ensure that
the U.S. is and will be in compliance with certain provisions of the
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Treaty.
The CWC, after enactment of U.S. implementing legislation and
promulgation of appropriate agency regulations, prohibits all
individuals and legal entities (e.g. corporations) within the U.S., as
well as all individuals outside the U.S. possessing U.S. citizenship,
from engaging in activities prohibited under the Convention.
The proposed new information collection by BXA will attempt to
survey, by telephone, private companies either known or suspected to
have activities involving Schedule 1 chemicals. The additional data
obtained from the proposed survey will enable BXA to determine whether
the information collection activities already approved by OMB are all
that are needed, for the time being, to monitor U.S. compliance with
the 1 metric ton limit.
BXA intends to use the CWC Schedule 1 chemical survey to obtain
data from those U.S. facilities that are believed to be engaged in the
production, acquisition, stockpiling, transfer, or use of chemicals
listed in Schedule 1 of the CWC. The facilities that are asked to
participate in the survey will be requested to respond, regardless of
the amount of Schedule 1 chemicals that they produce, acquire,
stockpile, transfer, or use.
BXA will use the data obtained from the survey, as well as data
obtained from other sources, in order to determine whether or not it
needs to impose additional information collection burdens on the U.S.
chemical industry in order to accurately determine U.S. compliance with
Part VI.A.2 of the Annex on Implementation and Verification of the CWC,
which limits the aggregate amount of Schedule
[[Page 59938]]
1 chemicals that may be produced, acquired, retained, transferred, or
used by any state party in a single calendar year to 1 metric ton (i.e.
1 million grams).
II. Method of Collection
Telephone survey.
III. Data
OMB Number: None.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Submission for new collection.
Affected Public: Individuals, businesses or other for-profit and
not-for-profit institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes per response.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 50.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $1,800 for respondents time (no
capital expenditures required).
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 will also become a matter of public
record.
Dated: October 30, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer.
[FR Doc.98-29699 Filed 11-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P
