E8-5875. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Steel Import License

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 May 23, 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 Julie Al-Saadawi, Import Administration, Office of Policy, [phone], Fax: [phone], or via e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The President's Proclamation on Steel Safeguards mandated that the Departments of Commerce and Treasury institute an import licensing system to facilitate the monitoring of certain steel imports. Regulations were established that implemented the Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) system and expanded on the licensing system for steel that was part of those safeguards. The import license information is necessary to assess import trends of steel products.

In order to effectively monitor steel imports, Commerce must collect and provide timely aggregated summaries about imports. The Steel Import License is the tool used to collect the necessary information. The Census Bureau currently collects import data and disseminates aggregate information about steel imports. However, the time required to collect, process, and disseminate this information through Census can take up to 90 days after importation of the product, giving interested parties and the public far less time to respond to injurious sales.

II. Method of Collection

The license application can be submitted electronically or completed electronically and faxed.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0625-0245.

Form Number(s): ITA-4141P.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business or for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,500.

Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 100,000.

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: March 19, 2008.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.