2022-08979. Screening Requirements for Carriers

AGENCY:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION:

30-Day notice and request for comments; revision of an existing collection of information.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). The information collection is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

DATES:

Comments are encouraged and must be submitted (no later than May 27, 2022) to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) contained in this notice should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain . Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional PRA information should be directed to Seth Renkema, Chief, Economic Impact Analysis Branch, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade, Regulations and Rulings, 90 K Street NE, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177, Telephone number 202-325-0056 or via email [e-mail]. Please note that the contact information provided here is solely for questions regarding this notice. Individuals seeking information about other CBP programs should contact the CBP National Customer Service Center at 877-227-5511, (TTY) 1-800-877-8339, or CBP website at  https://www.cbp.gov/​.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the proposed and/or continuing information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ). This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (87 FR 2888) on January 19, 2022, allowing for a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8. Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies should address one or more of the following four points: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) suggestions to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) suggestions to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. The comments that are submitted will be summarized and included in the request for approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Overview of This Information Collection

Title: Screening Requirements for Carriers.

OMB Number: 1651-0122.

Form Number: N/A.

Current Actions: CBP proposes to extend the expiration date and revise this information collection to allow electronic submission. There is no change to the information collected.

Type of Review: Revision.

Affected Public: Carriers.

Abstract: Section 273(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1323(e)) (the Act) authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish procedures which carriers must undertake for the proper screening of their non-immigrant passengers prior to embarkation at the port from which they are to depart for the United States, in order to become eligible for a reduction, refund, or waiver of a fine imposed under section 273(a)(1) of the Act. (This authority was transferred from the Attorney General to the Secretary of Homeland Security pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002.) To be eligible to obtain such a reduction, refund, or waiver of a fine, the carrier must provide evidence to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that it screened all passengers on the conveyance in accordance with the procedures listed in 8 CFR part 273.

Some examples of the evidence the carrier may provide to CBP include: A description of the carrier's document screening training program; the number of employees trained; information regarding the date and number of improperly documented non-immigrants intercepted by the carrier at the port(s) of embarkation; and any other evidence to demonstrate the carrier's efforts to properly screen passengers destined for the United States.

Proposed Change

Applicants may submit this information via electronic means, e.g., email.

Type of Information Collection: Screening Requirements for Carriers.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 41.

Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 41.

Estimated Time per Response: 100 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,100.

Dated: April 22, 2022.

Seth D. Renkema,

Branch Chief, Economic Impact Analysis Branch, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.