2019-09795. BE-29: Annual Survey of Foreign Ocean Carriers' Expenses in the United States

AGENCY:

Bureau of Economic Analysis, Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of reporting requirements.

SUMMARY:

By this Notice, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Department of Commerce, is informing the public that it is conducting the mandatory survey titled Annual Survey of Foreign Ocean Carriers' Expenses in the United States (BE-29). The data collected on the BE-29 survey are needed to measure U.S. trade in transport services and to analyze the impact of U.S. trade on the U.S. and foreign economies. This survey is authorized by the International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Christopher Stein, Chief, Services Surveys Branch (BE-50), Balance of Payments Division, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233; phone [phone]; or via email at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Through this Notice, BEA publishes the reporting requirements for the BE-29 survey form. As noted below, all entities required to respond to this mandatory survey will be contacted by BEA. Entities must submit the completed survey forms within 90 days after the end of each calendar year. This Notice is being issued in conformance with the rule BEA issued on April 24, 2012 (77 FR 24373), establishing guidelines for collecting data on international trade in services and direct investment through notices, rather than through rulemaking. Additional information about BEA's collection of data on international trade in services and direct investment can be found in the 2012 rule, the International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act (22 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), and 15 CFR part 801. Survey data on international trade in services and direct investment that are not collected pursuant to the 2012 rule are described separately in 15 CFR part 801. The BE-29 survey form and instructions are available at www.bea.gov/​ssb.

Reporting

Notice of specific reporting requirements, including who is to report, the information to be reported, the manner of reporting, and the time and place of filing reports, will be mailed to those required to complete this survey.

Who Must Report: (a) Reports are required from U.S. agents of foreign carriers who handle 40 or more foreign ocean carrier port calls in the reporting period, or had reportable expenses of $250,000 or more in the reporting period for all foreign ocean vessels handled by the U.S. Agent. See BE-29 survey form for more details.

(b) Entities required to report will be contacted individually by BEA. Entities not contacted by BEA have no reporting responsibilities.

What To Report: The survey collects information on foreign ocean carriers' expenses in the United States.

How To Report: Reports can be filed using BEA's electronic reporting system at www.bea.gov/​efile. Copies of the survey forms and instructions, which contain complete information on reporting procedures and definitions, can be downloaded from www.bea.gov/​ssb and submitted through mail or fax. Form BE-29 inquiries can be made by phone to BEA at [phone] or by sending an email to [e-mail].

When To Report: Reports are due to BEA 90 days after the end of each calendar year.

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice

This data collection has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act and assigned control number 0608-0012. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid control number assigned by OMB. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 3 hours per response. Additional information regarding this burden estimate may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov;​; under the Information Collection Review tab, click on “Search” and use the above OMB control number to search for the current survey instrument. Send comments regarding this burden estimate to Director, Bureau of Economic Analysis (BE-1), U.S. Department of Commerce, 4600 Silver Hill Rd., Washington, DC 20233; and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project 0608-0012, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503, or via email at [e-mail].

Authority: 22 U.S.C. 3101-3108.

Paul W. Farello,

Associate Director for International Economics, Bureau of Economic Analysis.