2016-14360. Agency Information Collection Activities: Accreditation of Commercial Testing Laboratories and Approval of Commercial Gaugers

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

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

SUMMARY:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security 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: Accreditation of Commercial Testing Laboratories and Approval of Commercial Gaugers (CBP Form 6478). This is a proposed extension of an information collection that was previously approved. CBP is proposing that this information collection be extended with a change to the burden hours, there is no change to the information collected. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before July 18, 2016 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this proposed information collection to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be addressed to the OMB Desk Officer for Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, and sent via electronic mail to [e-mail] or faxed to [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information should be directed to Tracey Denning, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade, 90 K Street NE., 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177, at 202-325-0265.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (81 FR 14120) on March 16, 2016, 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 1320.10. CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3507). The comments should address: (a) Whether the 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 estimates of the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden, including the use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology; and (e) the annual costs to respondents or record keepers from the collection of information (total capital/startup costs and operations and maintenance costs). The comments that are submitted will be summarized and included in the CBP request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. In this document, CBP is soliciting comments concerning the following information collection:

Title: Accreditation of Commercial Testing Laboratories and Approval of Commercial Gaugers.

OMB Number: 1651-0053.

Form Number: Form 6478.

Abstract: Commercial laboratories seeking accreditation or approval must provide the information specified in 19 CFR 151.12 to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Commercial Gaugers seeking CBP approval must provide the information specified under 19 CFR 151.13. This information may be submitted on CBP Form 6478. After the initial approval and/or accreditation, a private company may “extend” its approval and/or accreditation to add facilities by submitting a formal written request to CBP. This application process is authorized by Section 613 of Public Law 103-182 (NAFTA Implementation Act), codified at 19 U.S.C. 1499, which directs CBP to establish a procedure to accredit privately owned testing laboratories. The information collected is used by CBP in deciding whether to approve individuals or businesses desiring to measure bulk products or to analyze importations. Instructions for completing these applications are accessible at: http://www.cbp.gov/​about/​labs-scientific/​commercial-gaugers-and-laboratories. CBP Form 6478 is accessible at: http://www.cbp.gov/​sites/​default/​files/​documents/​CBP%20Form%206478_​0.pdf.

Current Actions: This submission is being made to extend the expiration date with a change to the burden hours based on updated estimates of the number of applicants and record keepers associated with this information collection. There are no changes to the information collected.

Type of Review: Extension (with change).

Affected Public: Businesses.

Applications for Commercial Testing and Approval of Commercial Gaugers:

Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 8.

Estimated Time per Response: 1.25 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10.

Record Keeping Associated with Applications for Commercial Testing and Approval of Commercial Gaugers:

Estimated Number of Respondents: 180.

Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 180.

Dated: June 14, 2016.

Tracey Denning,

Agency Clearance Officer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.