2012-14861. Agency Information Collection Activities: Application and Approval To Manipulate, Examine, Sample, or Transfer Goods

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

60-Day Notice and request for comments; Extension of an existing collection of information.

SUMMARY:

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the: Application and Approval to Manipulate, Examine, Sample, or Transfer Goods. This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13).

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before August 20, 2012, to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Attn: Tracey Denning, Regulations and Rulings, Office of International Trade, 799 9th Street NW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177.

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 International Trade, 799 9th Street NW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177, at 202-325-0265.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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). 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 cost burden 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. In this document CBP is soliciting comments concerning the following information collection:

Title: Application and Approval to Manipulate, Examine, Sample, or Transfer Goods.

OMB Number: 1651-0006.

Form Number: CBP Form 3499.

Abstract: CBP Form 3499, “Application and Approval to Manipulate, Examine, Sample or Transfer Goods”, is used as an application to perform various operations on merchandise that is located at a CBP approved bonded facility. This form is filed by importers, consignees, transferees, or owners of merchandise, and is subject to approval by the port director. The data requested on the form identifies the merchandise for which action is being sought and specifies in detail what operation is to be performed. The form may also be approved as a blanket application to manipulate for a period of up to 1 year, for a continuous or repetitive manipulation. CBP Form 3499 is provided for by 19 CFR 19.8 and is accessible at: http://forms.cbp.gov/​pdf/​CBP_​Form_​3499.pdf.

Current Actions: CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours or to the information collected.

Type of Review: Extension (without change).

Affected Public: Businesses.

Estimated Number of Responses: 151,140.

Estimated Time per Response: 6 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 15,114.

Dated: June 14, 2012.

Tracey Denning,

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