E7-12434. 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: DS-2031, Shrimp Exporter's/Importer's Declaration, OMB Control Number 1405-0095

ACTION:

Notice of request for public comment and submission to OMB of proposed collection of information.

SUMMARY:

The Department of State has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

• Title of Information Collection: Shrimp Exporter's/Importer's Declaration.
• OMB Control Number: 1405-0095.
• Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
• Originating Office: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of Marine Conservation (OES/OMC).
• Form Number: DS-2031.
• Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
• Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,000.
• Estimated Number of Responses: 10,000.
• Average Hours per Response: 10 min.
• Total Estimated Burden: 1,666.
• Frequency: On Occasion.
• Obligation to Respond: Mandatory.

DATES:

Submit comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) up to July 27, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Direct comments and questions to Katherine Astrich, the Department of State Desk Officer in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), who may be reached at 202-395-4718. You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• E-mail: [e-mail]. You must include the DS form number, information collection title, and OMB control number in the subject line of your message.
• Mail (paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions): Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.
• Fax: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

You may obtain copies of the proposed information collection and supporting documents from Clayton Stanger, Office of Marine Conservation, 2201 C Street, NW., Room 2758, Washington, DC who may be reached on 202-647-2335 or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:

• Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary to properly perform our functions.
• Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used.
• Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.
• Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond.

Abstract of proposed collection: The Form DS-203 is necessary to document imports of shrimp pursuant to the State Department's implementation of Section 609 of Public Law 101-162, which prohibits the entry into the United States of shrimp harvested in ways which are harmful to sea turtles. Respondents are shrimp exporters and government officials in countries which export shrimp to the United States. The DS 2031 Form is to be retained by the importer for a period of three years subsequent to entry, and during that time is to be made available to U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the Department of State upon request.

Methodology: The DS-2031 form is completed by the exporter, the importer, and under certain conditions a government official of the exporting country. The DS-2031 Form accompanies shipment of shrimp and shrimp products to the United States and is to be made available to U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the time of entry.

Dated: May 10, 2007.

David A. Balton,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, Department of State.