2022-13949. Accreditation of Commercial Testing Laboratories and Approval of Commercial Gaugers

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:

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 August 29, 2022 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) contained in this notice must include the OMB Control Number 1651-0053 in the subject line and the agency name. Please use the following method to submit comments:

Email: Submit comments to: [e-mail].

Due to COVID-19-related restrictions, CBP has temporarily suspended its ability to receive public comments by mail.

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

OMB Number: 1651-0053.

Form Number: CBP Form 6478.

Current Actions: This submission is being made to extend the expiration date with a decrease to the burden hours.

Type of Review: Extension (with change).

Affected Public: Businesses.

Abstract: Commercial laboratories seeking to become a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Accredited Laboratory and commercial gaugers seeking to become a CBP Approved Gauger must submit the information specified in 19 CFR 151.12 and 19 CFR 151.13, respectively, to CBP on CBP Form 6478. After the initial accreditation and/or approval, a private company may apply to include additional facilities under its accreditation and/or approval by submitting a formal written request to CBP. This application process is authorized by Section 613 of Public Law 103-182 (North American Free Trade Agreement 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: https://www.cbp.gov/​sites/​default/​files/​assets/​documents/​2022-May/​CBP%20Form%206478.pdf.

Type of Information Collection: Application.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 8.

Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 8.

Estimated Time per Response: 75 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10.

Dated: June 24, 2022.

Seth D. Renkema,

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