2011-24879. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

Agency: International Trade Administration (ITA).

Title: Foreign-Trade Zones Application.

Form Number(s): N/A.

OMB Control Number: 0625-0139.

Type of Request: Regular submission.

Burden Hours: 4,969.

Number of Respondents: 63.

Average Hours per Response: General-Purpose Zone Application, 148 hours; Special-Purpose Subzone Application, 113 hours; Reorganization/Expansion of General-Purpose Zone, 99 hours; and Request for Manufacturing Authority, 34 hours.

Needs and Uses: The Foreign-Trade Zone Application is the vehicle by which individual firms or organizations apply for foreign-trade zone (FTZ) status, for subzone status, manufacturing authority, or for expansion/reorganization of an existing zone. The FTZ Act and Regulations require that an application with a description of the proposed project be made to the FTZ Board (19 U.S.C. 81b and 81f; 15 CFR 400.24-26) before a license can be issued or a zone can be expanded. The Act and Regulations require that applications contain detailed information on facilities, financing, operational plans, proposed manufacturing operations, need, and economic impact. Manufacturing activity in zones or subzones, can involve issues related to domestic industry and trade policy impact. Such applications must include specific information on the customs tariff-related savings that result from zone procedures and the economic consequences of permitting such savings. The FTZ Board needs complete and accurate information on the proposed operation and its economic effects because the Act and Regulations authorize the Board to restrict or prohibit operations that are detrimental to the public interest.

The program revision involves the number copies submitted by applicants. They are now required to submit original and three copies instead of the previously required original and twelve copies.

Affected Public: State, local, or tribal government; not-for-profit institutions; business or other for-profit organizations.

Frequency: Annually.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

OMB Desk Officer: Wendy Liberante, [phone].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail].

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to Wendy Liberante, OMB Desk Officer, Fax number [phone] or via the Internet at [e-mail].

Dated: September 22, 2011.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.