2022-21266. Importers of Merchandise Subject to Actual Use Provisions

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

30-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 October 31, 2022) to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) contained in this notice should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

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, 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 proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (87 FR 29757) on May 16, 2022, 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 1320.8. 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: Importers of Merchandise Subject to Actual Use Provisions.

OMB Number: 1651-0032.

Form Number: N/A.

Current Actions: Extension without change.

Type of Review: Extension (without change).

Affected Public: Businesses.

Abstract: In accordance with 19 CFR 10.137, importers of goods subject to the actual use provisions of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) are required to maintain detailed records to establish that these goods were actually used as contemplated by the law, and to support the importer's claim for a free or reduced rate of duty. The importer shall maintain records of use or disposition for a period of three years from the date of liquidation of the entry, and the records shall be available at all times for examination and inspection by CBP.

The collection of information is supplemental to importer information about goods subject to the actual use provisions of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) and pursuant to section 10.137 of title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (19 CFR 10.137).

Importers of goods subject to 19 CFR 10.137 Actual Use Provisions are required to show the imported item/merchandise:

1. Is not on an exclusion list;

2. Complies with provisions of the law; and

3. Meets the required actual use provisions laid out in law.

This information is collected from members of the trade community who are familiar with CBP regulations.

Type of Information Collection: Importers Subject to Actual Use Provision Recordkeeping.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,000.

Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 12,000.

Estimated Time per Response: 65 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 13,000 hours.

Dated: September 27, 2022.

Seth D. Renkema,

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