2011-5436. Agency Information Collection Activities: Automated Commercial Environment Trade Survey

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

60-Day Notice and request for comments; Establishment of a new 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: Automated Commercial Environment Trade Survey. 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 May 9, 2011, 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 costs burden to respondents or record keepers from the collection of information (a 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: Automated Commercial Environment Trade Survey.

OMB Number: Will be assigned upon approval.

Form Number: None.

Abstract: CBP plans to conduct a survey of commercial entities, including Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers, Freight Forwarders, Foreign Trade Zones, Filers (to include Brokers and Self-Filers), Importers, Carriers and Sureties, regarding their use of and experience with the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system. This voluntary survey will be conducted over the internet by e-mail and/or telephone invitation. The survey will include questions about current, as well as future ACE functionalities. The results and analysis of the survey responses will be used to characterize the trade community's experience with ACE and inform future functionality deployments.

Current Actions: CBP proposes to establish a new collection of information.

Type of Review: Approval of a new collection of information.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 30 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 500.

Dated: March 4, 2011.

Tracey Denning,

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