[Federal Register: March 5, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 43)]
[Notices]               
[Page 13282-13283]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05mr01-30]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

 
Implementation of Tariff Rate Quota Established Under Title V of 
the Trade and Development Act of 2000 for Imports of Certain Worsted 
Wool Fabric

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the 
information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c) (2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 4, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230. Phone 
number: (202) 482-3272 or via the Internet at MClayton@doc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to: Sergio Botero, Trade Development, Room 3119, 14th & 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; Phone number: (202) 
482-4058 and fax number: (202) 482-0667.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (``the Act'') 
contains several provisions to assist the wool products industries. 
These include the establishment of tariff rate quotas (TRQ) for a 
limited quantity of worsted wool fabrics. The Act requires the 
President to fairly allocate the TRQ to persons who cut and sew men's 
and boys' worsted wool suits and suit like jackets and trousers in the 
United States, and who apply for an allocation based on the amount of 
suits they produce in the prior year. The Act further requires the 
President, on an annual basis, to consider requests from the 
manufacturers of the apparel products

[[Page 13283]]

listed above, to modify the limitation on the quantity of imports 
subject to the TRQ. The Act specifies factors to be considered in 
making determinations on such requests. The TRQ is effective for goods 
entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 
January 1, 2001, and will remain in force through 2003. A TRQ 
allocation will be valid only in the year for which it is issued.
    On December 1, 2000, the President issued Proclamation 7383 that, 
among other things, delegates authority to the Secretary of Commerce to 
allocate the TRQ; to consider, on an annual basis, requests to modify 
the limitation on the quantity of the TRQ and to recommend appropriate 
modifications to the President; and to issue regulations to implement 
these provisions. On January 22, 2001, the Department of Commerce 
published regulations establishing procedures for allocation of the 
tariff rate quotas (66 FR 6459, 15 CFR part 335) and for considering 
requests for modification of the limitations (66 FR 6459, 15 CFR part 
340). The Department must collect certain information in order to 
fairly allocate the TRQ to eligible persons and to make informed 
recommendations to the President on whether or not to modify the 
limitation on the quantity of the TRQ. The Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) has approved this information collection request (OMB 
Number 0625-0240) with an expiration date of July 31, 2001. This 
request for comment is for the proposed information collection after 
July 31, 2001.

II. Method of Collection

    The information collection forms will be provided via the Internet 
and by mail to requesting firms.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0625-0240.
    Form Number: ITA-4137P, ITA-4138P, ITA-4139, and ITA-4140P.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 35.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1-24 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,222 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Costs: $207,275.
    The estimated annual cost for this collection is $207,275 ($66,825 
for respondents and $140,450 for federal government).

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed 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 estimate of the burden 
(including hours and costs) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: February 27, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-5157 Filed 3-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P