[Federal Register: April 28, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 83)]
[Notices]
[Page 24912-24914]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28ap00-29]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Shipper's Export Declaration Program

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 burden, invites the general public
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing 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 June 27, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
5033, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via
the Internet at LEngelme@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Jerome Greenwell, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 3125,
Federal Office Building No. 3, Washington, DC 20233-0001, 301-457-2238.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Shipper's Export Declaration (SEDs), Forms 7525-V, 7525-V-
Alternate (Intermodal), and the electronic equivalent, the Automated
Export System (AES) are the basis for the official export trade
statistics compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau (Census Bureau). Title
13, United States Code, Chapter 9, Sections 301-307

[[Page 24913]]

authorizes the collection of all these data. Title 15, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 30 contains the regulatory provisions for preparing
and filing the SED or the AES record. The Census Bureau has the primary
responsibility for the collection, compilation and publication of the
official statistics on U.S. exports used for determining the balance of
trade, a principal economic indicator. These data are essential in
formulating basic government policy decisions affecting the economy.
U.S. businesses rely heavily on these data to develop export leads,
export marketing strategies and assessing the impact of exports on the
domestic economy.
    The statistical information on the SED or the AES record shows what
is being exported (description and commodity classification number),
how much (quantity, gross weight and value), how it is being exported
(mode of transportation, exporting carrier and whether containerized),
from where (state of origin, and port of export), to where (port of
unloading and country of ultimate destination), and when (date of
exportation). The identification of the exporter, forwarding agent, and
consignee provide contacts for verification of the statistical
information. The Census Bureau uses every data element on the SED/AES
record for statistical purposes only. Other Government agencies may use
the SED/AES information for export control purposes, and/or to obtain
trade information to avoid conducting additional surveys.
    The SED/AES records are also used for export control purposes under
Title 50, United States Code and are used to detect and prevent the
export of certain commodities (for example, high technology or military
goods) to unauthorized destinations or end users. The SED/AES records,
as official documents or export transactions, enable the U.S. Customs
Service (Customs) and the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) to
enforce the Customs and Export Administration Regulations and thereby
detect and prevent the export of high technology commodities to
unauthorized destinations. The Department of State uses the SED/AES
information to enforce the International Traffic in Arms Regulations
(ITAR) to detect and prevent the export of arms and ammunition to
unauthorized destinations.
    In the past, each different type of paper SED was cleared
separately. In recent years the number of submissions via automated
programs, the Automated Export Reporting Program (AERP) operated by the
Census Bureau and the new Automated Export System operated jointly by
the Census Bureau and Customs, have grown rapidly and are now
considered as part of SED submissions. With the rapid growth of the
AES, the Census Bureau discontinued the AERP program as of December 31,
1999. Filers using the AERP program, which was strictly used for Census
Bureau statistical collection purposes, are now filing their
information through the AES, paper documents, or are in the process of
converting to the AES.
    The authority for clearance of the Shipper's Export Declaration for
In-Transit Goods, Form 7513, which serves as the source document from
which the official U.S. statistics on outbound in-transit waterborne
shipments is collected and compiled has been transferred to the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). This program was transferred to the
Corps, as they are the primary users of the in-transit data.
    With this submission the Census Bureau is requesting clearance for
the reporting of export data: (1) using the two types of paper SEDs,
Form 7525-V and Form 7525-V Alternate (Intermodal); and (2) through the
AES. The Census Bureau is eliminating clearances for the AERP program
and for the in-transit Form 7513, which were included in our previous
submission.

II. Method of Collection

    A paper SED or electronic AES record is required for all export
shipments valued over $2,500 from the United States, Puerto Rico, and
the U.S. Virgin Islands. The SED or AES record is also required for all
licensed shipments, (i.e. State Department or Bureau of Export
Administration export licenses) regardless of value. The SED program is
unique among Census Bureau statistical collections since it is not sent
to respondents soliciting responses as is the case in surveys. Filing
the SED/AES information is mandatory under Title 13, Chapter 9 of the
United States Code. Over 5.5 million paper SEDs, over 2.5 million
automated AES records and over 5.5 million automated AERP records were
submitted in 1999. In addition, data for over 63,000 exporters has been
filed by participants in AES and AERP during 1999. For this reason the
Census Bureau attempts to avoid frequent changes in data content and
format. The paper SEDs have been in continuous use since 1985 with
minor revisions in 1988. The AES format has been in use since 1995 and
the format has been approved by the trade community through a series of
Interest Based Negotiation meetings. Exporters can purchase the paper
SEDs or they may have them privately printed. They can also download
the SED forms over the Internet and print them on the required ``buff''
colored paper.
    For this submission, the Census Bureau is planning revisions to the
paper SED forms to bring them up to date with current regulatory and
policy changes reflected by the implementation of the AES. The changes
include: (1) Revising box 1a (7525-V) and box 2 (7525-V-ALT) to read
``Exporter (U.S. Principal Party In Interest)'' (2) revising box 1b
(7525-V) and box 7 (7525-V-ALT) to read ``Exporter's EIN (IRS) or ID
No''; (3) adding an ``M'' indicator code to box 16 (7525-V) and box 23
(7525-V-ALT) for Foreign Military Sales Shipments; (4) deleting the
check digit field on both forms, and replacing it with a field for the
Export Information Code ``(EIC)''; (5) revising box 21 (7525-V) and box
27 (7525-V-ALT) to read ``License No./License Exception Symbol/
Authorization''; (6) adding a box for a ``Carrier Identification'' Code
(i.e. SCAC/IATA code); (7) adding a box for ``Shipment Reference
Number''; (8) adding a box for the ``In Bond'' number; (9) adding a box
for a Hazardous Material Indicator; (10) adding a box for ``Used
Vehicle Identification No.''; (11) adding a box for ``Vehicle Title
No.''; and (12) adding a box for ``Entry No.'' for bonded shipments.
All changes to the paper SED format are also applicable to the AES
format. These additional items are conditional data elements and will
not be reported for all transactions. Therefore, we do not estimate
these revisions will increase response time.
    Exporters or their agents file individual paper SEDs with the
exporting carriers at the time that each export shipment leaves the
United States. For AES, exporters or their agents file the export data
electronically directly with the U.S. Customs Service, according to the
filing provisions established in Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations,
Part 30, Subpart E, ``Electronic Filing Requirements--Shipper's Export
Information''. The carriers submit the paper SED documents to Customs
officials when the carrier departs the United States and Customs then
transmits the SEDs to the Census Bureau on a flow basis for statistical
processing. For AES, the Census Bureau extracts export data files from
the Customs AES, for statistical processing.
    For exports to Canada, the United States is substituting Canadian
import statistics for U.S. exports to Canada in accordance with a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by both Customs and
statistical agencies in both

[[Page 24914]]

countries. Similarly, under this MOU, Canada is substituting U.S.
import statistics for Canadian exports to the United States. These data
exchanges eliminate the requirement for U.S. exporters to file any
information with the U.S. government. This results in the elimination
of over four million SEDs annually. However, for exports to Canada that
require a license, a SED or AES record must be filed. Also, a SED or
AES record is required for exports from the United States through
Canada destined to a country other than Canada.
    In addition, the Census Bureau and Customs are continuing to
implement and expand the use of the AES for filing shipper's export
information electronically. The AES provides a voluntary automated
alternative to filing the paper SED. Extensive outreach and education
efforts have been and continue to be made to encourage the trade
community to use the AES for filing its export data. The Census Bureau
has implemented the AESDirect system to allow AES filers to file their
export information directly to AES via the Internet. The Census Bureau
anticipates a gradual and progressive growth in the number of
electronic filers, with a comparable decrease in the number of paper
filers over the course of the next few years.
    During the past several years the Census Bureau and Customs have
also been involved in an intensive outreach and education program to
improve compliance with Customs and Census Bureau regulatory provisions
in reference to filing Customs manifest documents and the Census Bureau
SED/AES documents/records. During these compliance programs, the Census
Bureau and Customs conducted seminars with the trade community to
inform them of the regulatory filing requirements. In addition, Customs
has also increased its enforcement effort for those filers not in
compliance with the export laws and regulations. This compliance
effort, in addition to the outreach and education effort encouraging
the use of electronic filing through the AES has led to a significant
increase in both paper and electronic filings. Also, with the expansion
of the global economy and the increased emphasis on international
trade, the Census Bureau has experienced a significant increase in the
number of export transactions being filed. For example, in 1993 the
Census Bureau received 1.1 million transactions per month. In 1999 the
Census Bureau received 1.7 million transactions per month. This
represents an increase of 55 percent in the number of monthly
transactions processed by the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau expects
this trend to continue for the next several years. All these factors
combined, have resulted in an increase in our estimate of annual
responses from the previous submission.
    In summary, for non-Canadian exports, approximately 55 percent of
export transactions are reported electronically using the AES, and
approximately 45 percent of export transactions are reported using the
paper SEDs. The Census Bureau expects the percentage of electronic
filings through the AES to substantially increase during the next
several years.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0152.
    Form Number: 7525-V, 7525-V-Alternate (Intermodal), Automated
Export System (AES) submissions.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Exporters, Forwarding Agents, Export Carriers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 13,449,996..
    Estimated Time Per Response: 11.166 minutes for 7525-V, 7525-V-
Alternate 3.0 minutes for AES submissions.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,284,949.

    SEDs, 837,450.
    AES, 447,499.

    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $19,274,235.
    SEDs--837,450 hrs @ $15/hr = $12,561,750.
    AES--447,499 hrs @ $15/hr = $6,712,485.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Chapter 9.

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 cost) 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 other 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: April 25, 2000.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-10650 Filed 4-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P