Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; License Exemptions and Exclusions

AGENCY:

Bureau of Industry and Security.

ACTION:

Notice.

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.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before May 13, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the internet at PRAcomments@doc.gov)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Mark Crace, BIS ICB Liaison, (202) 482-8093, mark.crace@bis.doc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

Over the years, BIS has worked with other Government agencies and the affected public to identify areas where export licensing requirements may be relaxed without jeopardizing U.S. national security or foreign policy. Many of these relaxations have taken the form of licensing exceptions and exclusions. Some of these license exceptions and exclusions have a reporting or recordkeeping requirement to enable the Government to continue to monitor exports of these items. Exporters may choose to utilize the license exception and accept the reporting or recordkeeping burden in lieu of submitting a license application. These exceptions and exclusions have resulted in a large reduction of licensing burden in OMB Control No. 0694-0088 and allow exporters to ship items quickly, without having to wait for license approval.

It is up to the individual company to decide whether it is most advantageous to continue to submit license applications or to comply with the reporting or recordkeeping requirements and take advantage of the licensing exception or exclusion.

II. Method of Collection

Electronic.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0694-0088.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current information collection).

Affected Public: Non-profit institutions; State, local, or tribal government; business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 64,612.

Estimated Time per Response: 0.49 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 31,833.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Legal Authority: Section 15(b) of the Export Control Reform Act.

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.