Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Offsets in Military Exports

Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 172 (Wednesday, September 5, 2012)

Federal Register Volume 77, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 5, 2012)

Notices

Page 54559

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2012-21847

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security

Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Offsets in Military Exports

AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 5, 2012.

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 JJessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Larry Hall, BIS ICB Liaison, (202) 482-4895, Lawrence.Hall@bis.doc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Abstract

   This collection of information is required by the Defense Production Act (DPA). The DPA requires U.S. firms to furnish information (15 CFR 701) to the Department of Commerce regarding offset agreements exceeding $5,000,000 in value associated with sales of weapon systems or defense-related items to foreign countries or foreign firms. Offsets are industrial or commercial compensation practices required as a condition of purchase in either government-to-government or commercial sales of defense articles and/or defense services as defined by the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Such offsets are required by most major trading partners when purchasing U.S. military equipment or defense related items. An annual report based on offset agreements and offset transactions data reported to BIS by industry is submitted to Congress on the impact of offsets in defense trade on the United States.

2. Method of Collection

   Submitted electronically or on paper.

3. Data

   OMB Control Number: 0694-0084.

   Form Number(s): N/A.

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

   Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

   Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.

   Estimated Time per Response: 12 hours.

   Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 360.

   Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

4. 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: August 30, 2012.

   Gwellnar Banks,

   Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

   FR Doc. 2012-21847 Filed 9-4-12; 8:45 am

   BILLING CODE 3510-33-P