[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2013)] [Notices] [Pages 43141-43142] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2013-17301] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Implementation of Tariff Rate Quota Established Under Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 for Imports of Certain Worsted Wool Fabric AGENCY: International Trade Administration (ITA). 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 September 17, 2013. 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 [email protected]). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Laurie Mease, Office of Textiles and Apparel, Telephone: 202-482-3400, Fax: 202-482-2331, Email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (``the Act'') as amended by the Trade Act of 2002, the Miscellaneous Trade Act of 2004, the Pension Protection Act of 2006, and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, 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 specifies factors to be addressed in considering such requests. On December 1, 2000, the President issued Proclamation 7383 that, among other things, delegates authority to the Secretary of Commerce to allocate the TRQ 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 335). The interim regulations were adopted, without change, as a final rule published on October 24, 2005 (70 FR 61363). The TRQ was originally effective for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2001, and was to remain in force through 2003. On August 6, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Trade Act of 2002, which includes several amendments to Title V of the Act including the extension of the program through 2005. On December 3, 2004, the Act was further amended pursuant to the Miscellaneous Trade Act of 2004, Public Law 108-429, by increasing the TRQ for worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameters greater than 18.5 microns, HTS 9902.51.11, to an annual total level of 5.5 million square meters, and extending it through 2007, and increasing the TRQ for average fiber diameters of 18.5 microns or less, HTS 9902.51.15 (previously 9902.51.12), to an annual total level of 5 million square meters and extending it through 2006. On August 17, 2006, the Act was further amended pursuant to the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Public Law 109-280, which extended both TRQs, 9902.51.11 and 9902.51.15, through 2009. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 extended the TRQs through 2014. The Department must collect certain information in order to fairly allocate the TRQ to eligible persons. In order to be eligible for an allocation, an applicant must submit an application. An applicant must provide the following information in the format set forth in the application form provided by the Department: (1) Identification. Applicant's name, address, telephone number, email address, and federal tax identification number; name of person submitting the application, and title, or capacity in which the person is acting for the applicant. (2) Production Information. Name and address of each plant or location where Worsted Wool Suits, Worsted Wool Suit-Type Jackets, and Worsted Wool Trousers were cut and sewn by the applicant and the name and address of all plants or locations that cut and sewed such products on behalf of the applicant. Production data, including the following: the quantity and value of the Worsted Wool Suits, Worsted Wool Suit- Type Jackets, and Worsted Wool Trousers cut and sewn in the United States by applicant, or on behalf of applicant, from fabric owned by applicant. This data must indicate actual production (not estimates) of Worsted Wool Suits, Worsted Wool Suit-Type Jackets and Worsted Wool Trousers containing at least 85 percent worsted wool fabric by weight with an average diameter of 18.5 microns or less. This data must also indicate actual production (not estimates) of Worsted Wool Suits, Worsted Wool Suit-Type Jackets and Worsted Wool Trousers containing at least 85 percent worsted wool fabric by weight with average diameter greater than 18.5 microns. Production data must be provided for the first six months of the year of the application. This data will be annualized for the purpose of making Tariff Rate Quota allocation. (3) Worsted Wool Fabric. Data indicating the quantity and value of the Worsted Wool Fabric used in reported production. (4) Certification. A statement by the applicant, or on behalf of the applicant, by an employee, officer or agent, with [[Page 43142]] personal knowledge of the matters set out in the application, certifying that the information contained therein is complete and accurate, signed and sworn before a Notary Public, and acknowledging that false representations to a federal agency may result in criminal penalties under federal law. Not later than September 30 of each Tariff Rate Quota Year, a licensee that will not import the full quantity granted in a license during the Tariff Rate Quota Year shall surrender the allocation that will not be used to the Department for purposes of reallocation. The surrender shall be final, and shall apply only to that Tariff Rate Quota Year. Revision: Forms for surrender and reallocation have been developed in order to create a standardized method of reporting such information. The information collected on the surrender and reallocation application is utilized to determine the eligibility of applicants for additional quota and the amount of additional quota they shall receive. The information includes: (1) Identification. Licensee's name and the license control number. (2) The amount surrendered and/or the amount requested for reallocation. II. Method of Collection The information collection forms will be provided via the Internet and by mail to requesting firms. III. Data OMB Control Number: 0625-0240. Form Number(s): ITA-4139, ITA-4140P. Type of Review: Regular submission (revision to a currently approved information collection). Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 20. Estimated Time Per Response: 3 hours. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 160. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $450. 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: July 15, 2013. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2013-17301 Filed 7-18-13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P