[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 9, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68809-68810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28213]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs And Border Protection


Agency Information Collection Activities: Importation Bond 
Structure

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: 30-day notice and request for comments; Extension and revision 
of an existing information collection: 1651-0050.

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SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of 
Homeland Security will be submitting the following information 
collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: 
Importation Bond Structure. This is a proposed extension and revision 
of an information collection that was previously approved. CBP is 
proposing that this information collection be extended with a change to 
the burden hours and to CBP Form 301. This document is published to 
obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. This proposed 
information collection was previously published in the Federal Register 
(75 FR 50772) on August 17, 2010, allowing for a 60-day comment period. 
One comment was received. This notice allows for an additional 30 days 
for public comments. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 
1320.10.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before December 9, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
this proposed information collection to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be 
addressed to the OMB Desk Officer for Customs and Border Protection, 
Department of Homeland Security, and sent via electronic mail to [email protected] or faxed to (202) 395-5806.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 
encourages the general public and affected Federal agencies to submit 
written comments and suggestions on proposed and/or continuing 
information collection requests pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(Pub. L. 104-13). Your comments should address one of the following 
four points:

    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency/
component, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies/components estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collections of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques 
or other forms of information.

    Title: Importation Bond Structure.
    OMB Number: 1651-0050.
    Form Numbers: 301 and 5297.
    Abstract: Bonds are used to assure that duties, taxes, charges, 
penalties, and reimbursable expenses owed to the Government are paid; 
to facilitate the movement of cargo and conveyances through CBP 
processing; and to provide legal recourse for the Government for 
noncompliance with laws and regulations. Any person who is required to 
post a bond to secure a customs transaction usually submits the bond on 
CBP Form 301, Customs Bond, to CBP.
    CBP proposes to revise CBP Form 301 in order to accurately reflect 
the changes that have occurred with regard to CBP bonds. Specifically, 
the revised Form 301 will capture the new types of bonds which have 
been authorized by law and regulation, as well as better harmonize this 
form with current and future automation system requirements.

[[Page 68810]]

Section II of the CBP Form 301 will be revised to specifically cover 
continuous activity code bonds for Importer Security Filing, Marine 
Terminal Operator, and Intellectual Property Rights Samples.
    In accordance with public comments received, CBP also proposes to 
make the following changes to Form 301:
    (1) Remove the phrase from Section II of the form ``1a may be 
checked independently or with 1, and'' because these activity codes 
should not be combined.
    (2) In Section II of Form 301, replace the term ``Single Entry 
Bond'' with the term ``Single Transaction Bond'', in each place it 
appears, in order to accommodate transactions that are not entries.
    (3) In Section III of Form 301, replace the term ``Importer Name'', 
in each place it appears, with the term ``Name'' to accommodate parties 
other than importers that use Form 301.
    (4) In Section III of Form 301, replace the term ``Importer 
Number'', in each place it appears, with the term ``Identification 
Number'' in order to include all the types of filing numbers listed in 
19 CFR 24.5.
    (5) Delete the term ``Form 5297'' in both Footnote 8 and Footnote 9 
of Form 301 so that it does not exclude electronic filing of the 
information.
    (1) Create a continuation sheet for Form 301.
    Bonds are usually executed by an agent of the surety. The surety 
company grants authority to the agent via CBP Form 5297, Corporate 
Surety Power of Attorney. Once this form is filed with CBP, the 
validity of the authority of the agent executing the bond and the name 
of the surety can be verified to the surety's grant. The trade 
community now has the ability to submit the information on CBP Form 
5297 via the Internet by using the Automated Commercial Environment 
(ACE) portal. ACE surety portal account access allows sureties to add, 
revoke, and change their surety agent powers of attorney 
electronically. The ACE account is available to any surety who applies 
for the functionality at http://www.cbp.gov. CBP Forms 301 and 5297 are 
accessible at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/forms/.
    Current Actions: This submission is being made to extend the 
expiration date with a change to the burden hours based on revised 
estimates by CBP. CBP also proposes to revise CBP Form 301 as specified 
in the ``Abstract Section'' of this notice.
    Type of Review: Extension (with change).
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form 301, Customs Bond
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 800,000.
    Total Number of Estimated Annual Responses: 800,000.
    Estimated time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 200,000.
    Form 5297, Corporate Surety Power of Attorney
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 500.
    Total Number of Estimated Annual Responses: 500.
    Estimated time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 125.
    If additional information is required contact: Tracey Denning, U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, Regulations and Rulings, Office of 
International Trade, 799 9th Street, NW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 
20229-1177, at 202-325-0265.

    Dated: November 3, 2010.
Tracey Denning,
Agency Clearance Officer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
[FR Doc. 2010-28213 Filed 11-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P