Notice of a Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection, 6167-6168 [2010-2695]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Foreign Agricultural Service

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 25 (Monday, February 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6167-6168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2695]


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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 25 / Monday, February 8, 2010 / 
Notices

[[Page 6167]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of a Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice 
announces the Foreign Agricultural Service's intention to request an 
extension for a currently approved information collection in support of 
the regulations governing the entry of raw cane sugar under the tariff-
rate quota (TRQ) into the United States.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by no later than April 
9, 2010 to be assured of consideration.
    Additional Information and Comments: Contact William Janis, 
International Economist, Import Policies and Export Reporting Division, 
Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, AgStop 
1021, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1021; or by 
telephone (202) 720-2194; by fax to (202) 720-0876; or by e-mail 
William.Janis@fas.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Certificate of Quota Eligibility.
    OMB Number: 0551-0014.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2010.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The provisions of paragraph (b)(iv) of the Additional 
U.S. note 5 to Chapter 17 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States (HTS), established by Presidential Proclamation 6763 of 
December 1994, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish for 
each fiscal year the quantity of sugars and syrups that may be entered 
at the lower tariff rates of TRQs. The TRQs cover sugars and syrups 
described in HTS subheadings 1701.11, 1701.12, 1701.91, 1701.99, 
1702.90 and 2106.90. This authority was proclaimed by the President to 
implement the results of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade 
negotiations as reflected in the provisions of Schedule XX (United 
States), annexed to the Agreement establishing the World Trade 
Organization. The terms under which Certificates for Quota Eligibility 
(CQEs) will be issued to foreign countries that have been allocated a 
share of the TRQ are set forth in 15 CFR Part 2011, Allocation of 
Tariff-Rate Quota on Imported Sugars, Syrups, and Molasses, Subpart A--
Certificates of Quota. The authority for issuing CQEs is Additional 
U.S. Note 5(b)(iv) to chapter 17 of the HTS. The regulation, 
promulgated by the United States Trade Representative, provides for the 
issuance of CQEs by the Secretary of Agriculture and in general 
prohibits sugar subject to the TRQ from being imported into the United 
States or withdrawn from a warehouse for consumption at the in-quota 
duty rates unless such sugar is accompanied by a CQE.
    CQEs are issued to foreign countries by the Director of the Import 
Policies and Export Reporting Division, Foreign Agriculture Service, or 
his or her designee. The issuance of CQEs is in such amounts and at 
such times as the Director determines are appropriate to enable the 
foreign country to fill its quota allocation for such quota period in a 
reasonable manner, taking into account harvesting periods, U.S. import 
requirements, and other relevant factors. The information required to 
be collected on the CQE is used to monitor and control the imports of 
raw cane sugar. Proper completion of the CQE is mandatory for those 
foreign governments that are eligible and elect to export raw cane 
sugar to the United States under the TRQ.
    Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for the collection 
directly varies with the number of CQEs issued.
    Respondents: Foreign governments.
    Estimated number of respondents: 40 (i.e., number of countries 
receiving a TRQ allocation).
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 30 per fiscal year.
    Estimated total number of forms: 1,200.
    Estimated burden hours per response: 0.1667 hour (10 minutes).
    Estimated total annual burden hours for respondents: 200 hours.
    Requests for Comments: Send comments regarding (a) Whether the 
information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the 
functions of the agency, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the collection of information including validity of the 
methodology and assumption used; (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 those who are 
to respond, including through the use of automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Copies of this information collection may be 
obtained from Tamoria Thompson-Hall, the Agency Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (202) 690-1690.
    Comments may be sent to William Janis, International Economist, 
Import Policies and Export Reporting Division, Foreign Agricultural 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, AgStop 1021, 1250 Maryland 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024-1021; or by telephone (202) 720-2194; 
or by e-mail: William.Janis@fas.usda.gov. All comments received will be 
available for public inspection in Room PB435-B at the above address. 
Persons with disabilities who require an alternative means of 
communication for information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) 
should contact USDA's target center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments also will become a matter of 
public record. FAS is committed to complying with the Government 
Paperwork Elimination Act which requires Government agencies, to the 
maximum extent feasible, to provide the public the option of 
electronically submitting information collection. CQEs permit exporters 
to ship raw cane sugar to the United States at the U.S. price, which is 
ordinarily significantly higher than the world price for raw cane 
sugar. Therefore, in contrast to most information collection documents, 
CQEs

[[Page 6168]]

have a monetary value equivalent to the substantial benefits to 
exporters who can fill their raw cane sugar allocations under the TRQ. 
CQEs have always been carefully handled as secure documents, and issued 
only to foreign government-approved certifying authorities. The 
Department does not plan to make CQEs available electronically in order 
to prevent a potential proliferation of invalid CQEs, which could 
undermine the integrity of the TRQ system.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on February 1, 2010.
John D. Brewer,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-2695 Filed 2-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P