Request for Public Comments on Shipping Tolerances for Export Licenses Issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security, 39679-39680 [2012-16401]

Download as PDF TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 129 / Thursday, July 5, 2012 / Notices Supplement (ASEC) is used to produce official estimates of income and poverty, and it serves as the most widely-cited source of estimates on health insurance and the uninsured. These statistics have far-ranging implications for policy and funding decisions. Alternative sets of questions on income and health insurance have been developed and are now slated for a large-scale field test to evaluate the questions and the estimates they generate. With regard to income, the CPS ASEC was converted to computer assisted interviewing (CAI) in 1994. This conversion, essentially, took the questions and skip patterns of the paper questionnaire, and put them on a computer screen. Automated data collection methods allow for complicated skips, respondent-specific question wording, and carry-over of data from one interview to the next. The computerized questionnaire also permits the inclusion of several built-in editing features, including automatic checks for internal consistency and unlikely responses, and verification of answers. With these built-in editing features, errors can be caught and corrected during the interview itself. It has been more than 30 years since the last major redesign of the income questions of this questionnaire (1980), and the need to modernize this survey to take advantage of CAI technologies has become more and more apparent. Regarding health insurance, the CPS ASEC health insurance questions have measurement error due to both the reference period and timing of data collection. Qualitative research has shown that some respondents do not focus on the calendar year reference period, but rather report on their current insurance status. Quantitative studies have shown that those with more recent coverage are more likely to report accurately than those with coverage in the distant past. A new set of integrated questions on both current and past calendar year status should produce more accurate estimates of past year coverage. This is because the current coverage status questions may serve as an anchor to elicit more accurate reports of past year coverage than the standard methodology. In addition to making improvements to the core set of questions on health insurance, in 2014 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is set to go into effect. One of the main features of the PPACA is the ‘‘Health Insurance Exchange.’’ These are joint federal-state partnerships designed to create a marketplace of private health insurance options for individuals and small businesses. While these VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:48 Jul 03, 2012 Jkt 226001 Exchanges are still in development and states have broad flexibility in designing the programs, it is essential for the federal government to have a viable methodology in place when the PPACA goes into effect to measure Exchange participation, and to measure types of health coverage (in general) in the postreform era. Lastly, the point-in-time health insurance questions lend themselves to additional questions concerning whether the current employer offered the respondent health insurance coverage. Although this set of questions is new to the CPS ASEC, it has been in CPS production in the Contingent Worker Supplement (CWS). The CWS was fielded in February of 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2005. The overarching purpose of the 2013 CPS ASEC Content Test is to evaluate the following: • Customization of income questions to fit specific demographic groups • Ask recipiency and amounts separately • Use better targeted questions for certain income types that are currently not well reported • Improve health insurance questions by using a new method of collection • New content on a new way for people to get income-related subsidies for health insurance coverage • New content on employer-provided health insurance II. Method of Collection The 2013 field test is expected to be conducted using a CATI instrument by Census Bureau interviewers located in three telephone interviewing facilities (in Hagerstown, Maryland; Jeffersonville, Indiana; and Tucson, Arizona). III. Data OMB Control Number: None. Form Number: None. Type of Review: Regular submission. Affected Public: Individuals or households. Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,000 households. Estimated Time per Response: 40 minutes per household. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,000 hours. Estimated Total Annual Cost: Except for their time, there is no cost to respondents. Respondent Obligation: Voluntary. Legal Authority: Section 182 of Title 13 of the United States Code. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 39679 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: June 29, 2012. Glenna Mickelson, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2012–16389 Filed 7–3–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–07–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of Industry and Security [Docket No. 120620179–2179–01] Request for Public Comments on Shipping Tolerances for Export Licenses Issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce. ACTION: Notice of inquiry. AGENCY: Numerous exporters have expressed interest in establishing an automatic calculation through the Automated Export System (AES) of the shipping tolerance for licenses issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to enhance exporter compliance with the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). In addition, automatic calculation would assist in achieving the goals of the President’s Export Control Reform (ECR) initiative to harmonize the control lists of the Departments of Commerce and State, and with the transfer of militarily less significant defense articles from the United States Munitions List (USML) to the Commerce Control List (CCL), by making the transfer smoother for exporters since automatic calculation of shipping tolerances is already in place for the primary licenses issued by the Department of State (DSP–5 licenses). BIS seeks public comment to help it ascertain if changes should be made to its shipping tolerance regulations in SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05JYN1.SGM 05JYN1 39680 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 129 / Thursday, July 5, 2012 / Notices TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES order to make automatic calculation in AES feasible. BIS is particularly interested in whether a flat percentage should be applied to the dollar value of all controlled items to calculate shipping tolerance or whether another method of calculation should be employed. DATES: Comments must be received no later than August 20, 2012. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted via email to teresa.telesco@bis.doc.gov. Please refer to ‘‘Shipping Tolerance of Export Licenses’’ in the subject line. Comments may also be sent to Shipping Tolerance Study, Office of Technology Evaluation, Room 1093, U.S Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teresa Telesco, Office of Technology Evaluation, Bureau of Industry and Security, telephone: 202–482–4959; fax: 202–482–5361; email: teresa.telesco@bis.doc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background BIS, among its other activities, issues licenses for the export of items that are subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Under some circumstances defined in the EAR, exporters are allowed to export more than the quantity or dollar value shown on an export license. This additional amount is called a shipping tolerance. Currently, the allowable shipping tolerance is calculated based on the ‘‘unit’’ specified in the Export Control Classification Number (ECCN); the three basic ‘‘units’’ are ‘‘dollar value,’’ ‘‘number,’’ or ‘‘area, weight or measure’’ (see § 750.11). Depending on the applicable ‘‘unit,’’ BIS allows either no shipping tolerance on dollar value, or up to 25 percent shipping tolerance on dollar value. The Department of State, which issues licenses for commodities identified on the USML, measures shipping tolerances based on dollar value. The Department of State applies a flat 10 percent shipping tolerance on dollar value to all defense articles. The President’s Export Control Reform (ECR) initiative aims to harmonize, to the maximum extent possible, the control lists of the United States Munitions List (USML) and Commerce Control List (CCL). With the anticipated transfer of items determined to no longer warrant control under the USML to the CCL, which are largely generic parts and components, harmonization of the two agencies’ shipping tolerance regulations and the VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:48 Jul 03, 2012 Jkt 226001 ability to automatically calculate available shipping tolerance in the Automated Export System (AES) may be beneficial, because they could make the transfer easier and less confusing for exporters. BIS is looking into the feasibility of adding to the Automated Export System (AES) a feature that automatically calculates the shipping tolerance of the dollar value on an export license, communicates the dollar value remaining on the license back to the AES filer, and notifies the AES filer when the license has been fully utilized. This feature is also known as electronic decrementation of a license, and is already in place on AES for the primary licenses issued by the Department of State (DSP–5 licenses). This feature would enhance compliance with licenses and increase transparency of export licensing by providing precise and timely information to exporters on what they are allowed to export under the license in the future. In addition, electronic decrementation would assist with the ECR harmonization goal, as well as the anticipated control of some munitions items under the CCL, by providing exporters of CCL items with the same functionality in AES already available to exporters of USML items. BIS is seeking information that would help it determine: • If the current EAR shipping tolerance rules should be maintained or if changes should be made that facilitate automatic calculation; • If the EAR shipping tolerance rules were changed, (i) should BIS continue to exclude certain ECCNs from having an allowable shipping tolerance, (ii) should the dollar value-based shipping tolerance be set at 10 percent to match the Department of State rules; and • Whether an automatic calculation of the dollar value-based shipping tolerance in AES (electronic decremention) would assist exporters in maintaining compliance with the allowable shipping dollar value of the license. The following kinds of information would be useful to BIS’s assessment: • Detailed information on your company’s experiences with both the Department of State’s and BIS’s shipping tolerance regulations; • Detailed information on how dollar value-based shipping tolerances are beneficial and practical, or detrimental and burdensome to your company or organization; • Detailed information on your company’s experience with automatic calculation of a dollar value-based shipping tolerance (decrementation) PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 against State Department licenses in AES; • If you believe that BIS’s dollar value-based shipping tolerances should be changed, detailed information on how the tolerances should be changed; and • Detailed information on what benefits, if any, industry would receive through electronic decrementation of a dollar value-based shipping tolerance in AES. How To Comment All comments must be in writing and submitted to one of the addresses indicated above. Comments must be received by BIS no later than August 20, 2012. All comments (including any personal identifiable information) will be available for public inspection and copying. Those wishing to comment anonymously may do so by submitting their comment via regulations.gov and leaving the fields for identifying information blank. Dated: June 27, 2012. Kevin J. Wolf, Assistant Secretary for Export Administration. [FR Doc. 2012–16401 Filed 7–3–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–JT–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A–570–868] Folding Metal Tables and Chairs From the People’s Republic of China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (‘‘Department’’) published its Preliminary Results of administrative review of the antidumping duty order on folding metal tables and chairs from the People’s Republic of China (‘‘PRC’’) on March 7, 2012.1 The period of review (‘‘POR’’) is June 1, 2010, through May 31, 2011. We invited interested parties to comment on our Preliminary Results. Based on our analysis of the comments received, we have made changes to our margin calculations. Therefore, the final results differ from the preliminary results. The final dumping margin for AGENCY: 1 See Folding Metal Tables and Chairs From the People’s Republic of China: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 77 FR 13539 (March 7, 2012) (‘‘Preliminary Results’’). E:\FR\FM\05JYN1.SGM 05JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 129 (Thursday, July 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39679-39680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16401]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security

[Docket No. 120620179-2179-01]


Request for Public Comments on Shipping Tolerances for Export 
Licenses Issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security

AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Numerous exporters have expressed interest in establishing an 
automatic calculation through the Automated Export System (AES) of the 
shipping tolerance for licenses issued by the Bureau of Industry and 
Security (BIS) to enhance exporter compliance with the Export 
Administration Regulations (EAR). In addition, automatic calculation 
would assist in achieving the goals of the President's Export Control 
Reform (ECR) initiative to harmonize the control lists of the 
Departments of Commerce and State, and with the transfer of militarily 
less significant defense articles from the United States Munitions List 
(USML) to the Commerce Control List (CCL), by making the transfer 
smoother for exporters since automatic calculation of shipping 
tolerances is already in place for the primary licenses issued by the 
Department of State (DSP-5 licenses). BIS seeks public comment to help 
it ascertain if changes should be made to its shipping tolerance 
regulations in

[[Page 39680]]

order to make automatic calculation in AES feasible. BIS is 
particularly interested in whether a flat percentage should be applied 
to the dollar value of all controlled items to calculate shipping 
tolerance or whether another method of calculation should be employed.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than August 20, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted via email to 
teresa.telesco@bis.doc.gov. Please refer to ``Shipping Tolerance of 
Export Licenses'' in the subject line. Comments may also be sent to 
Shipping Tolerance Study, Office of Technology Evaluation, Room 1093, 
U.S Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teresa Telesco, Office of Technology 
Evaluation, Bureau of Industry and Security, telephone: 202-482-4959; 
fax: 202-482-5361; email: teresa.telesco@bis.doc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    BIS, among its other activities, issues licenses for the export of 
items that are subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). 
Under some circumstances defined in the EAR, exporters are allowed to 
export more than the quantity or dollar value shown on an export 
license. This additional amount is called a shipping tolerance. 
Currently, the allowable shipping tolerance is calculated based on the 
``unit'' specified in the Export Control Classification Number (ECCN); 
the three basic ``units'' are ``dollar value,'' ``number,'' or ``area, 
weight or measure'' (see Sec.  750.11). Depending on the applicable 
``unit,'' BIS allows either no shipping tolerance on dollar value, or 
up to 25 percent shipping tolerance on dollar value. The Department of 
State, which issues licenses for commodities identified on the USML, 
measures shipping tolerances based on dollar value. The Department of 
State applies a flat 10 percent shipping tolerance on dollar value to 
all defense articles.
    The President's Export Control Reform (ECR) initiative aims to 
harmonize, to the maximum extent possible, the control lists of the 
United States Munitions List (USML) and Commerce Control List (CCL). 
With the anticipated transfer of items determined to no longer warrant 
control under the USML to the CCL, which are largely generic parts and 
components, harmonization of the two agencies' shipping tolerance 
regulations and the ability to automatically calculate available 
shipping tolerance in the Automated Export System (AES) may be 
beneficial, because they could make the transfer easier and less 
confusing for exporters.
    BIS is looking into the feasibility of adding to the Automated 
Export System (AES) a feature that automatically calculates the 
shipping tolerance of the dollar value on an export license, 
communicates the dollar value remaining on the license back to the AES 
filer, and notifies the AES filer when the license has been fully 
utilized. This feature is also known as electronic decrementation of a 
license, and is already in place on AES for the primary licenses issued 
by the Department of State (DSP-5 licenses). This feature would enhance 
compliance with licenses and increase transparency of export licensing 
by providing precise and timely information to exporters on what they 
are allowed to export under the license in the future. In addition, 
electronic decrementation would assist with the ECR harmonization goal, 
as well as the anticipated control of some munitions items under the 
CCL, by providing exporters of CCL items with the same functionality in 
AES already available to exporters of USML items.
    BIS is seeking information that would help it determine:
     If the current EAR shipping tolerance rules should be 
maintained or if changes should be made that facilitate automatic 
calculation;
     If the EAR shipping tolerance rules were changed, (i) 
should BIS continue to exclude certain ECCNs from having an allowable 
shipping tolerance, (ii) should the dollar value-based shipping 
tolerance be set at 10 percent to match the Department of State rules; 
and
     Whether an automatic calculation of the dollar value-based 
shipping tolerance in AES (electronic decremention) would assist 
exporters in maintaining compliance with the allowable shipping dollar 
value of the license.
    The following kinds of information would be useful to BIS's 
assessment:
     Detailed information on your company's experiences with 
both the Department of State's and BIS's shipping tolerance 
regulations;
     Detailed information on how dollar value-based shipping 
tolerances are beneficial and practical, or detrimental and burdensome 
to your company or organization;
     Detailed information on your company's experience with 
automatic calculation of a dollar value-based shipping tolerance 
(decrementation) against State Department licenses in AES;
     If you believe that BIS's dollar value-based shipping 
tolerances should be changed, detailed information on how the 
tolerances should be changed; and
     Detailed information on what benefits, if any, industry 
would receive through electronic decrementation of a dollar value-based 
shipping tolerance in AES.

How To Comment

    All comments must be in writing and submitted to one of the 
addresses indicated above. Comments must be received by BIS no later 
than August 20, 2012. All comments (including any personal identifiable 
information) will be available for public inspection and copying. Those 
wishing to comment anonymously may do so by submitting their comment 
via regulations.gov and leaving the fields for identifying information 
blank.

    Dated: June 27, 2012.
Kevin J. Wolf,
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-16401 Filed 7-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JT-P

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