Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Direct Investment Surveys: BE-13, Survey of New Foreign Direct Investment in the United States, 27080 [2019-12271]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• Bureau of Economic Analysis

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 27080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12271]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Direct 
Investment Surveys: BE-13, Survey of New Foreign Direct Investment in 
the United States

AGENCY: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 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 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 August 12, 2019.

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 email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Jessica Hanson, Chief, Direct Transactions and Positions 
Branch (BE-49Q), Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 4600 Silver Hill Rd., Washington, DC 20233; or via email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Survey of New Foreign Direct Investment in the United States 
(BE-13) collects information on the acquisition and establishment of 
U.S. business enterprises by foreign investors and on expansions by 
existing U.S. affiliates of foreign companies. Foreign direct 
investment is defined as the ownership or control by one foreign person 
(foreign parent) of 10 percent or more of the voting securities of an 
incorporated U.S. business enterprise, or an equivalent interest of an 
unincorporated U.S. business enterprise, including a branch. The data 
collected through the survey are used to measure the amount of new 
foreign direct investment in the United States, assess the impact on 
the U.S. economy, and ensure complete coverage of BEA's other foreign 
direct investment statistics.
    The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) does not propose any changes 
to the survey.

II. Method of Collection

    Notifications will be mailed to respondents as BEA becomes aware of 
a potentially reportable investment or when annual cost updates are 
needed. A business enterprise that meets the reporting requirements of 
the survey is required to report whether or not it is contacted by BEA. 
A business enterprise that is contacted by BEA and does not meet the 
reporting requirements is required to respond to indicate that it does 
not meet the requirements. The survey is due 45 days after (1) an 
acquisition is completed, (2) a new U.S. business enterprise is 
established, (3) an expansion is begun, (4) a cost update is requested 
by BEA, or (5) a U.S. business enterprise that does not meet the filing 
requirements for the survey receives a notification letter from BEA.
    BEA offers electronic filing through its eFile system for use in 
reporting on the BE-13 survey forms. In addition, BEA posts all its 
survey forms and reporting instructions on its website (www.bea.gov/fdi). These may be downloaded, completed, printed, and submitted via 
fax or mail.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0608-0035.
    Form Number: BE-13.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,400 annually, of which 
approximately 600 file A forms, 180 file B forms, 80 file D forms, 340 
file E forms, and 1,200 file Claim for Exemption forms.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,547 hours. Total annual 
burden is calculated by multiplying the estimated number of submissions 
of each form by the average hourly burden per form, which is 2.5 hours 
for the A form, 2.2 hours for the B form, 1.2 hours for the D form, 
0.75 hours for the E form, and 0.25 hours for the Claim for Exemption 
form.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 1.1 hours per respondent (2,547 
hours/2,400 respondents) is the average but may vary among respondents 
because of differences in company size and complexity.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: International Investment and Trade in Services 
Survey Act (Pub. L. 94-472, 22 U.S.C. 3101-3108, as amended).

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 will 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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-12271 Filed 6-10-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P