Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comments-Renewal of the Collection of Information Titled `301 Exclusion Requests', 43853-43859 [2019-18094]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 163 / Thursday, August 22, 2019 / Notices The earliest this transaction may be consummated is September 5, 2019, the effective date of the exemption (30 days after the verified notice was filed). The verified notice states that: (i) The rail lines operated by the OmniTRAX carriers and the HGS carriers, as well as the rail lines to be operated by CCR, do not connect with the rail lines to be operated by WWRR; (ii) the proposed transaction is not part of a series of anticipated transactions that would connect the rail lines that will be operated by WWRR with any railroad in the OmniTRAX and HGS corporate families, or with any rail line to be operated by CCR; and (iii) neither WWRR nor any of the carriers controlled by OmniTRAX or HGS, nor CCR, is a Class I rail carrier. Therefore, the transaction is exempt from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 11323. See 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2). Under 49 U.S.C. 10502(g), the Board may not use its exemption authority to relieve a rail carrier of its statutory obligation to protect the interests of its employees. However, 49 U.S.C. 11326(c) does not provide for labor protection for transactions under 49 U.S.C. 11324 and 11325 that involve only Class III rail carriers. Because this transaction involves Class III rail carriers only, the Board, under the statute, may not impose labor protective conditions for this transaction. If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a petition to revoke will not automatically stay the effectiveness of the exemption. Petitions to stay must be filed no later than August 29, 2019 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective). All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36338, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board via efiling or in writing addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423–0001. In addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on Applicants’ representative, Karl Morell, Karl Morell & Associates, 440 1st Street NW, Suite 440, Washington, DC 20001. According to Applicants, this action is excluded from environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic preservation reporting requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b)(1). Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov. Decided: August 16, 2019. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 Aug 21, 2019 Jkt 247001 By the Board, Allison C. Davis, Director, Office of Proceedings. Jeffrey Herzig, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2019–18206 Filed 8–21–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE [Docket Number USTR–2019–0014] Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comments— Renewal of the Collection of Information Titled ‘301 Exclusion Requests’ Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) invites comments on an existing information collection request (ICR) titled 301 Exclusion Requests. USTR plans to ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew approval of the ICR for three years under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations. DATES: Submit comments no later than October 21, 2019. ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. See the submission instructions below. The Docket Number is USTR–2019–0014. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact the Section 301 hotline at (202) 395–5725 before transmitting a comment and in advance of the deadline. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assistant General Counsels Philip Butler or Megan Grimball, or Director of Industrial Goods Justin Hoffmann at (202) 395–5725. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A. Comments Submit written comments and suggestions addressing one or more of the following four points: (1) Whether the ICR is necessary for the proper performance of USTR’s functions, including whether the information will have practical utility. (2) The accuracy of USTR’s estimate of the burden of the ICR, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used. (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the ICR. PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 43853 (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the ICR on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. B. Overview of This Information Collection Title: 301 Exclusion Requests. OMB Control Number: 0350–0015, which expires on December 31, 2019. Form Number(s): 301 Exclusion Request/Response/Reply Form. Description: Following a comprehensive investigation, the U.S. Trade Representative determined that the Government of China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation were actionable under section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2411(b)). The U.S. Trade Representative determined that appropriate action to obtain the elimination of these acts, policies, and practices included the imposition of additional ad valorem duties on products from China classified in certain enumerated subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). For background on the proceedings in this investigation, please see the prior notices issued in the investigation, including 82 FR 40213 (August 23, 2017), 83 FR 14906 (April 6, 2018), 83 FR 28710 (June 20, 2018), 83 FR 33608 (July 17, 2018), 83 FR 38760 (August 7, 2018), 83 FR 40823 (August 16, 2018), 83 FR 47974 (September 21, 2018), and 83 FR 49152 (September 28, 2018), 83 FR 65198 (December 19, 2018), 84 FR 7966 (March 5, 2019), 84 FR 20459 (May 9, 2019), and 84 FR 21389 (May 9, 2019). On May 15, 2019, USTR submitted a request to OMB for emergency processing of this ICR. USTR reviewed the six submissions in response to the notice requesting comments (84 FR 23145). Five comments expressed concerns regarding the ability to designate and protect business confidential information (BCI); three requested that the ICR provide additional guidance or clarification; two asked for an expedited review process; two requested that the ICR take into account additional information; two commented with respect to the burden estimate; two requested certain questions be removed; and one indicated the ICR should better indicate whether a particular field was required. In light of the comments and in further consideration of the issues, USTR published FAQs covering a wide range of topics pertaining to the E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM 22AUN1 43854 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 163 / Thursday, August 22, 2019 / Notices exclusions process and made changes to the ICR. The changes included updates to section one—‘Submitter Information’—to include ‘country’ as a field, and to add a question to determine if the requestor meets the size standards for a small business established by the Small Business Administration. Other changes included designations to each field of the ICR to indicate whether the field is required and if the field is for BCI or public information. OMB approved the emergency processing request on June 20, 2019, and assigned Control Number 0350– 0015, which expires on December 31, 2019. On June 24, 2019 (84 FR 29576), the U.S. Trade Representative established a process by which U.S. stakeholders could request the exclusion of particular products classified within a covered tariff subheading from the additional duties that went into effect on September 24, 2018, and May 10, 2019. Requests for exclusion have to identify a particular product and provide supporting data and the rationale for the requested exclusion. Within 14 days after USTR posts a request for exclusion, interested persons can provide a response with the reasons they support or oppose the request. Interested persons can reply to the response within seven days after it is posted. On June 30, 2019, USTR opened an electronic portal for submission of exclusion requests—https:// exclusions.ustr.gov—using the approved ICR. The deadline for submitting requests is September 30, 2019. A reproduction of the form used on the portal is attached as an annex to this notice. Affected Public: U.S. stakeholders who want to request, or comment on a request, to exclude particular products from the additional duties on products from China classified in certain enumerated subheadings of the HTSUS. Frequency of Submission: One submission per request, response, or reply. Respondent Universe: U.S. stakeholders. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 Aug 21, 2019 Jkt 247001 Reporting Burden: Total Estimated Responses: 60,000 requests to exclude a particular product; 7,000 responses to a product exclusion request; and 3,000 replies to a response. Total Estimated Annual Burden: USTR has revised this burden estimate in accordance with comments received in response to the emergency processing notice. USTR estimates that preparing and submitting a request to exclude a particular product will take approximately 120 minutes and will cost about $200 per submission. The total time burden for requests is 120,000 hours and the estimated total cost is $12,000,000. USTR estimates that preparing and submitting a response to a product exclusion request will take approximately 60 minutes, and will cost about $100 per submission. The total time burden for responses is approximately 7,000 hours at an estimated total cost of $700,000. USTR estimates that preparing and submitting a reply will take approximately 30 minutes, and will cost about $50 per submission. The total time burden for replies is approximately 1,500 hours and the estimated total cost is $150,000. USTR estimates that the cost to the Federal government to evaluate each request, and response or reply, if any, is 2.5 hours, for a total time burden of 175,000 hours at an estimated total cost of $9,700,000. The $9.7 million total cost estimate includes the average annual salary plus benefits, for the federal employees and contractors expected to work on the exclusion process. USTR estimates that it will take approximately one year to complete the process. Status: After reviewing comments received in response to this notice, under the PRA and its implementing regulations, USTR plans to submit a request to OMB to renew approval of the ICR for three years. You must make all submissions in English via https://www.regulations.gov, using Docket Number USTR–2019– 0014. USTR will not accept handdelivered submissions. To make a submission using https:// www.regulations.gov, enter the appropriate docket number in the ‘search for’ field on the home page and click ‘search.’ The site will provide a search-results page listing all documents associated with this docket. Find a reference to this notice by selecting ‘notice’ under ‘document type’ in the ‘filter results by’ section on the left side of the screen and click on the link entitled ‘comment now.’ The regulations.gov website offers the option of providing comments by filling in a ‘type comment’ field or by attaching a document using the ‘upload file(s)’ field. USTR prefers that you provide submissions in an attached document and note ‘see attached’ in the ‘type comment’ field on the online submission form. Include any data attachments to the submission in the same file as the submission itself, and not as separate files. C. Requirements for Submissions Janice Kaye, You must submit written comments by the deadline set forth in this notice. PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 You will receive a tracking number upon completion of the submission procedure at https:// www.regulations.gov. The tracking number is confirmation that regulations.gov received the submission. Keep the confirmation for your records. USTR is not able to provide technical assistance for the website. USTR may not consider documents you do not submit in accordance with these instructions. If you are unable to provide submissions as requested, please contact the Section 301 hotline at (202) 395–5725 before transmitting a comment and in advance of the deadline. General information concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov. Chief Counsel for Administrative Law. BILLING CODE 3290–F9–P E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM 22AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 163 / Thursday, August 22, 2019 / Notices 43855 Annex Exclusion Request Form 1. Submitter Information Full Organization Legal Name Requestor First Name Requestor Last Name Requestor Mailing Address Street Address Line 1 Street Address Line 2 City State Zip Code Country Requestor E-mail Address Requestor Phone Number Does your business meet the size standards for a small business as established by the YES/NO Small Business Administration? Are you a third party, such as a law firm, trade association, or customs broker, submitting on behalf of an organization or industry? YES/NO *Note: If you are submitting on behalf of an organization/industry, the information below is required. Third Party Firm/Association Name VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 Aug 21, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM 22AUN1 EN22AU19.003</GPH> Third Party First Name 43856 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 163 / Thursday, August 22, 2019 / Notices Third Party Last Name Third Party Mailing Address Street Address Line 1 Street Address Line 2 City State Zip Code Country Third Party E-mail Address Third Party Phone Number Who is your importer of record? Who will be the primary point of contact? (Select One) 2. o Requestor o Third Party Submitter o Requestor and Third Party Submitter Please provide the 10-digit HTSUS item number* for the product you wish to address in this product exclusion request. A 10-digit HTSUS number is required. *Use numerical characters only with no special characters (Example: 1023456789). For help with finding the HTSUS item number associated with your product, see https://hts.usitc.gov/. 3. Please provide a complete and detailed description of the particular product of concern.* (A detailed description of the product includes, but is not limited to, its physical characteristics (e.g., dimensions, weight, material composition, etc.), whether product is designed to function in or with a particular machine (application), and any unique physical features that distinguish it from other products within the covered 8-digit HTSUS subheading. If needed, please attach images and specification sheets, CBP rulings, court decisions, and previous import documentation below.) Please also describe the product's principal use. *USTR will not consider requests that identify the product using criteria that cannot be made available to the public. USTR will not consider requests in which more than one unique product is identified. Product Name VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 Aug 21, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM 22AUN1 EN22AU19.004</GPH> Product Description (e.g. dimensions, weight, material composition, etc.) Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 163 / Thursday, August 22, 2019 / Notices 43857 Product Function, Application, and Principal Use Please upload any relevant attachments that will help identify and distinguish your product (e.g. CBP rulings, photos and specification sheets, and previous import documentation) 4. 5. Requestor's relationship to the product (select all that apply) 0 Importer 0 U.S. Producer 0 Purchaser 0 Industry Association 0 Other Is this product, or a comparable product, available from sources in the United States? (If you indicate "NO" or "NOT SURE," in the box below, you must explain why the product is unavailable or why you are unsure of the product's availability.) o YES o NO o NOTSURE Please explain why the product is unavailable or why you are unsure of the product's availability. 6. Is this product, or a comparable product, available from sources in third countries? (If you indicate "NO" or "NOT SURE," in the box below, you must explain why the product is unavailable or why you are unsure ofthe product's availability.) o YES o NO o NOTSURE VerDate Sep<11>2014 7. Please discuss any attempts to source this product from United States or third countries. 8. Please provide the value in USD and quantity (with units) ofthe Chinese-origin product of concern that you purchased in 2017, 2018, and the first quarter of 2019. Limit this figure to the products purchased by your firm (or by members of your 16:37 Aug 21, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM 22AUN1 EN22AU19.005</GPH> Please explain why the product is unavailable or why you are unsure of the product's availability. 43858 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 163 / Thursday, August 22, 2019 / Notices trade association). Please provide estimates if precise figures are unavailable. 2017 Value: 2017 Quantity: 2018 Value: 2018 Quantity: 2019 Ql Value: 2019 Ql Quantity: Are the provided figures estimates?: YES/NO Are any of these purchases from a related company? YES/NO Please list the name and relationship of the related company. 9. Please provide the value in USD and quantity (with units) of the product of concern that you purchased from any third-country source in 2017, 2018, and the first quarter of 2019. Limit this figure to the products purchased by your firm (or by members of your trade association). Please provide estimates if precise figures are unavailable. 2017 Value: 2017 Quantity: 2018 Value: 2018 Quantity: 2019 Ql Value: 2019 Ql Quantity: Are the provided figures estimates?: 10. YES/NO Please provide the value in USD and quantity (with units) of the product of concern that you purchased from domestic sources in 2017, 2018, and the first quarter of 2019. Limit this figure to the products purchased by your firm (or by members of your trade association). Please provide estimates if precise figures are unavailable. 2017 Value: 2017 Quantity: 2018 Value: 2018 Quantity: 2019 Ql Value: 2019 Ql Quantity: Are the provided figures estimates?: 11. YES/NO Please provide information regarding your company's gross revenue in USD for 2018, the first quarter of 2018, and the first quarter of 2019. Fiscal Year 2018: First Quarter 2018: First Quarter 2019: Are the provided figures estimates?: VerDate Sep<11>2014 Is the Chinese-origin product of concern sold as a final product or as an input used in the production of a final product or products? 16:37 Aug 21, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM 22AUN1 EN22AU19.006</GPH> 12. YES/NO Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 163 / Thursday, August 22, 2019 / Notices 43859 a) For imports sold as final products, please provide: %of your company's total, U.S. gross sales in 2018 that the Chinese-origin product accounted for. b) For imports of inputs used in the production of final products, please provide: %of the total cost of producing the final product(s) the Chinese-origin input accounts for. %of your company's total, U.S. gross sales in 2018 that sales of the final product(s) incorporating the input accounts for. 13. Please comment on whether the imposition of additional duties (since September 2018) on the product you are seeking to exclude has resulted in severe economic harm to your company or other U.S. interests. 14. Please provide any additional information in support of your request, taking account of the instructions provided in Section [B] of the Federal Register notice. 15. Did you submit exclusion requests for the Section 301 $34 billion (Docket ID: USTR2018-0025) and/or the $16 billion (Docket ID: USTR-2018-0032) tariff actions? YES/NO Please enter the total value of your company's imports applicable to the tariff action for which you submitted one or more exclusion request: Initial $34 Billion Tariff Action: Additional $16 Billion Tariff Action: 16. Please comment on whether the particular product of concern is strategically important or related to "Made in China 2025" or other Chinese industrial programs. You must explain in the box below why you believe the product of concern is or is not strategically important or related to "Made in China 2025" or other Chinese industrial programs. 17. Include any additional attachments that should be considered along with this exclusion request (e.g., customs rulings, court decisions, previous import documentation, etc.). Please do not include attachments that contain your written argument. [FR Doc. 2019–18094 Filed 8–21–19; 8:45 am] VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 Aug 21, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM 22AUN1 EN22AU19.007</GPH> BILLING CODE 3290–F9–C

Agencies

Office of the United States Trade Representative

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43853-43859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18094]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket Number USTR-2019-0014]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comments--
Renewal of the Collection of Information Titled `301 Exclusion 
Requests'

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) 
invites comments on an existing information collection request (ICR) 
titled 301 Exclusion Requests. USTR plans to ask the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) to renew approval of the ICR for three 
years under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its 
implementing regulations.

DATES: Submit comments no later than October 21, 2019.

ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. See the 
submission instructions below. The Docket Number is USTR-2019-0014. For 
alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact the Section 301 
hotline at (202) 395-5725 before transmitting a comment and in advance 
of the deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assistant General Counsels Philip 
Butler or Megan Grimball, or Director of Industrial Goods Justin 
Hoffmann at (202) 395-5725.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Comments

    Submit written comments and suggestions addressing one or more of 
the following four points:
    (1) Whether the ICR is necessary for the proper performance of 
USTR's functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility.
    (2) The accuracy of USTR's estimate of the burden of the ICR, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used.
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the ICR.
    (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the ICR on those who are to 
respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

B. Overview of This Information Collection

    Title: 301 Exclusion Requests.
    OMB Control Number: 0350-0015, which expires on December 31, 2019.
    Form Number(s): 301 Exclusion Request/Response/Reply Form.
    Description: Following a comprehensive investigation, the U.S. 
Trade Representative determined that the Government of China's acts, 
policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual 
property, and innovation were actionable under section 301(b) of the 
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2411(b)). The U.S. Trade Representative 
determined that appropriate action to obtain the elimination of these 
acts, policies, and practices included the imposition of additional ad 
valorem duties on products from China classified in certain enumerated 
subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS). For background on the proceedings in this investigation, 
please see the prior notices issued in the investigation, including 82 
FR 40213 (August 23, 2017), 83 FR 14906 (April 6, 2018), 83 FR 28710 
(June 20, 2018), 83 FR 33608 (July 17, 2018), 83 FR 38760 (August 7, 
2018), 83 FR 40823 (August 16, 2018), 83 FR 47974 (September 21, 2018), 
and 83 FR 49152 (September 28, 2018), 83 FR 65198 (December 19, 2018), 
84 FR 7966 (March 5, 2019), 84 FR 20459 (May 9, 2019), and 84 FR 21389 
(May 9, 2019).
    On May 15, 2019, USTR submitted a request to OMB for emergency 
processing of this ICR. USTR reviewed the six submissions in response 
to the notice requesting comments (84 FR 23145). Five comments 
expressed concerns regarding the ability to designate and protect 
business confidential information (BCI); three requested that the ICR 
provide additional guidance or clarification; two asked for an 
expedited review process; two requested that the ICR take into account 
additional information; two commented with respect to the burden 
estimate; two requested certain questions be removed; and one indicated 
the ICR should better indicate whether a particular field was required.
    In light of the comments and in further consideration of the 
issues, USTR published FAQs covering a wide range of topics pertaining 
to the

[[Page 43854]]

exclusions process and made changes to the ICR. The changes included 
updates to section one--`Submitter Information'--to include `country' 
as a field, and to add a question to determine if the requestor meets 
the size standards for a small business established by the Small 
Business Administration. Other changes included designations to each 
field of the ICR to indicate whether the field is required and if the 
field is for BCI or public information.
    OMB approved the emergency processing request on June 20, 2019, and 
assigned Control Number 0350-0015, which expires on December 31, 2019.
    On June 24, 2019 (84 FR 29576), the U.S. Trade Representative 
established a process by which U.S. stakeholders could request the 
exclusion of particular products classified within a covered tariff 
subheading from the additional duties that went into effect on 
September 24, 2018, and May 10, 2019. Requests for exclusion have to 
identify a particular product and provide supporting data and the 
rationale for the requested exclusion. Within 14 days after USTR posts 
a request for exclusion, interested persons can provide a response with 
the reasons they support or oppose the request. Interested persons can 
reply to the response within seven days after it is posted.
    On June 30, 2019, USTR opened an electronic portal for submission 
of exclusion requests--https://exclusions.ustr.gov--using the approved 
ICR. The deadline for submitting requests is September 30, 2019. A 
reproduction of the form used on the portal is attached as an annex to 
this notice.
    Affected Public: U.S. stakeholders who want to request, or comment 
on a request, to exclude particular products from the additional duties 
on products from China classified in certain enumerated subheadings of 
the HTSUS.
    Frequency of Submission: One submission per request, response, or 
reply.
    Respondent Universe: U.S. stakeholders.
    Reporting Burden:
    Total Estimated Responses: 60,000 requests to exclude a particular 
product; 7,000 responses to a product exclusion request; and 3,000 
replies to a response.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: USTR has revised this burden 
estimate in accordance with comments received in response to the 
emergency processing notice. USTR estimates that preparing and 
submitting a request to exclude a particular product will take 
approximately 120 minutes and will cost about $200 per submission. The 
total time burden for requests is 120,000 hours and the estimated total 
cost is $12,000,000.
    USTR estimates that preparing and submitting a response to a 
product exclusion request will take approximately 60 minutes, and will 
cost about $100 per submission. The total time burden for responses is 
approximately 7,000 hours at an estimated total cost of $700,000.
    USTR estimates that preparing and submitting a reply will take 
approximately 30 minutes, and will cost about $50 per submission. The 
total time burden for replies is approximately 1,500 hours and the 
estimated total cost is $150,000.
    USTR estimates that the cost to the Federal government to evaluate 
each request, and response or reply, if any, is 2.5 hours, for a total 
time burden of 175,000 hours at an estimated total cost of $9,700,000. 
The $9.7 million total cost estimate includes the average annual salary 
plus benefits, for the federal employees and contractors expected to 
work on the exclusion process. USTR estimates that it will take 
approximately one year to complete the process.
    Status: After reviewing comments received in response to this 
notice, under the PRA and its implementing regulations, USTR plans to 
submit a request to OMB to renew approval of the ICR for three years.

C. Requirements for Submissions

    You must submit written comments by the deadline set forth in this 
notice. You must make all submissions in English via https://www.regulations.gov, using Docket Number USTR-2019-0014. USTR will not 
accept hand-delivered submissions. To make a submission using https://www.regulations.gov, enter the appropriate docket number in the `search 
for' field on the home page and click `search.' The site will provide a 
search-results page listing all documents associated with this docket. 
Find a reference to this notice by selecting `notice' under `document 
type' in the `filter results by' section on the left side of the screen 
and click on the link entitled `comment now.' The regulations.gov 
website offers the option of providing comments by filling in a `type 
comment' field or by attaching a document using the `upload file(s)' 
field. USTR prefers that you provide submissions in an attached 
document and note `see attached' in the `type comment' field on the 
online submission form. Include any data attachments to the submission 
in the same file as the submission itself, and not as separate files.
    You will receive a tracking number upon completion of the 
submission procedure at https://www.regulations.gov. The tracking number 
is confirmation that regulations.gov received the submission. Keep the 
confirmation for your records. USTR is not able to provide technical 
assistance for the website. USTR may not consider documents you do not 
submit in accordance with these instructions. If you are unable to 
provide submissions as requested, please contact the Section 301 
hotline at (202) 395-5725 before transmitting a comment and in advance 
of the deadline. General information concerning USTR is available at 
www.ustr.gov.

Janice Kaye,
Chief Counsel for Administrative Law.
BILLING CODE 3290-F9-P

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[FR Doc. 2019-18094 Filed 8-21-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F9-C

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