80_FR_33044 80 FR 32933 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Direct Investment Surveys: BE-15, Annual Survey of Foreign Direct Investment in the United States

80 FR 32933 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Direct Investment Surveys: BE-15, Annual Survey of Foreign Direct Investment in the United States

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Economic Analysis

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 111 (June 10, 2015)

Page Range32933-32934
FR Document2015-14188

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32933-32934]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14188]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Direct 
Investment Surveys: BE-15, Annual Survey of Foreign Direct Investment 
in the United States

AGENCY: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 10, 2015.

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 Patricia Abaroa, Chief, Direct Investment Division (BE-
50), Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Washington, DC 20230; phone: (202) 606-9591; or via email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Annual Survey of Foreign Direct Investment in the United States 
(BE-15) obtains sample data on the financial structure and operations 
of foreign-owned U.S. business enterprises. The data are needed to 
provide reliable, useful, and timely measures of foreign direct 
investment in the United States to assess its impact on the U.S. 
economy. The sample data are used to derive universe estimates in 
nonbenchmark years from similar data reported in the BE-12 benchmark 
survey, which is conducted every five years. The data collected include 
balance sheets; income statements; property, plant, and equipment; 
employment and employee compensation; merchandise trade; sales of goods 
and services; taxes; and research and development activity. In 
addition, several data items are collected by state, including 
employment and property, plant, and equipment.
    No changes to the survey forms or reporting requirements are 
proposed.

II. Method of Collection

    BEA contacts potential respondents by mail in March of each year; 
responses covering a reporting company's fiscal year ending during the 
previous calendar year are due by May 31 (or by June 30 for respondents 
that file using BEA's eFile system). Reports are required from each 
U.S. business enterprise in which a foreign person has at least 10 
percent of the voting stock in an incorporated business enterprise, or 
an equivalent interest in an unincorporated business enterprise, and 
that meets the additional conditions detailed in the BE-15 forms and 
instructions. Entities required to report

[[Page 32934]]

will be contacted individually by BEA. Entities not contacted by BEA 
have no reporting responsibilities.
    BEA offers electronic filing through its eFile system for use in 
reporting on the BE-15 annual survey forms. In addition, BEA posts all 
its survey forms and reporting instructions on its Web site 
(www.bea.gov/fdi). These may be downloaded, completed, printed, and 
submitted via fax or mail.
    Potential respondents of the BE-15 are selected from those U.S. 
business enterprises that were required to report on the 2012 BE-12, 
Benchmark Survey of Foreign Direct Investment in the United States, 
along with those U.S. business enterprises that subsequently entered 
the direct investment universe. The BE-15 is a sample survey, as 
described; universe estimates are developed from the reported sample 
data.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0608-0034.
    Form Number: BE-15.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,800 annually, of which 
approximately 1,800 file A forms, 1,100 file B forms, 1,400 file C 
forms, and 500 file Claims for Exemption.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 88,625 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 44.5 hours 
for the A form, 4 hours for the B form, 1.75 hours for the C form, and 
1 hour for the Claim for Exemption form.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 18.5 hours per respondent (88,625 
hours/4,800 respondents) is the average, but may vary considerably 
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 included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: June 5, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-14188 Filed 6-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-06-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 111 / Wednesday, June 10, 2015 / Notices 32933 spreadsheets from the Census Bureau’s BRD–1(S)—(Short Form) ..... 38,000 Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13 (44 Web site. Also provided is a spreadsheet U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). programmed to consolidate the Total ............................... 45,000 DATES: Written comments must be information from the various areas of submitted on or before August 10, 2015. Estimated Time per Response: the company so it can be simply ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments uploaded into the web instrument. BRDI–1—(Long Form) .......... 14.85 hrs to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Research, development and BRD–1(S)—(Short Form) ..... .59 hrs Paperwork Clearance Officer, innovation are important to Department of Commerce, Room 6616, competitiveness in today’s economy, Estimated Total Annual Burden 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., and domestic and foreign researchers in Hours: 126,500. Washington, DC 20230, or via email at academia, business, and government Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0. jjessup@doc.gov. analyze and cite data from the BRDIS. Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Among the federal government users are Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Requests for additional information or the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Section 131, 182, 224, and 225. copies of the information collection and the White House’s Office of Science IV. Request for Comments instrument and instructions should be and Technology Policy (OSTP). BEA includes R&D in the system of national Comments are invited on: (a) Whether directed to Patricia Abaroa, Chief, Direct the proposed collection of information Investment Division (BE–50), Bureau of accounts that measures the economic is necessary for the proper performance Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of well-being of the country. BRDIS data are key inputs into these accounts, of the functions of the agency, including Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; whether the information shall have phone: (202) 606–9591; or via email at which feed into the calculation of the practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the patricia.abaroa@bea.gov. U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The White House, in 2006, issued the agency’s estimate of the burden SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: American Competitiveness Initiative to (including hours and cost) of the I. Abstract ‘‘increase investments in research and proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and The Annual Survey of Foreign Direct development, strengthen education, and clarity of the information to be Investment in the United States (BE–15) encourage entrepreneurship.’’ In collected; and (d) ways to minimize the obtains sample data on the financial support of this initiative and in burden of the collection of information structure and operations of foreign- response to legislative mandates, data on respondents, including through the owned U.S. business enterprises. The on R&D are delivered to OSTP, use of automated collection techniques data are needed to provide reliable, primarily in the biennial National or other forms of information useful, and timely measures of foreign Science Board report Science and technology. direct investment in the United States to Engineering Indicators. Also, the Comments submitted in response to assess its impact on the U.S. economy. National Science Foundation (NSF) this notice will be summarized and/or The sample data are used to derive produces a series of publications included in the request for OMB universe estimates in nonbenchmark containing R&D data including the approval of this information collection; years from similar data reported in the National Patterns of R&D Resources series, the S&E State Profile series, and they also will become a matter of public BE–12 benchmark survey, which is record. conducted every five years. The data the annual Business R&D and collected include balance sheets; Innovation series. Special reports and Dated: June 5, 2015. income statements; property, plant, and other publications are also prepared. Glenna Mickelson, equipment; employment and employee II. Method of Collection Management Analyst, Office of the Chief compensation; merchandise trade; sales Information Officer. of goods and services; taxes; and The Census Bureau will use a paperless strategy for the standard form [FR Doc. 2015–14166 Filed 6–9–15; 8:45 am] research and development activity. In (BRDI–1). Respondents will be mailed a BILLING CODE 3510–07–P addition, several data items are letter referring them to the Census collected by state, including Bureau’s Business Help Site where they employment and property, plant, and DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE equipment. can complete the questionnaire online. They can also obtain a PDF version of No changes to the survey forms or Bureau of Economic Analysis reporting requirements are proposed. the questionnaire or they can request a paper form be mailed to them. The Proposed Information Collection; II. Method of Collection screener is a mail out/mail back survey Comment Request; Direct Investment BEA contacts potential respondents form (BRDI–1(S)); a Web-based Surveys: BE–15, Annual Survey of by mail in March of each year; collection option also will be available. Foreign Direct Investment in the United responses covering a reporting Companies will be asked to respond States company’s fiscal year ending during the within 60 days of the initial mail out. AGENCY: Bureau of Economic Analysis, previous calendar year are due by May III. Data Commerce. 31 (or by June 30 for respondents that OMB Control Number: 0607–0912. ACTION: Notice. file using BEA’s eFile system). Reports are required from each U.S. business asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Form Number: BRDI–1 & BRDI–1S. Type of Review: Regular submission. SUMMARY: The Department of enterprise in which a foreign person has Affected Public: All for-profit (public Commerce, as part of its continuing at least 10 percent of the voting stock in or private), domestic businesses that effort to reduce paperwork and an incorporated business enterprise, or have 5 or more paid employees and are respondent burden, invites the general an equivalent interest in an classified in certain industries. public and other Federal agencies to unincorporated business enterprise, and Estimated Number of Respondents: comment on proposed and/or that meets the additional conditions continuing information collections, as detailed in the BE–15 forms and BRDI–1—(Long Form) .......... 7,000 required by the Paperwork Reduction instructions. Entities required to report VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:46 Jun 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10JNN1.SGM 10JNN1

32934 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 111 / Wednesday, June 10, 2015 / Notices will be contacted individually by BEA. clarity of the information to be sample data on the financial structure Entities not contacted by BEA have no collected; and (d) ways to minimize the and operations of U.S. parents and their reporting responsibilities. burden of the collection of information foreign affiliates. The data are needed to BEA offers electronic filing through on respondents, including through the provide reliable, useful, and timely its eFile system for use in reporting on use of automated collection techniques measures of U.S. direct investment the BE–15 annual survey forms. In or other forms of information abroad to assess its impact on the U.S. addition, BEA posts all its survey forms technology. and foreign economies. The sample data and reporting instructions on its Web Comments submitted in response to are used to derive universe estimates in site (www.bea.gov/fdi). These may be this notice will be summarized and nonbenchmark years from similar data downloaded, completed, printed, and included in the request for OMB reported in the BE–10, Benchmark submitted via fax or mail. approval of this information collection; Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Potential respondents of the BE–15 they also will become a matter of public Abroad, which is conducted every five are selected from those U.S. business record. years. The data collected include enterprises that were required to report Dated: June 5, 2015. balance sheets; income statements; on the 2012 BE–12, Benchmark Survey property, plant, and equipment; Glenna Mickelson, of Foreign Direct Investment in the employment and employee Management Analyst, Office of Chief compensation; merchandise trade; sales United States, along with those U.S. Information Officer. business enterprises that subsequently of goods and services; taxes; and [FR Doc. 2015–14188 Filed 6–9–15; 8:45 am] research and development activity. entered the direct investment universe. The BE–15 is a sample survey, as BILLING CODE 3510–06–P The survey, as proposed, incorporates described; universe estimates are two changes that were made to the 2014 developed from the reported sample BE–10, Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Investment Abroad, and five new data. proposed changes. The following two III. Data Bureau of Economic Analysis questions that were added to the 2014 OMB Control Number: 0608–0034. Proposed Information Collection; benchmark survey will be added to the Form Number: BE–15. Comment Request; Direct Investment BE–11 survey: (1) A question to collect Type of Review: Regular submission. Surveys: BE–11, Annual Survey of U.S. the city in which each foreign affiliate Affected Public: Businesses or other Direct Investment Abroad is located; and (2) for majority-owned for-profit organizations. foreign affiliates with assets, sales, or Estimated Number of Respondents: AGENCY: Bureau of Economic Analysis, net income greater than $300 million, a 4,800 annually, of which approximately Department of Commerce. question to collect data on cash and 1,800 file A forms, 1,100 file B forms, ACTION: Notice. cash equivalents on the balance sheet. 1,400 file C forms, and 500 file Claims Other proposed changes are: (1) Two for Exemption. SUMMARY: The Department of items will be added to the balance sheet Estimated Total Annual Burden Commerce, as part of its continuing section for the U.S. reporter: (i) Equity Hours: 88,625 hours. Total annual effort to reduce paperwork and investments in foreign affiliates, and (ii) burden is calculated by multiplying the respondent burden, invites the general all other assets; (2) a question will be estimated number of submissions of public and other Federal agencies to added to collect the form of organization each form by the average hourly burden comment on proposed and/or of the U.S. reporter; (3) a question will per form, which is 44.5 hours for the A continuing information collections, as be added to collect expenditures for form, 4 hours for the B form, 1.75 hours required by the Paperwork Reduction research and development performed by for the C form, and 1 hour for the Claim Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13 (44 new foreign affiliates with assets, sales, for Exemption form. U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). or net income between $25 million and Estimated Time per Respondent: 18.5 DATES: Written comments must be $60 million; (4) a question will be added hours per respondent (88,625 hours/ submitted on or before August 10, 2015. to the Claim for Not Filing form to 4,800 respondents) is the average, but ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments collect the names and BEA ID numbers may vary considerably among to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental of any foreign affiliates for which BEA respondents because of differences in Paperwork Clearance Officer, requested a filing but which did not company size and complexity. meet the filing criteria; and (5) the BE– Department of Commerce, Room 6616, Estimated Total Annual Cost to 11E (abbreviated) sample form for 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Public: $0. foreign affiliates will be eliminated. The Washington, DC 20230, or via email at Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. exemption level for reporting on the Legal Authority: International jjessup@doc.gov. proposed survey is unchanged from the Investment and Trade in Services FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 2013 BE–11 survey. Survey Act (Pub. L. 94–472, 22 U.S.C. Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection II. Method of Collection 3101–3108, as amended). instrument and instructions should be BEA contacts potential respondents IV. Request for Comments directed to Patricia Abaroa, Chief, Direct by mail in March of each year; Comments are invited on: (a) Whether Investment Division (BE–50), Bureau of responses covering a reporting the proposed collection of information Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of company’s fiscal year ending during the asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES is necessary for the proper performance Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; previous calendar year are due by May of the functions of the Agency, phone: (202) 606–9591; or via email at 31. Reports are required from each U.S. including whether the information will patricia.abaroa@bea.gov. person that has a direct and/or indirect have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ownership interest of at least 10 percent the Agency’s estimate of the burden of the voting stock in an incorporated (including hours and cost) of the I. Abstract foreign business enterprise, or an proposed collection of information; (c) The Annual Survey of U.S. Direct equivalent interest in an unincorporated ways to enhance the quality, utility, and Investment Abroad (BE–11) obtains foreign business enterprise, and that VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:46 Jun 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10JNN1.SGM 10JNN1


Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:17:03
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:17:03
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesWritten comments must be submitted on or before August 10, 2015.
ContactRequests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Patricia Abaroa, Chief, Direct Investment Division (BE- 50), Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; phone: (202) 606-9591; or via email at [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 32933 
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