81 FR 38727 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Application To Use the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 114 (June 14, 2016)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: Application to Use the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). CBP is proposing that this information collection be extended with a change to the burden hours resulting from the addition of a new application for brokers, importers, sureties, attorneys and other parties to establish an ACE Portal account to file protests. There are no proposed changes to the existing ACE Portal application for imported merchandise. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38727-38728]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14003]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[1651-0105]


 Agency Information Collection Activities: Application To Use the 
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: 60-Day notice and request for comments; extension and revision 
of an existing collection of information.

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SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of 
Homeland Security will be submitting the following information 
collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: 
Application to Use the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). CBP is 
proposing that this information collection be extended with a change to 
the burden hours resulting from the addition of a new application for 
brokers, importers, sureties, attorneys and other parties to establish 
an ACE Portal account to file protests. There are no proposed changes 
to the existing ACE Portal application for imported merchandise. This 
document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected 
agencies.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before August 15, 2016 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, Attn: Tracey Denning, Regulations and Rulings, Office of 
Trade, 90 K Street NE., 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Tracey Denning, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade, 90 K Street NE., 
10th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177, at 202-325-0265.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CBP invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing information 
collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 
104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3507). The comments should address: (a) Whether the 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility;

[[Page 38728]]

(b) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden of the 
collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize 
the burden including the use of automated collection techniques or the 
use of other forms of information technology; and (e) the annual cost 
burden to respondents or record keepers from the collection of 
information (total capital/startup costs and operations and maintenance 
costs). The comments that are submitted will be summarized and included 
in the CBP request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter 
of public record. In this document, CBP is soliciting comments 
concerning the following information collection:
    Title: Application to Use the Automated Commercial Environment 
(ACE).
    OMB Number: 1651-0105.
    Abstract: As of July 23, 2016, the Automated Commercial Environment 
(ACE) will be the sole CBP-authorized electronic data interchange (EDI) 
system for processing electronic entry and entry summary filings of 
certain entry types. Pursuant to Executive Order 13659, a deadline of 
December 31, 2016, was established for participating Federal agencies 
to have capabilities, agreements, and other requirements in place to 
utilize the International Trade Data System (ITDS) and supporting 
systems, such as ACE, as the primary means of receiving from users the 
standard set of data and other relevant documentation (exclusive of 
applications for permits, licenses, or certifications) required for the 
release of imported cargo and clearance of cargo for export. See 79 FR 
10655 (February 25, 2014). ACE supports government agencies and the 
trade community with border-related missions with respect to moving 
goods across the border efficiently and securely. Once ACE is fully 
implemented, all related CBP trade functions and the trade community 
will be supported from a single common user interface.
    In order to establish an ACE Portal account, participants submit 
information such as their name, their employer identification number 
(EIN) or social security number, and if applicable, a statement 
certifying their capability to connect to the internet. This 
information is submitted through the ACE Secure Data Portal which is 
accessible at: http://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated.
    CBP is proposing to add the capability of electronically filing 
protests to ACE. A protest is a procedure whereby a private party may 
administratively challenge a CBP decision regarding imported 
merchandise and certain other CBP decisions. Trade members wishing to 
establish a protest filer account will need to submit the following 
data elements:

1. Organization Information
    a. Protest Filer Number (EIN, SSN, or CBP Assigned Number)
    b. Organization Name
    c. Organization Type
    d. End of Fiscal Year (month and day)
    e. Mailing Address
2. ACE Account Owner Information
    a. Name
    b. Date of Birth
    c. Email Address
    d. Telephone Number
    e. Fax Number (optional)
    f. Account Owner address if different from Company Address
3. Filing Notification Point of Contact
    a. Name
    b. Email address

    Current Actions: CBP is proposing that this information collection 
be extended with a change to the burden hours resulting from the 
addition of a new application for protest filers to establish an ACE 
Portal account. There are no proposed changes to the existing ACE 
Portal application, or changes to the burden hours, for other ACE 
accounts.
    Type of Review: Extension (with change).
    Affected Public: Businesses.

Application to ACE (Import)

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 21,100.
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 21,100.
    Estimated Time per Response: .33 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,963.

Application to ACE (Export)

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,000.
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 9,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: .066 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 594.

Application to ACE (Protest)

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,750.
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 3,750.
    Estimated Time per Response: .066 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 248.

    Dated: June 9, 2016.
Tracey Denning,
Agency Clearance Officer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
[FR Doc. 2016-14003 Filed 6-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-14-P