Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Revisions to Reporting and Recordkeeping for Imports and Exports

EPA is proposing to make minor conforming edits to the stratospheric protection regulations to implement the International Trade Data System. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, we are making these edits as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule. This system allows businesses to transmit the transactional data required by multiple Federal agencies for the import and export of cargo through a single ``window.'' As businesses currently must submit trade data to multiple agencies, in multiple ways, and often on paper, the transition to electronic filing is expected to save businesses time and money. Specifically, this rulemaking would remove the requirement that the petition for used ozone-depleting substances accompany the shipment through U.S. Customs and remove references to Customs forms that are obsolete under the new system.