Five-Year Record Retention Period

AGENCY:

Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce.

ACTION:

Proposed collection; comment request.

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 take this opportunity 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 July 26, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Stephen Baker, BIS ICB Liaison, Projects and Planning Division, Department of Commerce, Room 6622, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The record retention period corresponds with the five year statute of limitations for criminal actions brought under the Export Administration Act of 1979 and predecessor acts, and the five year statute for administrative compliance proceedings. Without this authority, potential violators could discard records demonstrating violations of the EAR prior to the expiration of the five-year statute of limitations.

II. Method of Collection

Recordkeeping.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0694-0096.

Form Number: Not applicable.

Type of Review: Regular submission for extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Individuals, businesses or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 201,177.

Estimated Time Per Response: .01 seconds to 1 minute per response.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 253.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: No start-up capital expenditures.

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 shall 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 will also become a matter of public record.