The Senate Finance Committee has
requested that the Commission prepare a report on the development
and adoption of industrial biotechnology by the U.S. chemical and
biofuel industries. The Commission is responsible for providing
such reports on issues affecting trade and the U.S. domestic
industry under Section 332 of the tariff Act of 1930. Questionnaire
are needed to asses the impact of industrial biotechnology on the
U.S. economy, and the competitive conditions affecting these
industries.
Under section 332 of the
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332), the Commission conducts
investigations into trade and tariff matters at the request of the
President, the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means, and the U.S.
Senate Committee on Finance. As noted above, the subject
investigation was requested by the Senate Finance Committee with a
deadline that necessitates prompt issuance of questionnaires. The
Commission cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance
procedures under 5 CFR 1320.10(b) for this investigation. The
biofuel and chemical industry questionnaires are tentatively
scheduled to be mailed on or before September 14, 2007, in order to
give the industry sufficient time to fill out the questionnaires,
which are due back to the Commission by October 19, 2007. The
collection of these data is integral to the successful fulfillment
of the request of the Senate Finance Committee.
US Code:
19
USC 1332 Name of Law: Investigations
US Code: 19
USC 1333 Name of Law: Testimony and the Production of
Papers
The burden increased because of
a request from the Senate Finance Committee for a report on the
development and adoption by the U.S. chemical and biofuel industry
of industrial biotechnology. Such data is not publicly available.
This is a one-time collection for such data. The request letter is
attached as a supplemental document.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.