New
collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
01/14/2020
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
1,400,000
0
1,944
0
0
0
CBP faces significant challenges in
targeting Section 321 shipments, while still maintaining the
clearance speeds the private sector has come to expect. This is
because CBP does not receive adequate advance information in order
to effectively and efficiently assess the security risk of the
approximately 1.8 million Section 321 shipments that arrive each
day. This pilot is conducted pursuant to 19 CFR 101.9(a), which
authorizes the Commissioner to impose requirements different from
those specified in the CBP regulations for the purposes of
conducting a test program or procedure designed to evaluate the
effectiveness of new technology or operational procedures regarding
the processing of passengers, vessels, or merchandise. This
information will help CBP better target examination resources
toward shipments that might pose a violation risk. By testing this
information, CBP will take its first step in determining whether to
amend the regulations to mandate specific data elements for
shipments eligible for Section 321 release.
CBP faces significant
challenges in targeting Section 321 shipments, while still
maintaining the clearance speeds the private sector has come to
expect. This is because CBP does not receive adequate advance
information in order to effectively and efficiently assess the
security risk of the approximately 1.8 million Section 321
shipments that arrive each day. In the e-commerce environment,
traditionally regulated parties, such as carriers, are unlikely to
possess all of the information relating to a shipment’s supply
chain. While CBP receives some advance electronic data for Section
321 shipments from air, rail, and truck carriers (and certain other
parties in limited circumstances) as mandated by current
regulations, the transmitted data often does not adequately
identify the entity causing the shipment to cross the border, the
final recipient, or the contents of the package. Consequently, CBP
may not receive any advance information on the entity actually
causing the shipment to travel to the United States, such as the
seller or manufacturer. Some carriers may not have this information
because sellers on e-commerce platforms often contract with other
entities to act as the seller. Similarly, for the consignee’s name
and address, a carrier might transmit information for the domestic
deconsolidator, which will not allow CBP to identify in advance of
arrival, the final recipient of the merchandise in the United
States. With the growth of e-commerce, shipments are increasingly
subject to these complex transactions, where information about the
shipment is limited. As a result, CBP is less able to effectively
target or identify high-risk shipments in the e-commerce
environment and CBP Officers must use additional time and resources
to inspect Section 321 shipments upon arrival.
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.