Supporting Statement
Customs Declaration - CBP Form 6059B
1651-0009
A. Justification
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.
CBP Form 6059B, Customs Declaration, is used as a standard report of the identity and residence of each person arriving in the United States. This form is also used to declare imported articles to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in accordance with 19 U.S.C. 66 and section 498 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1498).
Section 148.13 of the CBP regulations prescribes the use of the CBP Form 6059B when a written declaration is required of a traveler entering the United States. Generally, written declarations are required from travelers arriving by air or sea. Section 148.12 requires verbal declarations from travelers entering the United States. Generally, verbal declarations are required from travelers arriving by land.
A sample of CBP Form 6059B can be found at http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/sample-declaration-form.
2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.
CBP Form 6059B facilitates CBP’s enforcement of various import laws relating to duties, agricultural products, endangered species, and the currency reporting laws. Also, this form allows CBP to be selective in its inspection procedures thereby freeing CBP Officers from closely questioning all travelers or examining their baggage. This reduction in the need for extensive questioning and/or the physical examination of baggage is also a benefit to the traveler.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.
The information required is incidental to the arrival of the traveler. Most 6059B forms are completed either on an aircraft or cruise ship, so computer transmission would not be feasible. A sample of this form is on CBP’s website at http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/sample-declaration-form.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.
This information is not duplicated in any other place or any other form.
5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities , describe any methods used to minimize burden.
This information collection does not have an impact on small businesses or other small entities.
Describe consequences to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
If this collection were conducted less frequently, CBP would lose control of air/sea passenger revenue collections and lengthen processing time at airports. CBP would also be less effective in its effort to support agricultural quarantines.
7. Explain any special circumstances.
This information is collected in a manner consistent with the guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).
8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.
Public comments were solicited through two Federal Register including a 60-day notice published on November 22, 2013 (Volume 78, Page 70065) on which no comments were received, and a 30-day notice published on February 4, 2014 (Volume 79, Page 6615) on which no comments have been received.
9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
There is no offer of a monetary or material value for this information collection.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
There are no assurances of confidentiality provided to respondents. A PTA has been completed for this collection.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
There are no questions of a sensitive nature.
12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.
INFORMATION COLLECTION |
TOTAL ANNUAL BURDEN HOURS |
NO. OF RESPONDENTS |
NO. OF RESPONSES PER RESPONDENT |
TOTAL RESPONSES |
TIME PER RESPONSE |
Customs Declarations (Form 6059B)
|
7,001,902 |
104,506,000 |
1 |
104,506,000 |
4 minutes (.067 hours) |
Verbal Declarations
|
699,000 |
233,000,000 |
1 |
233,000,000 |
10 seconds (.003 hours) |
Total
|
7,700,902 |
337,506,000 |
1 |
337,506,000 |
10 seconds (.003 hours) |
Public Cost
The estimated cost to the respondents is $306,822,074. This is based on the estimated burden hours for air and sea travelers filing Form 6059B (7,001,902) multiplied (x) the average hourly rate ($42.10) = $294,780,074, plus the estimated burden hours for land travelers making verbal declarations (699,000) multiplied (x) the average hourly rate ($18.00) = $12,582,000.
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information.
There are no record keeping, capital, start-up or maintenance costs associated with this information collection.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal Government. Also provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.
The estimated annual cost to the Federal Government associated with the review of these records is $97,499,917. This is based on the number of responses from air and sea travelers (104,506,000) that must be reviewed (x) the time to review and process each response (1 minute or .016 hours) =1,672,096 hours (x) the average hourly rate ($58.31) = $97,499,917.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 12 or 13 of this Statement.
The burden hours were increased as a result of adding hours for verbal declarations. Verbal declarations are not a new requirement and no new data is being collected.
16. For collection of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation, and publication.
This information collection will not be published for statistical purposes.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date, explain the reasons that displaying the expiration date would be inappropriate.
CBP cannot display the expiration date on this form due to the large number that are printed and distributed (over 100 million). Also, millions of these forms are stocked at the ports-of-entry and by airlines.
18. “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions.”
CBP does not request an exception to the certification of this information collection.
No statistical methods were employed.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | Supporting Statement |
| Author | Preferred Customer |
| Last Modified By | Authorized User |
| File Modified | 2014-04-10 |
| File Created | 2014-01-28 |