Supporting Statement
General Declaration
1651-0002
A. Justification:
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 7507, General Declaration, must be filed for all aircraft entering under the provisions of 19 CFR 122.41. This form is used to document clearance by the arriving aircraft at the required inspectional facilities and inspections by appropriate regulatory agency staffs.
CBP Form 7507 collects information about the flight routing, the numbers of passengers embarking and disembarking, a declaration of health for the persons on board, details about disinfecting and sanitizing treatments during the flight, and a declaration attesting to the accuracy and completeness and truthfulness of all other documents that make up the manifest.
CBP Form 7507 is authorized by 42 U.S.C 268, 19 U.S.C. 1431, 1433, and 1644a; and provided for by 19 CFR 122.43, 122.52, 122.54, 122.73, 122.144, 42 CFR 71.21 and 71.32. This form is accessible at https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/publications/forms.
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 7507 is used by CBP as a declaration attesting to the accuracy, completeness and truthfulness of all other documents that make up the manifest.
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.
A working group is currently considering various options to potentially eliminate this information collection or to automate it. Currently this form is a fillable form at: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/publications/forms
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.
A working group is currently considering various options to potentially eliminate this information collection. Programing issues with the electronic version and other agencies needs need to be addressed before elimination is possible.
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 involve small businesses.
6. Describe consequences to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.
If the information were collected less frequently, CBP would not be able to enforce regulatory requirements.
7. Explain any special circumstances
This information collection is conducted in a manner consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(c)(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 notices. A 60 day dated December 23, 2019 (84 FR 70561) on which one comment was received, and a 30 day on April 10, 2020 (85 FR 20288) on which no comments have been received.
Comment: Airlines for America requested that the e-GenDec program be expanded so that airlines can comply with the mandate electronically and suggests that paper collection processes should be retired.
CBP Response: U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) appreciates the comments provided by Airlines for America as relates to Federal Register Document 2019-27663, Agency Information Collection Activities: General Declaration. CBP agrees with Airlines for America that the automation of paper processes is key to increase efficiencies and facilitate operations for both CBP and external stakeholders. A part of that automation is the Electronic General Declaration (eGenDec) program.
As such, CBP is working to streamline the CBP Form 7507, General Declaration, to remove duplicative information while still allowing CBP to collect information needed for CBP operations. In addition, CBP is working on the eGenDec program to facilitate the use of the program for all commercial flight operations to and from all U.S. ports-of-entry (POEs) including U.S. territories such as the U.S. Virgin Islands, not just for those airlines that are OAG members for select POEs. To this end, CBP is currently developing a project which will meet these goals. Part of the project will be to review and amend regulations related to the use of the CBP Form 7507.
CBP looks forward to working with Airlines for America and other external stakeholders as we move forward on this project
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.
Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
There is no PII associated with this information collection. No assurances of confidentiality are provided to respondents.
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 personal or sensitive nature.
12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.
FORM |
TOTAL BURDEN HOURS |
NO. OF RESPONDENTS |
NO. OF RESPONSES PER RESPONDENT |
TOTAL ANNUAL RESPONSES |
TIME PER RESPONSE |
7507
|
110,123 |
500 |
2,644 |
1,322,000 |
5 minutes (.0833 hours)
|
Public Cost
The estimated cost to the respondents is $9,397,897. This is based on the estimated burden hours (110,123) multiplied by the average loaded hourly wage rate for aircraft pilots ($85.34). CBP calculated this loaded wage rate by first multiplying the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) 2018 annual median wage rate, converted to an hourly rate, for Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers ($55.61), which CBP assumes best represents the wage for aircraft pilots, by the ratio of BLS’ average 2018 total compensation to wages and salaries for Transportation and Material Moving occupations (1.5346), the assumed occupational group for aircraft pilots, to account for non-salary employee benefits.1,2 This figure is in 2018 U.S. dollars and CBP assumes an annual growth rate of 0 percent; the 2018 U.S. dollar value is equal to the 2019 U.S. dollar value.
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information.
There are no recordkeeping, capitalization or start-up costs associated with this collection.
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 $14,668,172. This is based on the number of responses that must be reviewed (1,322,000) multiplied by the time burden to review and process each response (10 minutes or 0.166 hours) = 219,452 hours multiplied by the average hourly loaded rate for a CBP Officer ($66.84)3 = $14,668,172.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 12 or 13 of this Statement.
There has been no increase or decrease in the estimated annual burden hours previously reported for this information collection. There is no change to the information 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 for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
CBP will display the expiration date for OMB approval of this information collection.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.
CBP does not request an exception to the certification of this information collection.
No statistical methods were employed.
1 Because median hourly wage information was not available for Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers, CBP adjusted the annual median wage for Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers ($115,670) to an hourly estimate using the standard 2,080 hours worked per year. Source of median wage rate: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment Statistics, “May 2018 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates United States.” Updated April 2, 2019. Available at https://www.bls.gov/oes/2018/may/oes_nat.htm. Accessed June 4, 2019.
2 The total compensation to wages and salaries ratio is equal to the calculated average of the 2018 quarterly estimates (shown under Mar., June, Sep., Dec.) of the total compensation cost per hour worked for Transportation and Material Moving occupations ($30.0850) divided by the calculated average of the 2018 quarterly estimates (shown under Mar., June, Sep., Dec.) of wages and salaries cost per hour worked for the same occupation category ($19.6050). Source of total compensation to wages and salaries ratio data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation Historical Listing March 2004 – December 2018, “Table 3. Civilian workers, by occupational group: employer costs per hours worked for employee compensation and costs as a percentage of total compensation, 2004-2018.” March 2019. Available at https://www.bls.gov/web/ecec/ececqrtn.pdf. Accessed June 4, 2019.
3 CBP bases this wage on the FY 2019 salary and benefits of the national average of CBP Officer positions, which is equal to a GS-11, Step 9. Source: Email correspondence with CBP’s Office of Finance on June 12, 2019.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Preferred Customer |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-14 |