Notice2023-18735
Vessel Entrance Clearance System (VECS)
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 30, 2023
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentU.S. Customs and Border Protection
Abstract
The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). The information collection is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 167 (Wednesday, August 30, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59932-59933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18735]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
[1651-0019]
Vessel Entrance Clearance System (VECS)
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: 60-day notice and request for comments; extension of an
existing collection of information.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) will be submitting the following information
collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (PRA). The information collection is published in the Federal
Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.
DATES: Comments are encouraged and must be submitted (no later than
October 30, 2023) to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s)
contained in this notice must include the OMB Control Number 1651-0019
in the subject line and the agency name. Please use the following
method to submit comments: Email. Submit comments to:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dd9e9f8d828d8f9c9dbebfadf3b9b5aef3bab2ab"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="145756444b444655547776643a707c673a737b62">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional PRA
information should be directed to Seth Renkema, Chief, Economic Impact
Analysis Branch, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade,
Regulations and Rulings, 90 K Street NE, 10th Floor, Washington, DC
20229-1177, Telephone number 202-325-0056 or via email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#96d5d4c6c9c6c4d7d6f5f4e6b8f2fee5b8f1f9e0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="337071636c636172735051431d575b401d545c45">[email protected]</span></a>. Please note that the contact information provided
here is solely for questions regarding this notice. Individuals seeking
information about other CBP programs should contact the CBP National
Customer Service Center at 877-227-5511, (TTY) 1-800-877-8339, or CBP
website at <a href="https://www.cbp.gov/">https://www.cbp.gov/</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CBP invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment on the proposed and/or continuing
information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This process is conducted in accordance with
5 CFR 1320.8. Written comments and suggestions from the public and
affected agencies should
[[Page 59933]]
address one or more of the following four points: (1) whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (3) suggestions to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (4) suggestions to minimize the
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond,
including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms
of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses. The comments that are submitted will be summarized and
included in the request for approval. All comments will become a matter
of public record.
Overview of This Information Collection
Title: Vessel Entrance and Clearance System (VECS).
OMB Number: 1651-0019.
Form Number: CBP Form 1300.
Current Actions: Extension.
Type of Review: Extension.
Affected Public: Individuals.
Abstract: CBP Form 1300, Vessel Entrance or Clearance Statement, is
used to collect essential commercial vessel data at time of formal
entrance and clearance in U.S. ports, allows the master to attest to
the truthfulness of all CBP forms associated with the manifest package,
and collects relevant information about the vessel and cargo. The form
was developed through agreement by the United Nations Intergovernmental
Maritime Organization (IMO) in conjunction with the United States and
various other countries. The form was developed as a single form to
replace the numerous other forms used by various countries for the
entrance and clearance of vessels. CBP Form 1300 is authorized by 5
U.S.C. 301, and 19 U.S.C. 66, 1415, 1624, 2071, 1431, 1433, and 1434,
as well as 46 U.S.C. 501, 60105 and provided for by 19 CFR 4. This form
is accessible at: <a href="http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/publications/forms?title=1300&=Apply">http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/publications/forms?title=1300&=Apply</a>.
This form is currently submitted in paper format and is anticipated
to be submitted electronically as part of CBP's efforts to automate
maritime forms through the Vessel Entrance and Clearance System (VECS),
which will reduce the need for paper submission of any vessel entrance
or clearance requirements under the above referenced statutes and
regulations. VECS will still collect and maintain the same data as CBP
Form 1300 but will automate the capture of data to reduce or eliminate
redundancy with other data collected by CBP.
Respondents are enabled to create a new ACE Account type for Vessel
Agencies through the ACE Portal. The new account type within ACE will
operate as a portal that leads to the Vessel Entrance and Clearance
System (VECS), which will run as its own independent system.
Vessel Agents will be required to provide identifying information
such as; their name, their employer identification number (EIN),
company address, and their phone numbers, which will be requested at
the time Vessel Agents apply for the new ACE account type.
After creating an ACE account, Vessel Agencies, Vessel Operating
Common Carriers (VOCCs), and their designees are able to use the new
Vessel Entrance and Clearance System (VECS) as part of the ongoing
pilot program to test the functionality of VECS, and will be able to
file vessel entrance, clearance, and related data to CBP
electronically.
CBP is currently running a small public VECS Pilot on several
ports. VECS will automate and digitize the collection and processing of
the data and filing requirements for which the CBP Form 1300 is used.
CBP plans to run an initial public pilot to test the system. All users
who obtained a Vessel Agency Account through the ACE Portal will be
automatically enrolled into the VECS public pilot. Initially, the pilot
began at one of eleven ports where VECS was previously internally
tested. CBP is providing training to each CBP port and the Vessel
Agency personnel at each port, prior to beginning/expanding the public
pilot in another port.
The VECS public pilot will continue to expand to additional ports,
in an effort to progressively test and implement the system nationwide.
There will be no change to the paper format of CBP Form 1300, and CBP
Form 1300 in paper format will continue to be accepted.
New Submission
The VECS Pilot will be live for 51 port codes as of August 2023
enabling fully electronic processing of vessel entrance and clearance.
The public pilot has allowed CBP to identify areas for additional
enhancement and automation, fix minor errors with the system's
operation, and simultaneously deploy to new locations while continuing
to test fixes and new capabilities. VECS pilot will continue to expand
to other port codes while implementing training for port staff.
Type of Information Collection: CBP Form 1300.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,624.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 72.
Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 188,928.
Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes (0.5 hours).
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 94,464.
Dated: August 25, 2023.
Seth D. Renkema,
Branch Chief, Economic Impact Analysis Branch, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection.
[FR Doc. 2023-18735 Filed 8-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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