Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Chemical Weapons Convention Declaration and Report Handbook and Forms & Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations (CWCR)

<NOTICE> DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE <SUBAGY>Bureau of Industry and Security</SUBAGY> <SUBJECT>Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Chemical Weapons Convention Declaration and Report Handbook and Forms & Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations (CWCR)</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Notice of information collection, request for comment. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB. </SUM> <DATES> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before May 6, 2025. </DATES> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> Interested persons are invited to submit comments by email to Nancy Kook, IC Liaison, Bureau of Industry and Security, at <E T="03">PRA@bis.doc.gov</E> or to <E T="03">PRAcomments@doc.gov</E> ). Please reference OMB Control Number 0694-0091 in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Requests for additional information or specific questions related to collection activities should be directed to Nancy Kook, IC Liaison, Bureau of Industry and Security, phone 202-482-2440 or by email at <E T="03">PRA@bis.doc.gov.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Abstract</HD> The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC or Convention) is a multilateral arms control and non-proliferation treaty that seeks to achieve an international ban on chemical weapons (CW). The CWC prohibits, inter alia, the use, development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, and direct or indirect transfer of chemical weapons. Furthermore, each State Party to the Convention is required to make initial and annual declarations on certain facilities which produce, process, consume, transfer, or import/export toxic chemicals and their precursors as specified in three lists or schedules of chemicals contained in the Convention's Annex on Chemicals. In addition to traditional CW agents, the Schedules include chemicals that have both large-scale commercial uses and CW applications (referred to as “dual-use chemicals”). Information is also required on facilities which produce a broad class of chemicals referred to as “Unscheduled Discrete Organic Chemicals,” or “UDOCs.” Finally, information is also required from facilities subject to inspection by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This information is in addition to information provided in initial and annual declarations. <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Method of Collection</HD> Electronically or on paper. <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Data</HD> <E T="03">OMB Control Number:</E> 0694-0191. <E T="03">Form Number(s):</E> Form 1-1, Form, 1-2, Form 1-2A, Form 1-2B. <E T="03">Type of Review:</E> Regular submission, extension of a current information collection. <E T="03">Affected Public:</E> Business or other for-profit organizations. <E T="03">Estimated Number of Respondents:</E> 725. <E T="03">Estimated Time per Response:</E> 10 minutes to 12 hours. <E T="03">Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:</E> 15,815 hours. <E T="03">Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public:</E> 0. <E T="03">Respondent's Obligation:</E> Mandatory. <E T="03">Legal Authority:</E> Executive Order 13128 authorizes the Department of Commerce (DOC) to issue regulations necessary to implement the Act and U.S. obligations under Article VI and related provisions of the Convention. <HD SOURCE="HD1">IV. Request for Comments</HD> We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. <SIG> <NAME>Sheleen Dumas,</NAME> Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, Commerce Department. </SIG> </SUPLINF> <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2025-03692 Filed 3-6-25; 8:45 am]</FRDOC> </NOTICE>