[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28565-28566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14065]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


1997 Economic Census Covering Manufacturing

ACTION: Proposed Agency Information Collection Activity; Comment 
Request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 5, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Michael Zampogna for Food, Textiles, Apparel, 
Wood and Chemical Products, Bureau of the Census, Room 2212, Building 
4, Washington, DC 20233 on (301) 457- 4810 and to Kenneth Hansen for 
Electrical, Transportation, Metals and Industrial Machinery, Bureau of 
the Census, Room 2207, Building 4, Washington, DC 20233 on (301) 457-
4755.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau is the preeminent collector and provider of 
timely, relevant and quality data about the people and economy of the 
United States. Economic data are the Census Bureau's primary program 
commitment during nondecennial census years. The economic census, 
conducted under authority of Title 13 U.S.C., is the primary source of 
facts about the structure and functioning of the Nation's economy and 
features unique industry and geographic detail. Economic census 
statistics serve as part of the framework for the national accounts and 
provide essential information for government, business and the general 
public. The 1997 Economic Census will cover virtually every sector of 
the U.S. economy including more than 400,000 manufacturing 
establishments.
    The information collected from companies in the manufacturing 
sector of the economic census will produce basic statistics by industry 
for number of establishments, payroll, employment, value of shipments, 
value added, capital expenditures, depreciation, materials consumed, 
selected purchased services, electric energy used and inventories held. 
Primary strategies for reducing burden in Census Bureau economic data 
collections are to increase electronic reporting through broader use of 
computerized self-administered census questionnaires, electronic data 
interchange, and other electronic data collection methods.

II. Method of Collection

    Establishments included in this collection will be selected from a 
frame given by the Census Bureau's Standard Statistical Establishment 
List. To be eligible for selection, an establishment will be required 
to satisfy the following conditions: (i) It must be classified in the 
manufacturing sector; (ii) it must be an active operating establishment 
of a multi-establishment company, or it must be an operating single-
establishment company with payroll; and (iii) it must be located in one 
of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Most establishments will 
be included in the mail protion of the collection. Forms tailored for 
the particular kind of business will be mailed to the establishment to 
be filled out and returned. Establishments not meeting certain cutoffs 
for payroll will be included in the non-mail portion of the collection. 
We will use administrative data in lieu collecting data directly from 
these establishments.

[[Page 28566]]

    Mail selection procedures will distinguish several groups of 
establishments. Establishment selection to a particular group is based 
on a number of factors. The more important considerations are the size 
of the company and whether it is included in the intercensal annual 
survey of manufactures (ASM) sample panel. The ASM panel is 
representative of both large and small establishments from the mail 
component of the manufacturing census. The ASM sample panel includes 
appoximately 60,000 establishments. The various groups of 
establishments that will constitute the 1997 Census of Manufactures are 
outlined below.

A. Establishments of Multi-Establishment Companies Engaged in 
Manufacturing Activity

    Selection procedures will assign eligible establishments of multi-
establishment companies to the mail component of the potential 
respondent universe.
    We estimate that the census mail canvass for 1997 will include the 
following:

1. ASM sample establishments: 35,000
2. Non-ASM: 50,000

B. Single-Establishment Companies Engaged in Manufacturing Activity 
with Payroll

    As an initial step in the selection process, we will conduct a 
study of the potential respondent universe for manufacturing. The study 
of potential respondents will produce a set of industry-specific 
payroll cutoffs that we will use to distinguish large versus small 
single-establishment companies within each industry. This payroll size 
distinction will affect selection as follows:
1. Large Single-Establishment Companies
    Single-establishment companies having annualized payroll (from 
Federal administrative records) that equals or exceeds the cutoff for 
their industry will be assigned to the mail component of the potential 
respondent universe.
    We estimate that the census mail canvass for 1997 will include the 
following:

a. ASM sample establishments: 25,000
b. Non-ASM: 96,000
2. Small Single-Establishment Companies
    In selected industries, small single-establishment companies that 
satisfy a particular criteria (administrative record payroll cutoff) 
will receive a manufacturing short form, which will collect a reduced 
amount of basic statistics and other essential information that is not 
available from administrative records.
    We estimate that the census mail canvass for 1997 will include 
approximately 54,000 companies in this category. This category does not 
contain ASM establishments.
    3. All remaining single-establishment companies with payroll will 
be represented in the census by data estimated from Federal 
administrative records. Generally, we do not include these small 
employers in the census mail canvass.
    We estimate that this category for 1997 will include approximately 
140,000 manufacturing companies.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not Available.
    Form Number: The forms used to collect information from businesses 
in these sectors of the economic census are tailored to specific 
business practices and are too numerous to list separately in this 
notice. You can obtain information on the proposed content of the forms 
by calling Michael Zampogna on (301) 457-4810 or Kenneth Hansen on 
(301) 457-4755.
    Type of Review: Regular Review.
    Affected Public: Businesses or Other for Profit, Non-profit 
Institutions, Small Businesses or Organizations, and State or Local 
Governments

Estimated Number of Respondents:                                        
ASM.......................................................    60,000    
Non-ASM (Long Form).......................................   146,000    
Non-ASM (Short Form)......................................    54,000    
                                                           -------------
      Total...............................................   260,000    
Estimated Time Per Response:                                            
ASM.......................................................   5.6 hrs    
Non-ASM (Long Form).......................................   3.4 hrs    
Non-ASM (Short Form)......................................   2.2 hrs    
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:                                    
ASM.......................................................   336,000    
Non-ASM (Long Form).......................................   496,400    
Non-ASM (Short Form)......................................   118,800    
                                                           -------------
      Total...............................................   951,200    
                                                                        

    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the government for this 
work is included in the total cost of the 1997 Economic Census, 
estimated to be $218 million.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: May 30, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-14065 Filed 6-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P