[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35472-35473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17120]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Annual Commodity Survey Test

ACTION: Proposed collection; 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 September 2, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
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 Judy Dodds, Assistant Chief for Census and 
Related Programs, Bureau of the Census, Room 2102, FB-4, Washington, DC 
20233, Telephone (301) 457-4587.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The proposed information collection is a test of an alternate 
method of collecting manufacturers' product shipments data. Currently, 
we collect product class shipments from the establishments in the 
Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM) and product shipments in the Census 
of Manufactures every five years. We also collect product shipments for 
various products from a combination of companies and establishments in 
the Current Industrial Reports (CIR) series. The data from the CIR, 
while quite detailed, do not cover all manufactured products. The data 
from the ASM, while comprehensive, does not provide sufficient detail 
for some data users.
    The Census Bureau would like to design a survey that would satisfy 
the need for both comprehensive and more detailed product data. The 
survey would collect detailed product shipments data from a sample of 
all manufacturing companies. The survey would cover all manufacturers' 
products at greater detail than the current ASM but less detail that is 
available in the existing CIR. If it is possible to successfully design 
such a survey, we could reduce the size of the ASM and eliminate much 
of the existing CIR program and divert those resources to the new 
survey.
    Before we give additional consideration to implementation, we are 
planning to test the concept. We plan to test the proposed survey using 
the chemicals industry (SIC major group 28) and the furniture industry 
(SIC major group 25). These industries were chosen because they contain 
a number of the difficult definitional and collection issues that we 
identified in our research. We plan to select a sample of approximately 
2,900 companies and ask them to report their company level product 
shipments for data year 1997. We have drafted questionnaires and 
developed reporting instructions. We plan to compare the results of 
this test collection to data from the CIR program and the 1997 Census 
of Manufactures. Those comparisons and the results of response follow-
up to the test survey should help us determine if this type of survey 
is feasible and likely to produce the results our data users need.

II. Method of Collection

    We plan a mail out/mail back survey of approximately 2,900 
companies. We plan to use three questionnaires so that the 
questionnaire can be somewhat ``tailored'' to the type of company. We 
will imprint those products that are most likely to be appropriate to 
the company, based on the classification of their manufacturing plants. 
We will include instructions that provide definitions and a complete 
list of the products we are collecting. Companies will be asked to 
report on the products we have imprinted on their forms and any others 
that are covered by the survey.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not available.
    Form Number: MA25Z, MA28X and MA28Z.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,900 companies.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes to 2 hours; average 1\1/2\ 
hours.

[[Page 35473]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,350 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $56,246.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Section 182.

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: June 25, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-17120 Filed 6-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P