[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9065-9066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3053]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Current Industrial Reports Surveys--WAVE II (Mandatory and 
Voluntary Submissions)

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via 
the Internet at [email protected]).

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, (301) 457-4587, Census Bureau, Manufacturing and 
Construction Division, Room 2101, Building #4, Washington, DC 20233 (or 
via the Internet at [email protected]) .

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau conducts a series of monthly, quarterly, and 
annual surveys as part of the Current Industrial Reports (CIR) program. 
The CIR surveys

[[Page 9066]]

deal mainly with the quantity and value of shipments of particular 
products and occasionally with data on production and inventories; 
unfilled orders, receipts, stocks and consumption; and comparative data 
on domestic production, exports, and imports of the products they 
cover. These surveys provide continuing and timely national statistical 
data on manufacturing. The results of these surveys are used 
extensively by individual firms, trade associations, and market 
analysts in planning or recommending marketing and legislative 
strategies.
    The CIR program includes both mandatory and voluntary surveys. 
Typically, the monthly and quarterly surveys are conducted on a 
voluntary basis and annual collections are mandatory. The collection 
frequency of individual CIR surveys is determined by the cyclical 
nature of production, the need for frequent trade monitoring, or the 
use of data in Government economic indicator series. Some monthly and 
quarterly CIR surveys have an annual ``counterpart'' collection. The 
annual counterpart collects annual data on a mandatory basis from those 
firms not participating in the more frequent collection.
    Due to the large number of surveys in the CIR program, for 
clearance purposes, the CIR surveys are divided into ``waves.'' There 
are three waves and each wave contains a voluntary and mandatory 
clearance package, making 6 separate clearances. Each year, one wave (2 
clearance packages) is submitted for review. This year the Census 
Bureau plans to submit mandatory and voluntary surveys of Wave II for 
clearance. Due to budgetary reductions the Census Bureau has 
discontinued the following surveys in this wave: MA325A--``Inorganic 
Chemicals'', MA325B--``Fertilizer Materials'', MA325C--``Industrial 
Gases'', and MQ316A--``Footwear''. The surveys in Wave II are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Mandatory surveys                    Voluntary surveys
------------------------------------------------------------------------
M311J--Fats and Oils (Oilseed            *M327G--Glass Containers.
 Crushings).
M311L--Fats and Oils (Renderers).......  *M331J--Inventories of Steel
                                          Producing Mills.
M313N--Cotton and Raw Linters in Public  *MQ311A--Flour Milling
 Storage.                                 Products.
M313P--Consumption on the Cotton System  *MQ325A--Inorganic Chemicals.
 and Stocks.
MQ315A--Apparel........................  *MQ325C--Industrial Gases.
MQ314X--Bed and Bath Furnishings.......  MQ325F--Paint and Allied
                                          Products.
MQ333W--Metalworking Machinery.........  *MQ335C--Fluorescent Lamp
                                          Ballast.
MA313F--Yarn Production................  MA311D--Confectionery.
MA313K--Knit Fabric Production.........  MA333N--Fluid Power Product.
MA314Q--Carpets and Rugs...............  MA335L--Electric Light
                                          Fixtures.
MA321T--Lumber Production and Mill       *These voluntary surveys have
 Stocks.                                  mandatory annual counterparts.
MA325G--Pharmaceutical Preparations,
 except Biologicals.
MA316A--Footwear.......................
MA335J--Insulated Wire and Cable.......
MA333L--Internal Combustion Engines....
MA333P--Pumps and Compressors..........
MA335E--Electric Housewares and Fans...
MA334M--Consumer Electronics...........
MA334Q--Semiconductor, Printed Circuit
 Boards, and Other Electronic
 Components.
MA334S--Electromedical and Irradiation     .
 Equipment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will use mail out/mail back survey forms to 
collect data. We ask respondents to return monthly report forms within 
10 days, quarterly report forms within 15 days, and annual report forms 
within 30 days of the initial mailing. Telephone calls and/or letters 
encouraging participation will be mailed to respondents who have not 
responded by the designated time.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0395--Mandatory Surveys. 0607-0206--Voluntary & 
Annual Counterparts Surveys.
    Form Number: See Chart Above.
    Type of Review: Regular Review.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Mandatory Surveys--11,652; 
Voluntary & Annual Counterparts Surveys--2,742; Total--14,394.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Mandatory Surveys--1.4546 hrs. avg.; 
Voluntary & Annual Counterparts Surveys--1.386 hrs. avg.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: Mandatory Surveys--16,949 hours; 
Voluntary & Annual Counterparts Surveys--3,800 hours; Total--20,749 
hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The estimated cost to respondents for 
all the CIR reports in Wave II for fiscal year 2002 is $377,632.
    Respondent's Obligation: The CIR program includes both mandatory 
and voluntary surveys.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 61, 81, 
182, 224, and 225.

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 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: February 1, 2001.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-3053 Filed 2-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P