[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53959-53960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23352]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 030829216-3216-01]
RIN 0607-AA40


Annual Trade Survey

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is proposing to 
expand the 2003 Annual Trade Survey (ATS) to include manufacturers' 
sales branches and offices (MSBO). The Census Bureau proposes this 
expansion at the request of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The 
BEA considers this information vital to its accurate measurement of 
sales and inventories for wholesale trade. These data are

[[Page 53960]]

important inputs to BEA's preparation of National Income and Product 
accounts and its annual input-output tables.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 15, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the Director, U.S. Census 
Bureau, Room 2049, Federal Building 3, Washington, DC 20233.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Trimble, Chief, Annual Trade and 
Special Projects Branch, Service Sector Statistics Division, on (301) 
763-7223, or by e-mail: John [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Census Bureau is authorized to conduct 
surveys necessary to furnish current data on subjects covered by the 
major censuses authorized by Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), 
Sections 182, 224, and 225. Reporting by MSBO establishments will be 
mandatory and provide continuing and timely national statistical data. 
Data collected in this survey will be within the general scope, type, 
and character of those inquiries covered in the Economic Census.
    The current ATS collects data only for merchant wholesalers. The 
expanded survey will include a selected sample of firms and operating 
establishments primarily selling goods that they manufacture in the 
United States. These data will be a vital source for accurately 
measuring sales, inventories, and operating expenses for wholesale 
trade. The BEA has made repeated requests for this information. The 
expanded ATS will cover approximately 90 percent of sales from the 
wholesale sector and over 99 percent of its inventories compared to 
about 58 percent of sales and 85 percent of inventories in the present 
ATS sample.
    Beginning with the survey year 2003, the goal will be to maximize 
industry coverage within our available resources. In order to establish 
reporting arrangements and reduce respondent burden, we will mail 
report forms to a sample of firms on a company basis and contact them 
in person, as well as by phone and mail. We will mail a survey 
introduction letter followed by report forms to the firms covered by 
this survey and require the report forms to be returned thirty days 
after receipt. The report forms will request similar data items, but 
different forms are needed to accommodate both merchant wholesale and 
MSBO companies as well as both large and small firms. Later, as 
necessary, additional mail follow-ups and telephone follow-ups will be 
conducted.
    The primary users of these data will be federal, state and local 
government agencies, including the Bureau of the Census, BEA, and the 
Environmental Protection Agency. Other users will include business 
firms, academics, trade associations, and research and consulting 
organizations.

Rulemaking Requirements

Executive Order 12866

    This rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that this rule would not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Census Bureau is 
proposing to expand the 2003 Annual Trade Survey (ATS) to include 
manufacturers' sales branches and offices (MSBO). If this proposed rule 
is adopted, the expanded ATS would cover approximately 90 percent of 
sales from the wholesale sector and over 99 percent of its inventories 
compared to about 58 percent of sales and 85 percent of inventories in 
the present ATS sample.
    If this rule is adopted, it is estimated that the survey will 
require an additional 1,800 MSBOs to respond to the survey. It is 
estimated that approximately 1,200, or 67 percent, of the respondents 
would be small entities. The approximate total additional burden hours 
as a result of this rule is 800 hours (27 minutes per survey). This 
includes time for reviewing the instructions, searching existing data 
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and 
reviewing the information collection. The total cost is estimated to be 
$14,560 based on an annual response burden of 800 hours and a rate of 
$18.20 per hour to complete the form. The total cost to respondents 
that are small entities is estimated to be $9,755.
    Because small businesses are subject to minimal recording-keeping 
and reporting burdens as a result of this rule, the Chief Counsel for 
Regulation certifies that this proposed rule will not have a 
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with, a collection of information subject to requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), unless that collection of 
information displays a current valid Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) control number. This proposed rule contains a collection of 
information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). In accordance with the PRA, this collection 
of information will be submitted to OMB for approval. We estimate the 
number of additional respondents to be 1,800 and estimate an additional 
800 annual burden hours with this expanded data collection. Also, we 
estimate that the time for the additional responses associated with 
this data collection will be approximately 27 minutes. We will furnish 
report forms to organizations included in the survey, and additional 
copies will be available on written request to the Director, U.S. 
Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-0101.

    Dated: September 9, 2003.
Charles Louis Kincannon,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 03-23352 Filed 9-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P