[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 127 (Friday, July 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40351-40352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15010]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request


DOC has Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for Clearance the Following Proposal for Collection of Information 
Under the Provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35).

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization.
    Form Number(s): MQ-C1.
    Agency Approval Number: 0607-0175.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 38,250 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 17,000.
    Avg Hours Per Response: 2 hours and 15 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau requests an extension of approval 
to conduct the Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization. The survey was 
conducted annually from 1973 through 1988 and 1996 through 2003 and 
biennially from 1990 through 1994. The survey provides information on 
use of industrial capacity in manufacturing and publishing plants as 
defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). 
It is the only source of capacity rates at the 6-digit NAICS industry 
levels.
    Changes in capacity utilization are considered important indicators 
of investment demand and inflationary pressure. For these reasons, the 
estimates of capacity utilization are closely monitored by government 
and private policy makers.
    The survey collects the value of fourth quarter production and the 
value of production that could have been achieved if operating under 
``full production'' and ``emergency production'' levels. The ratios of 
the actual to the full and emergency production levels are the basis of 
the estimates of capacity utilization. The survey also collects 
information by shift on work patterns at actual production and full 
production levels.
    Government and private economists, defense and emergency planners 
and

[[Page 40352]]

the academic community are the primary users of the data. Without this 
survey, these data users would have no industry data for analytical 
purposes. The Federal Reserve Board (FRB) uses the data to benchmark 
its monthly estimates of capacity output and utilization. In addition, 
FRB uses these data to analyze changes in the use of capital, capital 
stocks and inputs related to capacity growth. The Defense Logistics 
Agency (DLA) uses the data to assess industry readiness to meet demand 
for goods under selected national emergency scenarios pertaining to the 
National Defense Stockpile requirements planning process for strategic 
and critical materials.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., section 182.
    OMB Desk Officer: Susan Schechter, (202) 395-5103.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Susan Schechter, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) or e-
mail ([email protected]).

    Dated: June 28, 2004.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-15010 Filed 7-1-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P