[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 75508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27586]


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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: Annual Capital Expenditures Survey.
    Form Number(s): ACE-1 (S), ACE-1 (M), ACE-1(Long), ACE-1 (I), ACE-
2, ACE-2 (I).
    Agency Approval Number: 0607-0782.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 132,900 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 61,000.
    Avg Hours per Response: ACE-1 (S)--2 hours, ACE-1 (M)--3 hours, 
ACE-1 (Long)--16 hours, ACE-2--1 hour.
    Needs and Uses: A major concern of economic policymakers is the 
adequacy of investment in plant and equipment. Data on the amount of 
business expenditures for new plant and equipment and measures of the 
stock of existing facilities are critical to evaluate productivity 
growth, the ability of U.S. business to compete with foreign business, 
changes in industrial capacity, and measures of overall economic 
performance. The ACES is the current source of comprehensive statistics 
on business investment in buildings and other structures, machinery, 
and equipment for private nonfarm businesses in the United States. The 
ACES is an integral part of the Federal Government statistical program 
to improve and supplement ongoing statistical programs. Federal 
Government agencies, including the Census Bureau, use the data to 
improve and supplement ongoing statistical programs.
    This request is for a revision of a currently approved collection 
and covers the 2004 through 2006 ACES. Major revisions from the 
previously approved collection are the elimination of the collection of 
detailed capital expenditures by type of structure and type of 
equipment, and the incorporation of the 2002 North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) into the ACES. Detailed capital 
expenditures by type of structure and type of equipment data were 
collected in the 2003 ACES. These data, collected together once every 
five years, will not be requested again until the 2008 ACES. Beginning 
with the 2004 ACES we will publish data by the 2002 NAICS. We will 
collect and publish data for approximately 136 industries. This is an 
increase of four industries from the 1997 NAICS.
    The plan for the continued survey is a basic annual survey that 
collects fixed assets and depreciation, sales and receipts, total 
capital expenditures for new and used structures and equipment 
separately, and capitalized computer software developed or obtained for 
internal use, from employer enterprises. This collection is intended to 
represent the capital expenditure activity of all employer firms and 
provide comprehensive control estimates of total capital expenditures 
for structures and equipment by industry. Companies that operate in 
only one industry will receive an ACE-1 (S) form. These companies are 
not asked to report capital expenditures by industry which eliminates 
the need for respondent industry coding. Companies that operate in more 
than one but less than nine industries will receive an ACE-1 (M) form. 
And, companies that operate in nine or more industries will receive an 
ACE-1 (L) form.
    All ACE-1 forms request sales and receipts information to calculate 
industry investment to sales ratios and to assist in verifying that 
consolidated company data are being reported. Assets and depreciation 
information collected assists in measuring changes in the Nation's 
capital stock estimates. As part of the basic survey, we also collect 
data annually from a small sample of nonemployer enterprises. Using 
Form ACE-2, the survey will request that nonemployer companies report 
current year capital expenditures data. This collection is intended to 
better represent total capital expenditures activity of all firms.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 182, 224, and 225.
    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: December 13, 2004.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-27586 Filed 12-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P