[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 52 (Friday, March 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13167-13168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5427]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Current Industrial Reports Surveys--WAVE III (Mandatory and 
Voluntary Surveys)

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 May 17, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 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) 763-4587, Census Bureau, Manufacturing and 
Construction Division, Room 2101, Building 4,

[[Page 13168]]

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 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.'' One 
wave is resubmitted for clearance each year. This year the Census 
Bureau plans to submit mandatory and voluntary surveys of Wave III for 
clearance. The surveys in Wave III are:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Mandatory surveys                                        Voluntary survey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M311H--Fats and Oils (Warehouse)........  *M336G--Civil Aircraft and Aircraft Engines.
M311L--Fats and Oils (Renderers).
M311M--Fats and Oils (Consumers).
M311N--Fats and Oils (Producers).
MA327E--Consumer, Scientific, Technical,
 and Industrial Glassware.
MA333D--Construction Machinery.
MA333F--Mining, Machinery and Mineral
 Processing Equipment.
** MA334B--Selected Instruments &
 Related Products.
** MA334M--Consumer Electronics.
MA334P--Communication Equipment.
** MA334Q--Semiconductors, Printed
 Circuit Boards, and Other Electronic
 Components.
MA334R--Computers and Office and
 Accounting Machines.
** MA334S--Electromedical and
 Irradiation Equipment.
** MA335A--Switchgear, Switchboard
 Apparatus, Relays, and Industrial
 Controls.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This voluntary survey has mandatory annual counterpart.
** Moved from another wave.

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: 0607-0476.
    Form Number: See Chart Above.
    Type of Review: Regular Review.
    Affected Public: Businesses, or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,109.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1.4322 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 13,046 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The estimated cost to respondents for 
all the CIR reports in Wave III for fiscal year 2006 is $217,477.
    Respondent's Obligation: The CIR program includes both mandatory 
and voluntary surveys.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, sections 61, 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 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: March 15, 2005.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-5427 Filed 3-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P