[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 145 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 43842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14989]



[[Page 43842]]

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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: Current Industrial Reports, Wave III.
    Form Number(s): Various.
    Agency Approval Number: 0607-0476.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 13,998 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 9,749.
    Avg Hours Per Response: 51 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau is requesting a revision of 
the mandatory and voluntary surveys in Wave III of the Current 
Industrial Reports (CIR) program. The Census Bureau conducts a series 
of monthly, quarterly, and annual surveys as part of the CIR program. 
The CIR program focuses primarily on the quantity and value of 
shipments data 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.
    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 is submitting the mandatory and voluntary surveys of Wave III 
for clearance.
    Three surveys currently contained in other CIR waves, MA334B, 
``Selected Instruments and Related Products'', MA334S, ``Electromedical 
Equipment and Irradiation Equipment'', and MA335A, ``Switchgear, 
Switchboard Apparatus, Relays, and Industrial Controls,'' will be 
discontinued and four new surveys will be created in their place. These 
four new surveys will be added to this wave. They are MA334A, 
``Analytical and Biomedical Instruments'', MA334C, ``Control 
Instruments'', MA334D, ``Defense, Navigational and Aerospace 
Electronics'', and MA334T ``Meters and Test Devices''. We are moving 
the following surveys from another wave into this wave because of 
changes in survey content. They are MA334M, ``Consumer Electronics'' 
and MA334Q, ``Semiconductors, Printed Circuit Boards, and Electronic 
Components'' (will be renamed to ``Electronic Components''). After a 
comprehensive review of the entire CIR program, we decided to eliminate 
a number of lower priority surveys including MQ313D, ``Consumption on 
the Woolen System'', MA315D, ``Gloves and Mittens'', and MA335L, 
``Electric Light Fixtures''. We are also renaming two surveys in this 
wave to reflect the substantial changes in their level of detail. They 
are MA334P, ``Communication Equipment'' to ``Telecommunications'' and 
MA334R, ``Computers and Office and Accounting Machines'' to 
``Computers''.
    In 2006, we will change the frequency of collection of MA334P, 
``Telecommunications'' and MA334R, ``Computers'' from annual surveys to 
quarterly surveys. This was requested by one of our primary data users, 
the Federal Reserve Board (FRB). Technology is changing so quickly in 
the areas covered by these surveys that annual collections do not 
provide the immediacy of information needed by the FRB. We are reducing 
the amount of detail collected in these areas to facilitate the more 
frequent collection. The reduced detail will be introduced in 2005 
although the quarterly collection will not begin until 2006. The 
quarterly collection will be voluntary with an annual mandatory 
counterpart which will be sent only to those respondents electing not 
to participate in the more frequent collection.
    Primary users of these data are government and regulatory agencies, 
business firms, trade associations, and private research and consulting 
organizations. The Federal Reserve Board uses CIR data in its monthly 
index of industrial production as well as its annual revision to the 
index. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics (BLS) use the CIR data in the estimate of components of 
gross domestic product (GDP) and the estimate of output for 
productivity analysis, respectively. Many government agencies, such as 
the International Trade Commission, Department of Agriculture, Food and 
Drug Administration, Department of Energy, Federal Aviation 
Administration, BEA, and International Trade Administration use the 
data for industrial analysis, projections, and monitoring import 
penetration. Private business firms and organizations use the data for 
trend projections, market analysis, product planning, and other 
economic and business-oriented analysis. Since the CIR program is the 
sole, consistent source of information regarding specific manufactured 
products in the intercensal years, the absence thereof would severely 
hinder the Federal Government's ability to measure and monitor 
important segments of the domestic economy, as well as the effect of 
import penetration.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Frequency: Wave III contains surveys conducted monthly and 
annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: The CIR program contains surveys that are 
mandatory and voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 61, 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: July 25, 2005.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-14989 Filed 7-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P