[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55104-55105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18605]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 050728205-5205-01]


Annual Trade Survey

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of consideration.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is proposing to 
expand the 2005 Annual Trade Survey (ATS) to include agents, brokers, 
and electronic markets (AGBR). 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 value added for wholesale trade. These data are 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 20, 
2005.

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 R. Trimble, Chief, Annual 
Wholesale and Special Projects Branch, Service Sector Statistics 
Division, on (301) 763-7223, or by e-mail: [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 AGBR offices will be mandatory 
and will 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 for all merchant wholesalers. The 
expanded survey will include a selected sample of AGBRs that facilitate 
sales between businesses in the United States. These data will be a 
vital source for accurately measuring the sales, commissions, sales 
arranged for others, e-commerce, and operating expenses of these types 
of companies. The BEA has made repeated requests for this information. 
The expanded ATS will cover all sales from the wholesale sector 
compared to about 90 percent of sales in the present ATS sample.
    Beginning with the survey year 2005, 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 30 days after 
receipt. The report forms will request similar data items, but 
different forms are needed to accommodate wholesale distributors, 
manufacturers' sales branches and offices (MSBOs), and AGBR companies, 
as well as both large and small firms. Later, if 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 Census Bureau, BEA, and the 
Environmental Protection Agency. Other users will include business 
firms, academics, trade associations, and research and consulting 
organizations.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice 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 notice would not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Census Bureau is 
proposing to expand the 2005 ATS to includes AGBRs. If this notice of 
consideration is adopted, the expanded ATS would cover all sales from 
the wholesale sector compared to about 90 percent of sales in the 
present ATS sample.
    If this notice is adopted, it is estimated that the survey will 
require an additional 514 respondents to respond to the survey. It is 
estimated that approximately 368 of the respondents would be small 
entities. The approximate total additional burden hours as a result of 
this rule is 238 hours (28 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 $5,614 based 
on an annual response burden of 238 hours and a rate of $23.59 per hour 
to complete the form. The total cost to respondents that are small 
entities is estimated to be $3,892.
    Because small businesses are subject to minimal recording-keeping 
and reporting burdens as a result of this notice, the Chief Counsel for 
Regulation certifies that this notice of consideration 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

[[Page 55105]]

Budget (OMB) control number. This notice contains a collection of 
information subject to the requirements of the PRA (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 514 and estimate an additional 238 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 28 minutes. We will furnish report forms to 
organizations included in the survey, and additional copies will be 
available upon written request to the Director, U.S. Census Bureau, 
Washington, DC 20233-0101.

    Dated: September 13, 2005.
Charles Louis Kincannon,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 05-18605 Filed 9-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P