[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 206 (Thursday, October 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60627-60628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20985]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Manufacturers' 
Shipments, Inventories, and Orders to the Department of Defense

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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: To ensure consideration written comments must be submitted on or 
before December 24, 2007.

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 Chris Savage, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 7K071, 
Washington, DC 20233-6900, (301) 763-4832, or via the Internet at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) survey 
collects monthly data on shipments, inventories, and orders from 
domestic manufacturing companies. The purpose of the M3 survey is to 
provide early broad-based monthly statistical data on current economic 
conditions and indications of future production commitments in the 
manufacturing sector. The orders, as well as the shipments and 
inventory data, are used widely and are valuable tools for analysis of 
business cycle conditions. Major data users include: Members of the 
Council of Economic Advisers, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Federal 
Reserve Board, Conference Board, Treasury Department, and the business 
community.
    The monthly M3 reflects primarily the month-to-month changes of 
companies within the survey. The M3 survey collects data for 89 
industry categories of which 13 provide non-defense and defense 
allocations. Those industries include: Small Arms and Ordnance; 
Communications Equipment; Search and Navigation Equipment; Aircraft; 
Aircraft Engine and Parts; Missile, Space Vehicle, and Parts 
Manufacturing Defense; and Ship and Boat Building.
    There is a clear need to perform a periodic benchmark of the M3 
estimates to reflect the manufacturing universe levels. The Annual 
Survey of Manufactures (ASM) provides annual benchmarks for the 
shipments and inventory data for the M3 survey, however, the ASM does 
not distinguish between non-defense and defense activities. The last 
collection instrument used to benchmark non-defense and defense data 
was the Shipments to Federal Agencies Benchmark Survey (MA-9675) 
conducted in 1992. Since the defense industries have dramatically 
changed, it is necessary to have a benchmark instrument to obtain a 
current allocation of data between non-defense and defense 
manufacturing activities for the M3 universe levels.
    The U.S. Census Bureau is planning a new collection to benchmark 
the M3 universe levels for the non-defense and defense industries 
listed above as of the end of 2006 and 2007. The Manufacturers' 
Shipments, Inventories, and Orders to the Department of Defense (M3DOD) 
survey will collect shipments, inventories, and unfilled orders data 
from domestic manufacturing companies that encompass defense 
manufacturing activities. M3 data will be adjusted based on the M3DOD 
results on the NAICS basis. This survey will be conducted every five 
years to provide correct benchmark levels and preserve the integrity of 
the estimates for the M3 survey, especially for the closely watched 
non-defense capital goods series.

II. Method of Collection

    The U.S. Census Bureau will use mail out/mail back survey forms to 
collect the data. Companies will be asked to respond to the survey 
within 45 days of receipt. Survey analysts will telephone non-
respondents who have not reported by the deadline for preparing the 
final survey results.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: M-3DOD.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,000.

[[Page 60628]]

    Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $65,650.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, U.S.C., Sections 131 and 182.

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: October 19, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-20985 Filed 10-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P