[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 77 (Monday, April 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21308-21309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8426]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Current 
Industrial Reports Surveys (Mandatory and Voluntary Surveys)

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.

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 June 20, 2008.

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 Mendel D. Gayle, Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill 
Rd. Rm. 7K055, Washington, DC 20233, (301) 763-4587 or via the Internet 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request a revision of the currently 
approved Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of the Current 
Industrial Reports (CIR) Program. 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. 
Individual firms, trade associations, and market analysts use the 
results of these surveys extensively 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.
    Previously, the CIR surveys were divided among three separate waves 
and submitted separately for OMB review. Due to the reduced number of 
surveys in the CIR program, the CIR surveys are being combined into one 
wave. The surveys included are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Mandatory surveys                    Voluntary surveys
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MA311D--Confectionery                *M336G--Civil Aircraft and Aircraft
                                      Engines
MA325F--Paint and Allied Products    *M327G--Glass Containers
MA327C--Refractories                 *MQ325B--Fertilizer Materials
MA331B--Steel Mill Products          *MQ327D--Clay Construction Products
MA332Q--Antifriction Bearings        *MQ315B--Socks
MA333A--Farm Machinery               *MQ311A--Flour Milling Products
MA333M--Air Conditioning and         *MQ325A--Inorganic Chemicals
 Refrigeration

[[Page 21309]]

 
MA333N--Fluid Power Products for     MQ325F--Paint, Varnish, and Lacquer
 Motion Control (Including
 Aerospace)
MA335F--Major Household Appliances   MQ334P--Telecommunications
MA335K--Wiring Devices and Supplies  MQ334R--Computers & Peripheral
                                      Equipment
MA314Q--Carpets and Rugs
MA321T--Lumber Production and Mill   *These voluntary surveys have
 Stocks                               mandatory annual counterparts.
MA325G--Pharmaceutical
 Preparations, except Biologicals
MA333P--Pumps and Compressors
MA335E--Electric Housewares and
 Fans
MA335J--Insulated Wire and Cable
MA336G--Aerospace Industry
M311H--Fats and Oils (Warehouse)
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
MA334C--Control Instruments
MA334D--Defense, Navigational, &
 Aerospace Electronics
MA334T--Meters & Test Devices
MA334M--Consumer Electronics
MA334Q--Semiconductors, Printed
 Circuit Boards, and Other
 Electronic Components
MA336G--Aerospace Industry
M311J--Oilseeds, Beans, and Nuts
 (Primary Producers)
M313N--Cotton and Raw Linters in
 Public Storage
M313P--Consumption on the Cotton
 System and Stocks
MQ313A--Textiles
MQ315A--Apparel
MQ333W--Metalworking Machinery
M311C--Corn (Wet & Dry Producers of
 Ethanol)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will use mail out/mail back survey forms to 
collect data. It is requested that respondents 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 Control Number: 0607-0476.
    Form Number: See Chart Above.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,184.
    Estimated Time per Response: 49 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 28,280.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory, voluntary.
    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: April 15, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-8426 Filed 4-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P