[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13978-13979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5990]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2012 Economic 
Census Covering the Manufacturing Sector

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 May 16, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 Julius Smith, Jr., U.S. Census Bureau, 
Manufacturing and Construction Division, Room 7K055, 4600 Silver Hill 
Road, Washington, DC 20233, telephone (301) 763-7662, (or via the 
Internet at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau is the preeminent collector and provider of 
timely, relevant and quality data about the people and economy of the 
United States. Economic data are the Census Bureau's primary program 
commitment during non-decennial census years. The economic census, 
conducted under authority of Title 13 United States Code, is the 
primary source of facts about the structure and functioning of the 
Nation's economy and features unique industry and geographic detail. 
Economic census statistics serve as part of the framework for the 
national accounts and provide essential information for government, 
business and the general public. The 2012 Economic Census covering the 
Manufacturing Sector will measure the economic activity for more than 
291,000 manufacturing establishments.

[[Page 13979]]

    The information collected from companies in the manufacturing 
sector of the economic census will produce basic statistics by industry 
for number of establishments, payroll, employment, value of shipments, 
value added, capital expenditures, depreciation, materials consumed, 
selected purchased services, electric energy used and inventories held.
    Primary strategies for reducing burden in Census Bureau economic 
data collections are to increase electronic reporting through broader 
use of computerized self-administered census questionnaires, electronic 
data interchange, and other electronic data collection methods.

II. Method of Collection

    Establishments included in this collection will be selected from a 
frame given by the Census Bureau's Business Register. To be eligible 
for selection, an establishment will be required to satisfy the 
following conditions: (i) It must be classified in the manufacturing 
sector; (ii) it must be an active operating establishment of a multi-
establishment company, or it must be an operating single-establishment 
company with payroll; and (iii) it must be located in one of the 50 
states or the District of Columbia. Most establishments will be 
included in the mail portion of the collection. Forms tailored for the 
particular kind of business will be mailed to the establishment to be 
filled out and returned. Establishments not meeting certain cutoffs for 
payroll will be included in the non-mail portion of the collection. We 
will use administrative data in lieu of collecting data directly from 
these establishments.
    Mail selection procedures will distinguish several groups of 
establishments. Establishment selection to a particular group is based 
on a number of factors. The more important considerations are the size 
of the company and whether it is included in the intercensal Annual 
Survey of Manufacturers (ASM) sample panel. The ASM panel is 
representative of both large and small establishments from the mail 
component of the manufacturing census. The ASM sample panel includes 
approximately 51,000 establishments. The various groups of 
establishments that will constitute the 2012 Economic Census are 
outlined below.

A. Establishments of Multi-Establishment Companies

    Selection procedures will assign eligible establishments of multi-
establishment companies to the mail components of the universe.
    We estimate that the census mail canvass for 2012 will include the 
following:
    1. ASM sample establishments: 33,000.
    2. Non-ASM: 25,000.

B. Single-Establishment Companies Engaged in Manufacturing Activity 
With Payroll

    As an initial step in the selection process, we will analyze the 
potential universe for manufacturing. This analysis will produce a set 
of industry-specific payroll cutoffs that we will use to distinguish 
large versus small-establishment companies within each industry. This 
payroll size distinction will affect selection as follows:
1. Large Single-Establishment Companies
    Single-establishment companies having annualized payroll (from 
Federal administrative records) that equals or exceeds the cutoff for 
their industry will be assigned to the mail component of the universe.
    We estimate that the census mail canvass for 2012 will include the 
following:
    a. ASM sample establishments: 18,000.
    b. Non-ASM: 58,000.
2. Small Single-Establishment Companies
    In selected industries, small single-establishment companies that 
satisfy a particular criteria (administrative record payroll cutoff) 
will receive a manufacturing short form, which will collect a reduced 
amount of basic statistics and other essential information that is not 
available from administrative records.
    We estimate that the census mail canvass for 2012 will include 
approximately 34,000 companies in this category. This category does not 
contain ASM establishments.
3. All remaining single-establishment companies with payroll will be 
represented in the census by data estimated from Federal administrative 
records. Generally, we do not include these small employers in the 
census mail canvass.
    We estimate that this category for 2012 will include approximately 
123,000 manufacturing companies.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0938.
    Form Number: The forms used to collect information from businesses 
in this sector of the economic census are tailored to specific business 
practices and are too numerous to list separately in this notice. You 
can obtain information on the proposed content at this Web site: http://www.census.gov/mcd/clearance.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit, not-for-profit 
institutions, and small business or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents:

ASM..........................................................     51,000
Non-ASM (Long Form)..........................................     83,000
Non-ASM (Short Form).........................................     34,000
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    Total....................................................    168,000
 

    Estimated Time per Response:

 
                                                                 Hours
 
ASM..........................................................        6.2
Non-ASM (Long Form)..........................................        4.0
Non-ASM (Short Form).........................................        2.5
 

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 733,200.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $23,770,344.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 131 and 
224.

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 10, 2011.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-5990 Filed 3-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P