[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 67405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28161]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit 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: 2012 Economic Census Covering the Mining Sector.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0939.
    Form Number(s): Various.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved collection.
    Burden Hours: 72,920.
    Number of Respondents: 16,400.
    Average Hours per Response: 4 hours and 27 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The 2012 Economic Census covering the Mining Sector 
will use a mail canvass, supplemented by data from federal 
administrative records, to measure the economic activity of 
approximately 26,000 mining establishments classified in the North 
American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
    The mining sector of the economic census distinguishes two basic 
activities: Mine operation and mining support activities. The economic 
census will produce basic statistics for number of establishments, 
shipments, payroll, employment, detailed supplies and fuels consumed, 
depreciable assets, inventories, and capital expenditures. It also will 
yield a variety of subject statistics, including shipments by product 
line, type of operation, size of establishments and other industry-
specific measures.
    The economic census 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 provides essential 
information for government, industry, business, and the general public. 
The federal government uses information from the economic census as an 
important part of the framework for the national accounts, input-output 
measures, key economic indexes, and other estimates that serve as the 
factual basis for economic policy-making, planning, and program 
administration. State and local governments rely on the economic census 
as a unique source of comprehensive economic statistics for small 
geographical areas for use in policy-making, planning, and program 
administration. Finally, industry, business, and the general public use 
data from the economic census for economic forecasts, market research, 
benchmarks for their own sample-based surveys, and business and 
financial decision making.
    If the economic census was not conducted, the federal government 
would lose vital source data and benchmarks for the national accounts, 
input-output tables, and other composite measures of economic activity, 
causing substantial degradation in the quality of these important 
statistics. Further, the government would lose critical benchmarks for 
current, sample-based economic surveys and an essential source of 
detailed, comprehensive economic information for use in policy-making 
and program administration.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Frequency: One-time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: This information collection is part of the 2012 
Economic Census, which is required by law under Title 13, United States 
Code (U.S.C.). Section 131 of this statute directs the taking of a 
census at 5-year intervals. Section 224 makes reporting mandatory.
    OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
    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 6616, 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 Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202) 395-7245) 
or email ([email protected]).

    Dated: October 26, 2011.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-28161 Filed 10-31-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P