[Federal Register: July 29, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 145)]
[Notices]
[Page 43842]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29jy05-51]
[[Page 43842]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
DOC has submitted 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: Current Industrial Reports, Wave III.
Form Number(s): Various.
Agency Approval Number: 0607-0476.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Burden: 13,998 hours.
Number of Respondents: 9,749.
Avg Hours Per Response: 51 minutes.
Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau is requesting a revision of
the mandatory and voluntary surveys in Wave III of the Current
Industrial Reports (CIR) program. The Census Bureau conducts a series
of monthly, quarterly, and annual surveys as part of the CIR program.
The CIR program focuses primarily on the quantity and value of
shipments data 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.
Due to the large number of surveys in the CIR program, for
clearance purposes, the CIR surveys are divided into ``waves.'' One
wave is resubmitted for clearance each year. This year the Census
Bureau is submitting the mandatory and voluntary surveys of Wave III
for clearance.
Three surveys currently contained in other CIR waves, MA334B,
``Selected Instruments and Related Products'', MA334S, ``Electromedical
Equipment and Irradiation Equipment'', and MA335A, ``Switchgear,
Switchboard Apparatus, Relays, and Industrial Controls,'' will be
discontinued and four new surveys will be created in their place. These
four new surveys will be added to this wave. They are MA334A,
``Analytical and Biomedical Instruments'', MA334C, ``Control
Instruments'', MA334D, ``Defense, Navigational and Aerospace
Electronics'', and MA334T ``Meters and Test Devices''. We are moving
the following surveys from another wave into this wave because of
changes in survey content. They are MA334M, ``Consumer Electronics''
and MA334Q, ``Semiconductors, Printed Circuit Boards, and Electronic
Components'' (will be renamed to ``Electronic Components''). After a
comprehensive review of the entire CIR program, we decided to eliminate
a number of lower priority surveys including MQ313D, ``Consumption on
the Woolen System'', MA315D, ``Gloves and Mittens'', and MA335L,
``Electric Light Fixtures''. We are also renaming two surveys in this
wave to reflect the substantial changes in their level of detail. They
are MA334P, ``Communication Equipment'' to ``Telecommunications'' and
MA334R, ``Computers and Office and Accounting Machines'' to
``Computers''.
In 2006, we will change the frequency of collection of MA334P,
``Telecommunications'' and MA334R, ``Computers'' from annual surveys to
quarterly surveys. This was requested by one of our primary data users,
the Federal Reserve Board (FRB). Technology is changing so quickly in
the areas covered by these surveys that annual collections do not
provide the immediacy of information needed by the FRB. We are reducing
the amount of detail collected in these areas to facilitate the more
frequent collection. The reduced detail will be introduced in 2005
although the quarterly collection will not begin until 2006. The
quarterly collection will be voluntary with an annual mandatory
counterpart which will be sent only to those respondents electing not
to participate in the more frequent collection.
Primary users of these data are government and regulatory agencies,
business firms, trade associations, and private research and consulting
organizations. The Federal Reserve Board uses CIR data in its monthly
index of industrial production as well as its annual revision to the
index. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) use the CIR data in the estimate of components of
gross domestic product (GDP) and the estimate of output for
productivity analysis, respectively. Many government agencies, such as
the International Trade Commission, Department of Agriculture, Food and
Drug Administration, Department of Energy, Federal Aviation
Administration, BEA, and International Trade Administration use the
data for industrial analysis, projections, and monitoring import
penetration. Private business firms and organizations use the data for
trend projections, market analysis, product planning, and other
economic and business-oriented analysis. Since the CIR program is the
sole, consistent source of information regarding specific manufactured
products in the intercensal years, the absence thereof would severely
hinder the Federal Government's ability to measure and monitor
important segments of the domestic economy, as well as the effect of
import penetration.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Frequency: Wave III contains surveys conducted monthly and
annually.
Respondent's Obligation: The CIR program contains surveys that are
mandatory and voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 61, 182, 224, and 225.
OMB Desk Officer: Susan Schechter, (202) 395-5103.
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 6625, 14th and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at
dhynek@doc.gov).
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice
to Susan Schechter, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) or e-
mail (susan_schechter@omb.eop.gov).
Dated: July 25, 2005.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-14989 Filed 7-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P