[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 93 (Monday, May 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22018-22019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11827]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
1997 Economic Census Covering Transportation of Commodities
ACTION: Proposed agency information collection activity; comment
request.
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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: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 12, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to John Fowler, Bureau of the Census, Room 2724,
Building 3, Washington, DC 20230 on (301) 457-2108.
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 nondecennial census years. The economic census,
conducted under authority of Title 13, U.S.C., 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 1997 Economic Census will cover virtually every sector of
the U.S. Economy.
The 1997 Commodity Flow Survey, a component of the Economic Census,
will produce key statistics on the movement of freight in the United
States. In the past, these types of data were used primarily by
governmental agencies in planning for transportation infrastructure.
Now these types of data are becoming increasingly important to the
business sector for making decisions related to marketing and
transportation strategies. The Commodity Flow Survey will be conducted
with the guidance and co-sponsorship of the Bureau of Transportation
Statistics, Department of Transportation. This survey will provide a
range of transportation statistics including value of shipments, weight
of shipments, commodities shipped, mode(s) of transportation used,
origin and destination of shipments, ton-miles and average miles per
shipment. The Census Bureau will publish shipment characteristics at
the national, state, and National Transportation Analysis Region
levels.
Primary strategies for reducing respondent burden in the Commodity
Flow Survey include:
Employing a stratified random sample to use the least
number of establishments required to produce reliable statistics;
Accepting estimates;
Requesting data on a limited sample of shipments.
We will introduce additional strategies for reducing overall
respondent burden for the 1997 Commodity Flow Survey, based on
experience gained from the 1993 survey. These include:
Decreasing the total sample size by nearly one half;
Reducing the reporting period from two weeks to one week
each quarter;
Offering electronic reporting options.
II. Method of Collection
The Commodity Flow Survey will survey a sample of business
establishments in mining, manufacturing, wholesale, and selected retail
industries. Each selected establishment will receive, by mail, four
questionnaires--one during each quarter of 1997. On each form, an
establishment will be asked to report data for an average of 25
shipments, selected during a designated one-week reporting period.
III. Data
OMB Number: Not Available.
Form Number: CFS-1000.
Type of Review: Regular review.
Affected Public: Businesses and Other For-profit, Small Businesses
or Organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 100,000.
Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 800,000.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the government for this
work, to be shared between the Department of Transportation and the
Census Bureau is estimated to be $22.5 million.
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 utility of the information to businesses/private
industry for marketing/cost evaluation/planning; (c) the accuracy of
the agency's estimate of burden (including hours and cost) of the
proposed collection of information; (d) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (e) 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: May 7, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-11827 Filed 5-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
