[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35472-35473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17120]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
Annual Commodity Survey Test
ACTION: Proposed collection; 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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 2,
1997.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,
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 Judy Dodds, Assistant Chief for Census and
Related Programs, Bureau of the Census, Room 2102, FB-4, Washington, DC
20233, Telephone (301) 457-4587.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The proposed information collection is a test of an alternate
method of collecting manufacturers' product shipments data. Currently,
we collect product class shipments from the establishments in the
Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM) and product shipments in the Census
of Manufactures every five years. We also collect product shipments for
various products from a combination of companies and establishments in
the Current Industrial Reports (CIR) series. The data from the CIR,
while quite detailed, do not cover all manufactured products. The data
from the ASM, while comprehensive, does not provide sufficient detail
for some data users.
The Census Bureau would like to design a survey that would satisfy
the need for both comprehensive and more detailed product data. The
survey would collect detailed product shipments data from a sample of
all manufacturing companies. The survey would cover all manufacturers'
products at greater detail than the current ASM but less detail that is
available in the existing CIR. If it is possible to successfully design
such a survey, we could reduce the size of the ASM and eliminate much
of the existing CIR program and divert those resources to the new
survey.
Before we give additional consideration to implementation, we are
planning to test the concept. We plan to test the proposed survey using
the chemicals industry (SIC major group 28) and the furniture industry
(SIC major group 25). These industries were chosen because they contain
a number of the difficult definitional and collection issues that we
identified in our research. We plan to select a sample of approximately
2,900 companies and ask them to report their company level product
shipments for data year 1997. We have drafted questionnaires and
developed reporting instructions. We plan to compare the results of
this test collection to data from the CIR program and the 1997 Census
of Manufactures. Those comparisons and the results of response follow-
up to the test survey should help us determine if this type of survey
is feasible and likely to produce the results our data users need.
II. Method of Collection
We plan a mail out/mail back survey of approximately 2,900
companies. We plan to use three questionnaires so that the
questionnaire can be somewhat ``tailored'' to the type of company. We
will imprint those products that are most likely to be appropriate to
the company, based on the classification of their manufacturing plants.
We will include instructions that provide definitions and a complete
list of the products we are collecting. Companies will be asked to
report on the products we have imprinted on their forms and any others
that are covered by the survey.
III. Data
OMB Number: Not available.
Form Number: MA25Z, MA28X and MA28Z.
Type of Review: Regular.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,900 companies.
Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes to 2 hours; average 1\1/2\
hours.
[[Page 35473]]
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,350 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $56,246.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Section 182.
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: June 25, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-17120 Filed 6-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
