Current Industrial Reports SurveysWAVE I (Mandatory and Voluntary Submissions)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau

Current Industrial Reports Surveys--WAVE I (Mandatory and

Voluntary Submissions)

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 31,

2000.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room

5033, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via

the Internet at LE[email protected]).

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, (301) 457-4587, Census Bureau, Manufacturing and

Construction Division, Room 2101, Building #4, Washington, DC 20233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 66877]]

I. Abstract

The Census Bureau conducts a series of monthly, quarterly, and

annual surveys as part of the Current Industrial Reports (CIR) program.

The CIR surveys deal mainly with the quantity and value of shipments 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. These surveys provide continuing and timely

national statistical data on manufacturing. The results of these

surveys are used extensively by individual firms, trade associations,

and market analysts in planning or recommending marketing and

legislative strategies.

The CIR program includes both mandatory and voluntary surveys.

Typically the monthly and quarterly surveys are conducted on a

voluntary basis. Those companies that choose not to respond to the

voluntary surveys are required to submit a mandatory annual

counterpart. The annual counterpart collects annual data from those

firms not participating in the more frequent collection.

In 1998, the Census Bureau converted the Current Industrial Reports

(CIR) survey form names to reflect the switch from the old U.S.

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system to the new North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS). For example, the M37L

under the old SIC system converted to M336L under the NAICS.

Due to the large number of surveys in the CIR program, for

clearance purposes, we group the surveys into three waves. The

mandatory and voluntary surveys in each wave are separately submitted.

Thus, a total of six clearances cover all of the surveys in the CIR

program. One wave is submitted for reclearance each year. This year the

Census Bureau plans to submit mandatory and voluntary surveys of Wave I

for clearance. The surveys in Wave I are:

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Mandatory surveys Voluntary surveys

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M311H--Fats and Oils (Warehouse)....... M336L--Truck Trailers*

M311M--Fats and Oils (Consumers)....... MQ325B--Inorganic Fertilizer

Materials and Related Products

M311N--Fats and Oils (Producers)....... MQ327D--Clay Construction

Products*

MA325F--Paints and Allied Products..... MQ322E--Plumbing Fixtures*

MA327C--Refractories

MA331A--Iron and Steel Castings

MA331B--Steel Mill Products

MA331E--Nonferrous Castings

MA332K--Steel Shipping Drums and Pads

MA333A--Farm Machinery and Lawn and

Garden Equipment

MA333M--Refrigeration, Air Conditioning

& Warm Air Equipment

MA332Q--Antifriction Bearings

MA334R--Computers & Office & Accounting

Machines

MA335A--Switchgear, Switchboard

Apparatus Relays, & Industrial

Controls

MA335F--Major Household Appliances

MA335H--Motors and Generators

MA335K--Wiring Devices and Supplies

MA334B--Selected Instrument & Related

Products

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*These voluntary surveys have mandatory annual counterparts.

II. Method of Collection

The Census Bureau will use mail out/mail back survey forms to

collect data. We ask respondents to return monthly report forms within

10 days, quarterly report forms within 15 days, and annual report forms

within 30 days of the initial mailing. Telephone calls and/or letters

encouraging participation will be mailed to respondents that have not

responded by the designated time.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0607-0392--Mandatory Surveys. 0607-0393--Voluntary &

Annual Counterparts Surveys.

Form Number: Set Chart Above.

Type of Review: Regular Review.

Affected Public: Businesses, Other for Profit, or Organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: Mandatory Surveys--13,829.

Voluntary & Annual Counterparts Surveys--2,991. Total--16,820.

Estimated Time Per Response: Mandatory Surveys--1.26 hrs. avg.

Voluntary & Annual Counterparts Surveys--2.22 hrs. avg.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: Mandatory Surveys--13,032 hours.

Voluntary & Annual Counterparts Surveys--1,877 hours. Total--14,909

hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: The estimated cost to respondents for

all the CIR reports in Wave I for fiscal year 2001 is $197,395.

Respondent's Obligation: The CIR program includes both mandatory

and voluntary surveys.

Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 61, 182,

224, and 225.

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 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: November 23, 1999.

Madeleine Clayton,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

[FR Doc. 99-31005 Filed 11-29-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-07-P