Survey of Pollution Abatement Costs and Expenditures

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 991215341-9341-01]

RIN Number 0607-XX50

Survey of Pollution Abatement Costs and Expenditures

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Consideration.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of the Census (Census

Bureau) is considering a proposal to conduct the Pollution Abatement

Costs and Expenditures survey for the year 1999. The Census Bureau,

prior to 1995, conducted the Pollution Abatement Costs and Expenditures

Survey, MA-200. Due to budget limitations, the survey was suspended. In

response to the need for this data to assess the cost of environmental

regulations on private business, the Census Bureau, with support from

the Environmental Protection Agency, plans to reinstate the Survey of

Pollution Abatement Costs and Expenditures.

DATE: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 27, 2000.

ADDRESS: Direct all written comments to the Director, U.S. Census

Bureau, Room 2049, Federal Building 3, Washington, DC 20233-0101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Taylor, Manufacturing and

Construction Division, Bureau of the Census, Room 2135, Federal

Building 4, Washington, DC 20233, on (301) 457-4683.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Census Bureau is authorized to conduct

surveys necessary to furnish current data on subjects covered by the

major censuses authorized by Title 13, United States Code, Sections

182, 224, and 225. The Pollution Abatement Costs and Expenditures

survey will provide continuing and timely national statistical data for

the period between the economic censuses. The next Economic Census will

occur in the year 2002. Data collected in this survey will be within

the general scope, type, and character of those inquiries covered in

the Economic Census.

The survey form will collect--from plants that produce goods or

provide services classified in manufacturing, mining, and electric

utility industries--data on the operating costs of pollution prevention

and treatment, including hazardous pollutants, payments to government

agencies for pollution removal, and new capital expenditures for

pollution prevention and treatment (such as for air pollution control,

water pollution control and solid waste). These data are similar to the

data collected on the previously mentioned MA-200. The survey results

will be used to track costs of regulatory programs and rules. Results

will also be used for monitoring economic impact and promoting growth

of environmental programs.

The Bureau of the Census will use mail-out/mail-back survey forms

to collect the data. Companies will be asked to respond to the survey

within 60 days of the initial mailing. Letters encouraging

participation will be mailed to companies that have not

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responded by the designated time. Resulting statistics will be

published in the Current Industrial Reports series.

The primary users of these data will be federal, state, and local

government agencies, including the Bureau of the Census, the

Environmental Protection Agency, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Other users include business firms, academics, trade associations, and

research and consulting organizations. The data are not publicly

available from nongovernmental or other governmental sources on a

timely and continuing basis.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required

to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure

to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements

of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of

information displays a current valid Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) control number. In accordance with the PRA, 44 U.S.C., Chapter

35, we will submit the survey to OMB for approval. We will furnish

report forms to organizations included in the survey, and additional

copies are available on written request to the Director, U.S. Census

Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-0101.

Dated: December 21, 1999.

Kenneth Prewitt,

Director, Bureau of the Census.

[FR Doc. 99-33602 Filed 12-27-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-07-P