[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28566-28567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14066]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
1997 Economic Census Covering Mining Sector
ACTION: Proposed agency information collection activity; comment
rquest.
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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 August 5, 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 Patricia L. Horning, Bureau of the Census, Room
2125, Building 4, Washington, DC 20233 on (301) 457-4680.
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
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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 including approximately
30,000 mineral establishments.
The information collected from establishments in this sector of the
economic census will produce basic statistics for number of
establishments, shipments, payroll, employment, detailed supplies and
fuels consumed, depreciable assets, and capital expenditures. It also
will yield a variety of subject statistics, including shipments by
product line, type of operation, and other industry-specific measures.
II. Method of Collection
We will select establishments in the mining sector of the economic
census for inclusion in the mail canvass from a frame given by the
Census Bureau's Standard Statistical Establishment List. To be eligible
for selection, an establishment will be required to satisfy the
following conditions: (i) It must be classified in the mining sector;
(ii) it must be an active operating establishment of a multi-
establishment firm (including operations under exploration and
development), or it must be a single-establishment firm with payroll;
and (iii) it must be located in one of the 50 states or the District of
Columbia. Mail selection procedures will distinguish the following
groups of establishments:
A. Establishments of Multi-Establishment Firms
Selection procedures will assign all active mineral operating
establishments of multi-establishment firms to the mail component of
the potential respondent universe. We estimate that the census mail
canvass for 1997 will include approximately 8,000 establishments of
multi-establishment firms.
B. Single-Establishment Firms With Payroll
As an initial step in the selection process, we will conduct a
study of the potential respondent universe for mining. The study of
potential respondents will produce a set of industry-specific payroll
cutoffs that we will use to distinguish large versus small single-
establishment firms within each industry. This payroll size distinction
will affect selection as follows:
1. Large Single-Establishment Firms
Selection procedures will assign large single-establishment firms
having annualized payroll (from Federal administrative records) that
equals or exceeds the cutoff for their industry to the mail component
of the potential respondent universe. We estimate that the census mail
canvass for 1997 will include approximately 7,100 firms in this
category. These firms will receive a standard form.
2. Small Single-Establishment Firms
Small single-establishment firms in the crushed stone, sand and
gravel, and crude petroleum and natural gas industries where
application of the cutoff for nonmail establishments results in a large
number of small establishments included in the mail canvass will
receive a short form. The short form will collect basic statistics and
other essential information that is not available from administrative
records.
The short form will be mailed to approximately 2,900 single-
establishment firms in these industries which are larger than the
nonmail cutoff for their industry, but which have an annual payroll
under a certain criteria. In terms of employment, this criteria will
identify establishments with approximately 5 to 19 employees.
All remaining single-establishment firms with payroll will be
represented in the census by data from Federal administrative records.
We will not include approximately 12,000 of these small employers in
the census mail canvass.
III. Data
OMB Number: Not Available.
Form Number: The forms used to collect information from
establishments in this sector of the economic census are tailored to
specific mining operations and are too numerous to list separately in
this notice. You can obtain information on the proposed content of the
forms by calling Patricia L. Horning on (301) 457-4680.
Type of Review: Regular Review.
Affected Public: Businesses or Other for Profit, Non-profit
Institutions, Small Businesses or Organizations, and State or Local
Governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
Standard Form.............................................. 15,100
Short Form................................................. 2,900
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Total.................................................. 18,000
Estimated Time Per Response:
Standard Form...................................................4.2 hrs
Short Form......................................................2.1 hrs
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:
Standard Form.............................................. 63,420
Short Form................................................. 6,090
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Total.................................................. 69,510
Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the government for this
work is included in the total cost of the 1997 Economic Census,
estimated to be $218 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 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: May 30, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-14066 Filed 6-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P