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NOTICE: NOTICES

DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Current Industrial Reports Surveys (Mandatory and Voluntary Surveys)

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before June 20, 2008.

DOCUMENT 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 10413 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

SUMMARY: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals,

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Mendel D. Gayle, Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Rd. Rm. 7K055, Washington, DC 20233, (301) 7634587 or via the Internet at mendel.d.gayle@census.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Abstract

The Census Bureau plans to request a revision of the currently approved Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of the Current Industrial Reports (CIR) Program. 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. Individual firms, trade associations, and market analysts use the results of these surveys extensively 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 and annual collections are mandatory. The collection frequency of individual CIR surveys is determined by the cyclical nature of production, the need for frequent trade monitoring, or the use of data in Government economic indicator series. Some monthly and quarterly CIR surveys have an annual ``counterpart'' collection. The annual counterpart collects annual data on a mandatory basis from those firms not participating in the more frequent collection.

Previously, the CIR surveys were divided among three separate waves and submitted separately for OMB review. Due to the reduced number of surveys in the CIR program, the CIR surveys are being combined into one wave. The surveys included are:
Mandatory surveys Voluntary surveys MA311DConfectionery *M336GCivil Aircraft and Aircraft Engines
MA325FPaint and Allied Products *M327GGlass Containers
MA327CRefractories *MQ325BFertilizer Materials MA331BSteel Mill Products *MQ327DClay Construction Products MA332QAntifriction Bearings *MQ315BSocks
MA333AFarm Machinery *MQ311AFlour Milling Products MA333MAir Conditioning and *MQ325AInorganic Chemicals Refrigeration
[[Page 21309]]
MA333NFluid Power Products for MQ325FPaint, Varnish, and Lacquer Motion Control (Including
Aerospace)
MA335FMajor Household Appliances MQ334PTelecommunications MA335KWiring Devices and Supplies MQ334RComputers & Peripheral Equipment
MA314QCarpets and Rugs
MA321TLumber Production and Mill *These voluntary surveys have Stocks mandatory annual counterparts. MA325GPharmaceutical
Preparations, except Biologicals
MA333PPumps and Compressors
MA335EElectric Housewares and
Fans
MA335JInsulated Wire and Cable
MA336GAerospace Industry
M311HFats and Oils (Warehouse)
M311LFats and Oils (Renderers)
M311MFats and Oils (Consumers)
M311NFats and Oils (Producers)
MA327EConsumer, Scientific,
Technical, and Industrial
Glassware
MA333DConstruction Machinery
MA333FMining, Machinery and
Mineral Processing Equipment
MA334CControl Instruments
MA334DDefense, Navigational, &
Aerospace Electronics
MA334TMeters & Test Devices
MA334MConsumer Electronics
MA334QSemiconductors, Printed
Circuit Boards, and Other
Electronic Components
MA336GAerospace Industry
M311JOilseeds, Beans, and Nuts
(Primary Producers)
M313NCotton and Raw Linters in
Public Storage
M313PConsumption on the Cotton
System and Stocks
MQ313ATextiles
MQ315AApparel
MQ333WMetalworking Machinery
M311CCorn (Wet & Dry Producers of
Ethanol)

II. Method of Collection

The Census Bureau will use mail out/mail back survey forms to collect data. It is requested that respondents 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 who have not responded by the designated time.
III. Data

OMB Control Number: 06070476.

Form Number: See Chart Above.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,184.

Estimated Time per Response: 49 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 28,280.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory, voluntary.

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 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: April 15, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E88426 Filed 41808; 8:45 am]
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