Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 192 / Tuesday, October 6, 2009 / Notices 51255 

either the manufacturing industry or 

energy suppliers to the manufacturing 

industry to participate in the 

Roundtable. To be considered for 

participation, applicants should provide 

information regarding their 

qualifications to participate in the event 

and to make a valuable contribution 

based on their experiences regarding the 

topics to be discussed as identified in 

the Summary above. As space for this 

event is limited to 50 persons 

representing the private sector, DOC 

wishes to ensure broad coverage of 

industry sectors. Applicants will be 

notified of their selection to participate 

by October 16, 2009. 

Dated: September 22, 2009. 

Cheryl McQueen, 

Acting Director, Office of Energy and 

Environmental Industries, U.S. Department 

of Commerce. 

[FR Doc. E9–23964 Filed 10–5–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

U.S. Census Bureau 

Proposed Information Collection; 

Comment Request; Manufacturers’ 

Unfilled Orders Survey 

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau. 

ACTION: Notice. 

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: To ensure consideration, written 

comments must be submitted on or 

before December 7, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments 

to Diana Hynek, Departmental 

Paperwork Clearance Officer, 

Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 

14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., 

Washington, DC 20230 (or via the 

Internet at dHynek@doc.gov). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information or 

copies of the information collection 

instrument(s) and instructions should 

be directed to Chris Savage, U.S. Census 

Bureau, Manufacturing and 

Construction Division, 4600 Silver Hill 

Road, Room 7K071, Washington, DC 

20233–6913, (301) 763–4834, or (via the 

Internet at John.C.Savage@census.gov.) 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract 

The Manufacturers’ Shipments, 

Inventories, and Orders (M3) survey 

collects monthly data on shipments, 

inventories, and new and unfilled 

orders from manufacturing companies. 

The orders, as well as the shipments 

and inventory data, are valuable tools 

for analysts of business cycle 

conditions, including members of the 

Council of Economic Advisers, the 

Treasury Department, and the business 

community. 

The monthly M3 Survey estimates are 

based on a relatively small sample and 

reflect primarily the month-to-month 

changes of large companies. There is a 

clear need for periodic benchmarking of 

the M3 estimates to reflect the 

manufacturing universe. The Annual 

Survey of Manufacturers (ASM) 

provides annual benchmarks for the 

shipments and inventory data in this 

monthly survey. There is no benchmark 

for unfilled orders. The U.S. Census 

Bureau plans a reinstatement to an 

expired collection ‘‘Manufacturers’ 

Shipments, Inventories and Orders (M3) 

Supplement: 2006–2007 Unfilled Orders 

Benchmark Survey,’’ to be renamed the 

‘‘Manufacturers’ Unfilled Orders 

Survey.’’ Over the life of the M3 Survey, 

there have been four surveys 

specifically designed to collect unfilled 

orders. These surveys were conducted 

in 1976, 1986, 2000, and 2008. After 

analyzing the results of the 2008 survey, 

the Census Bureau ascertained the need 

for an ongoing data collection of 

unfilled orders data annually. 

The Manufacturers’ Unfilled Orders 

Survey will be used as a benchmark for 

the M3 Survey each year. The Census 

Bureau will use these data to develop 

universe estimates of unfilled orders as 

of the end of the calendar year and 

adjust the monthly M3 data on unfilled 

orders to these levels on the NAICS 

basis. The benchmarked unfilled orders 

levels will be used to derive estimates 

of new orders received by 

manufacturers. The survey data will 

also be used to determine whether it is 

necessary to collect unfilled orders data 

for specific industries on a monthly 

basis; some industries are not requested 

to provide unfilled orders data on the 

M3 Survey. 

II. Method of Collection 

The Census Bureau will use mail out/ 

mail back survey forms to collect the 

data. Companies will be asked to 

respond to the survey within 30 days of 

receipt. Letters encouraging 

participation will be mailed to 

companies that have not responded by 

the designated time. Telephone followup will be conducted to obtain response 

from delinquent companies. 

III. Data 

OMB Control Number: 0607–0561. 

Form Number: MA–3000. 

Type of Review: Regular submission. 

Affected Public: Businesses, large and 

small, or other for-profit organizations. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

6,000. 

Estimated Time per Response: .50 

hours. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: 3,000. 

Estimated Total Annual Cost: 

$94,950. 

Respondents Obligation: Mandatory. 

Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 

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: September 30, 2009. 

Glenna Mickelson, 

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer. 

[FR Doc. E9–23963 Filed 10–5–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–09–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

U.S. Census Bureau 

Proposed Information Collection; 

Comment Request; Construction 

Progress Reporting Survey 

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of 

Commerce, as part of its continuing 

effort to reduce paperwork and 

respondent burden, invites the general 


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