[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

[[Page 28567]]

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