Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 14202-14203 [E8-5215]

Download as PDF 14202 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 52 / Monday, March 17, 2008 / Notices Comment Requested This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. It is our desire to involve interested parties and especially adjacent landowners in identifying the issues related to proposed activities. Comments will assist in identification of key issues and opportunities to develop project alternatives and design criteria. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent Environmental Review A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will be 45 days (beginning approximately in July 2008) from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must structure their participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer’s position and contentions (Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may be waived or dismissed by the courts (City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980)). Because of these court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this proposed action participate by the close of the 45 day comment period so that substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the final environmental impact statement. To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft environmental VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:19 Mar 14, 2008 Jkt 214001 impact statement or the merits of the alternatives formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points. Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal and will be available for public inspection (40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 21). Dated: March 10, 2008. Dennis Jaeger, Deputy Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest. [FR Doc. E8–5131 Filed 3–14–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). Agency: U.S. Census Bureau. Title: Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) Supplement: 2006–2007 Unfilled Orders Benchmark Survey. Form Number(s): MA–3000, MA– 3000(I), MA–3000–L1, MA–3000–L2. OMB Control Number: 0607–0561. Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change, of an expired collection. Burden Hours: 3,000. Number of Respondents: 6,000. Average Hours per Response: 30 minutes. Needs and Uses: The Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) survey collects monthly data on shipments, inventories, new orders, and unfilled orders from manufacturing companies. The orders and shipments data are used widely and are valuable tools for analysts of business cycle conditions, including members of the Council of Economic Advisers, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Federal Reserve Board, Department of the Treasury, and the business community. New orders serve as an indicator of future production commitments and the data are direct inputs into the leading economic indicator series. New orders, as reported in the monthly survey, are derived by adding shipments to the net PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 change in the unfilled orders from the previous month. The ratio of unfilled orders to shipments is an important indicator of pressure on manufacturing capacity. The monthly M3 estimates are based on a relatively small panel of domestic manufacturers 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 entire manufacturing universe. The Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM) provides annual benchmarks for the shipments and inventories, but there is no benchmark for unfilled orders. A benchmark survey for unfilled orders was last conducted for 1999. The industries selected for this survey are those which the Census Bureau determined to maintain considerable unfilled orders. Due to the length of time since the last benchmark survey (8 years), an unfilled orders benchmark survey is necessary to ensure future accuracy of the new orders data and also to determine which NAICS industries continue to maintain unfilled orders. Report forms will be mailed to approximately 6,000 companies requesting data for 47 of 89 NAICS defense and nondefense industry categories for the M3 survey. The Census Bureau will use the information provided by this survey to develop universe estimates of unfilled orders as of the end of 2006 and 2007, and then adjust the monthly M3 data on unfilled orders to these levels. The benchmarked unfilled orders levels will be used to derive estimates of new orders received by manufacturers. New orders are derived using the following formula: NEW ORDERS (current) = SHIPMENTS (current) + UNFILLED ORDERS (current) ¥ UNFILLED ORDERS (prior) Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations. Frequency: One time. Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, sections 131, 182, 193, and 224. OMB Desk Officer: Brian HarrisKojetin, (202) 395–7314. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, (202) 482–0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at dHynek@doc.gov). Written comments and recommendations for the proposed E:\FR\FM\17MRN1.SGM 17MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 52 / Monday, March 17, 2008 / Notices information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202–395– 7245) or e-mail (bharrisk@omb.eop.gov). Dated: March 11, 2008. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E8–5215 Filed 3–14–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–07–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Census Bureau Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Annual Survey of Manufactures U.S. Census Bureau. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: 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 May 16, 2008. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 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 Mendel D. Gayle, Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Rd., Rm. 7K055, Washington, DC 20233, (301) 763–4587 or via the Internet at mendel.d.gayle@census.gov. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The Census Bureau has conducted the Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM) since 1949 to provide key measures of manufacturing activity during intercensal periods. In census years ending in ‘‘2’’ and ‘‘7’’, the ASM is mailed and collected as part of the Economic Census covering the Manufacturing Sector. This survey is an integral part of the Government’s statistical program. The ASM furnishes VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:19 Mar 14, 2008 Jkt 214001 up-to-date estimates of employment and payroll, hours and wages of production workers, value added by manufacture, cost of materials, value of shipments by product class, inventories, and expenditures for both plant and equipment and structures. The survey provides data for most of these items for each of the 5-digit and selected 6-digit industries as defined in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). It also provides geographic data by state at a more aggregated industry level. The survey also provides valuable information to private companies, research organizations, and trade associations. Industry makes extensive use of the annual figures on product class shipments at the U.S. level in its market analysis, product planning, and investment planning. The ASM data are used to benchmark and reconcile monthly and quarterly data on manufacturing production and inventories. This ASM clearance request will be for the year 2008. There will be no changes to the information requested from respondents. II. Method of Collection The ASM statistics are based on a survey that includes both a mail and nonmail components. Previously, the mail portion of the survey was comprised of a probability sample of approximately 53,000 manufacturing establishments from a frame of approximately 225,000 establishments. These 225,000 establishments were all manufacturing establishments of multiunit companies (companies with operations at more than one location) and all single-location manufacturing companies that were mailed in the 2002 Census of Manufacturing. The nonmail component was comprised of the remaining small single-location companies; approximately 155,000 companies. No data has been collected from companies in the nonmail component. Rather, data has been directly obtained from the administrative records of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Although the nonmail companies account for over half of the population, they have accounted for less than 2 percent of the manufacturing output. III. Data OMB Control Number: 0607–0449. Form Number: MA–10000(L), MA– 10000(S). Type of Review: Regular submission. PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 14203 Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations; not-for-profit institutions; State or local governments. Estimated Number of Respondents: 53,000. Estimated Time per Response: 3.7 hours. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 187,000. Estimated Total Annual Cost: The estimated cost to the respondents is $5,454,790. Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 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: March 11, 2008. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E8–5214 Filed 3–14–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–07–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of the Census [Docket Number 070913515–7516–01] Alaska Native Areas (ANAs) for the 2010 Census—Proposed Criteria and Guidelines Bureau of the Census, Commerce. ACTION: Notice of proposed program revisions and request for comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is requesting comment on proposed criteria and guidelines for Alaska Native Areas (ANAs) for the 2010 Census. Criteria are those rules and conditions that must be met when defining a geographic entity; guidelines E:\FR\FM\17MRN1.SGM 17MRN1

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 52 (Monday, March 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14202-14203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5215]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) 
Supplement: 2006-2007 Unfilled Orders Benchmark Survey.
    Form Number(s): MA-3000, MA-3000(I), MA-3000-L1, MA-3000-L2.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0561.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change, of an expired 
collection.
    Burden Hours: 3,000.
    Number of Respondents: 6,000.
    Average Hours per Response: 30 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and 
Orders (M3) survey collects monthly data on shipments, inventories, new 
orders, and unfilled orders from manufacturing companies. The orders 
and shipments data are used widely and are valuable tools for analysts 
of business cycle conditions, including members of the Council of 
Economic Advisers, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Federal Reserve Board, 
Department of the Treasury, and the business community.
    New orders serve as an indicator of future production commitments 
and the data are direct inputs into the leading economic indicator 
series. New orders, as reported in the monthly survey, are derived by 
adding shipments to the net change in the unfilled orders from the 
previous month. The ratio of unfilled orders to shipments is an 
important indicator of pressure on manufacturing capacity.
    The monthly M3 estimates are based on a relatively small panel of 
domestic manufacturers 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 entire manufacturing universe. The 
Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM) provides annual benchmarks for the 
shipments and inventories, but there is no benchmark for unfilled 
orders. A benchmark survey for unfilled orders was last conducted for 
1999.
    The industries selected for this survey are those which the Census 
Bureau determined to maintain considerable unfilled orders. Due to the 
length of time since the last benchmark survey (8 years), an unfilled 
orders benchmark survey is necessary to ensure future accuracy of the 
new orders data and also to determine which NAICS industries continue 
to maintain unfilled orders.
    Report forms will be mailed to approximately 6,000 companies 
requesting data for 47 of 89 NAICS defense and nondefense industry 
categories for the M3 survey.
    The Census Bureau will use the information provided by this survey 
to develop universe estimates of unfilled orders as of the end of 2006 
and 2007, and then adjust the monthly M3 data on unfilled orders to 
these levels. The benchmarked unfilled orders levels will be used to 
derive estimates of new orders received by manufacturers. New orders 
are derived using the following formula:

NEW ORDERS (current) = SHIPMENTS (current) + UNFILLED ORDERS (current) 
- UNFILLED ORDERS (prior)

    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Frequency: One time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, sections 131, 182, 
193, and 224.
    OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
dHynek@doc.gov).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed

[[Page 14203]]

information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax 
(202-395-7245) or e-mail (bharrisk@omb.eop.gov).

    Dated: March 11, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-5215 Filed 3-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P

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