Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Precanvass Operation for the 2012 Economic Census Covering Transportation of Commodities, 38976 [2010-16396]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• U.s. Census Bureau
• Census Bureau

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 38976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-16396]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Precanvass 
Operation for the 2012 Economic Census Covering Transportation of 
Commodities

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.

ACTION: Notice.

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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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before September 7, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 Cynthia Davis Hollingsworth, Census Bureau, Room 
8K047--South Building, Washington, DC 20233 (or via the Internet at 
cynthia.davis.hollingsworth@census.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to conduct a Precanvass Operation in 
preparation for the 2012 Commodity Flow Survey to improve the 
efficiency and accuracy of the sample frame. The Commodity Flow Survey 
itself will be the subject of a later notice planned for publication in 
early 2011.
    The Commodity Flow Survey, a component of the Economic Census, is 
the only comprehensive source of multimodal, system-wide data on the 
volume and pattern of goods movement in the United States. The 
Commodity Flow Survey is conducted in partnership with the Bureau of 
Transportation Statistics, Research and Innovative Technology 
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.
    In conducting the Precanvass, the Census Bureau will mail a one-
page questionnaire to manufacturing, mining, and wholesale 
establishments, enterprise support establishments, electronic shopping, 
mail-order houses, and publisher establishments, selected from its 
Business Register. The Precanvass will determine if these 
establishments are engaged in shipping activities, and if so obtain an 
estimate of the annual value of those shipments, along with updating 
address and contact information for the 2012 Commodity Flow Survey. 
Those establishments that do not engage in shipping activity will be 
eliminated from the sample frame. Identification and elimination of the 
non-shippers will significantly improve the efficiency of the sample 
for the 2012 Commodity Flow Survey. Also, those establishments excluded 
from the sample frame will be saved the added burden of receiving a 
2012 Commodity Flow Survey.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will mail the Precanvass questionnaire to (a) 
enterprise support establishments in the Census Bureau's Business 
Register, and (b) the largest establishments in the industries listed 
in Section I that are likely to be included in the 2012 Commodity Flow 
Survey. The estimated size of the Precanvass mailing is 100,000 
establishments.
    The Census Bureau will use a mailout, mail-back or electronic 
reporting methodology, with telephone follow-up for selected 
nonresponse cases. General information on shipping activity and value 
of shipments will be collected via check box style questions. Contact 
information also will be collected and used to improve the mailing and 
follow-up activities for the 2012 Commodity Flow Survey.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0932.
    Form Number: CFS-0001.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses and other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,333.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $266,666
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, U.S.C. 131.

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 Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) approval of this information collection; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: June 30, 2010.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-16396 Filed 7-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P