Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 34283-34284 [2014-13884]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 115 / Monday, June 16, 2014 / Notices
Following the staff presentation the
Board will hear comments from the
public. All staff presentations are
preliminary and are intended solely to
allow the Board to consider in a public
forum the issues and factors involved in
this case. No factual analyses,
conclusions, or findings presented by
staff should be considered final until
approved by a vote of the Board.
Additional Information
The meeting is free and open to the
public. If you require a translator or
interpreter, please notify the individual
listed below as the ‘‘Contact Person for
Further Information,’’ at least five
business days prior to the meeting.
The CSB is an independent federal
agency charged with investigating
industrial chemical accidents. The
agency’s board members are appointed
by the President and confirmed by the
Senate. CSB investigations look into all
aspects of chemical accidents, including
physical causes such as equipment
failure as well as inadequacies in
regulations, industry standards, and
safety management systems.
The Board does not issue citations or
fines but does make safety
recommendations to plants, industry
organizations, labor groups, and
regulatory agencies such as OSHA and
EPA.
Public Comment
Members of the public are invited to
make brief statements to the Board at
the conclusion of the staff presentation.
The time provided for public statements
will depend upon the number of people
who wish to speak. Speakers should
assume that their presentations will be
limited to five minutes or less, but
commenters may submit written
statements for the record.
Contact Person for Further Information
Hillary J. Cohen, Communications
Manager, hillary.cohen@csb.gov or (202)
446–8094. General information about
the CSB can be found on the agency
Web site at: www.csb.gov.
Dated: June 12, 2014.
Rafael Moure-Eraso,
Chairperson.
[FR Doc. 2014–14171 Filed 6–12–14; 4:15 pm]
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 6350–01–P
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
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:36 Jun 13, 2014
Jkt 232001
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
Title: Information and
Communication Technology Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0607–0909.
Form Number(s): ICT–1(S), ICT–1(M),
ICT–1(L).
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Burden Hours: 79,286.
Number of Respondents: 45,000.
Average Hours per Response: 1.76
hours.
Needs and Uses: Economic
policymakers are concerned about the
lack of available data related to
e-business infrastructure investment.
Such data are critical for evaluating
productivity growth, changes in
industrial capacity, and current
economic developments. Rapid
advances in Information and
Communication Technology (ICT)
equipment have resulted in these assets
having short useful lives and being
replaced faster than other types of
equipment. Companies are expensing
the full cost of such assets during the
current annual period rather than
capitalizing the value of such assets and
expensing the cost over two or more
years. In some cases this is due not only
to the short useful life of the asset, but
also to the fact that companies have
varying dollar levels for capitalization.
The Annual Capital Expenditures
Survey (ACES) (OMB Project 0607–
0782) currently collects summary data
on business capital expenditures
annually and detailed data on types of
structures and equipment every five
years. The fact that the ACES program
does not include non-capitalized
expenditures for e-business
infrastructure and infrequently collects
detailed data on types of structures and
equipment creates serious data gaps. To
fill these gaps and as a supplement to
the ACES survey, the Census Bureau
created the Information and
Communication Technology Survey
(ICTS). The ICTS uses the ACES
sampling, follow-up and estimation
methodologies including mailing to the
same employer companies.
Data users tell us that they need
comprehensive and consistent data on
investment by all private non-farm
businesses in capitalized and noncapitalized ICT equipment and software.
The objectives of the ICTS are:
(a) To provide estimates of capitalized
and non-capitalized ICT equipment
expenditures for all private non-farm
sectors of the economy at 3-digit and
selected 4-digit North American
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
34283
Industry Classification System (NAICS)
levels;
(b) to base the survey on a probability
sample that yields measures of
statistical reliability of the survey
estimates;
(c) to produce annual enterprise-level
data with the level of detail, coverage,
and quality which was previously
unavailable;
(d) to provide detailed data on
capitalized and non-capitalized ICT
expenditures for estimating the national
income and product accounts,
estimating the productivity of U.S.
industries, evaluating fiscal and
monetary policy, and conducting
research using capitalized and noncapitalized expenditures data; and
(e) to provide industry analysts with
necessary data for market analysis,
economic forecasting, product
development, and business planning.
This request is for continuation of a
currently approved collection and will
cover the 2013 through 2015 ICTS
(conducted in fiscal years 2014 through
2016). Due to budgetary constraints in
2013, the Census Bureau suspended the
2012 ICTS. However, funds were
appropriated for fiscal year 2014
allowing the Census Bureau to reinstate
the ICTS for the 2013 survey year.
We will collect and publish data
based on the 2012 NAICS. Industries in
the survey will comprise 3-digit and
selected 4-digit 2012 NAICS codes.
The annual ICTS collects data on two
categories of non-capitalized expenses
(purchases; and operating leases and
rental payments), for four types of
information and communication
technology equipment and software
(computers and peripheral equipment;
ICT equipment, excluding computers
and peripherals; electromedical and
electrotherapeutic apparatus; and
computer software, including payroll
associated with software development).
The survey also collects capital
expenditures data on the four types of
ICT equipment and software cited
above.
In prior ICTS data collection, the
Census Bureau used mail out/mail back
survey forms to collect data. Employer
companies were able to respond via
Centurion (the Census Bureau’s online
reporting system), by mail, or by using
our toll-free number to reply via secure
facsimile machine. We asked companies
to respond to the survey within 30 days
of the initial mailing. If companies did
not respond by the designated time,
they received letters and/or telephone
calls encouraging participation.
For the 2013 ICTS data collection, the
Census Bureau will rely primarily on
electronic reporting. Employer
E:\FR\FM\16JNN1.SGM
16JNN1
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
34284
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 115 / Monday, June 16, 2014 / Notices
companies will receive a mailed
notification letter containing their User
ID and password, and directed to
respond via Centurion through the
Census Bureau’s Business Help Site.
The online reporting instrument is an
electronic version of the paper data
collection instrument, and based on the
company’s diversity of operations and
number of industries with payroll.
Companies operating in only one
industry will access an ICT–1(S) form or
electronic instrument. These companies
will not be asked to report ICT
expenditures by industry, this will
eliminate the need for industry self
coding. Companies operating in more
than one, but less than nine industries
will access an ICT–1(M) form or
electronic instrument. Companies that
operate in nine or more industries will
access an ICT–1(L) form or electronic
instrument. Companies will be able to
print the form through online services
or request a paper form by mail.
The Census Bureau will continue to
ask companies to respond to the survey
within 30 days. Reminder letters and/or
telephone calls encouraging
participation will continue to go to all
companies that have not responded by
the designated time.
For the 2014 and 2015 ICTS data
collection, the Census Bureau will
determine whether to use the same data
collection strategy based upon the
electronic response rate for the 2013
ICTS.
The ICTS is an important part of the
Federal Government’s effort to improve
and supplement ongoing statistical
programs. The Bureau of Economic
Analysis (BEA), Federal Reserve Board,
Bureau of Labor Statistics and industry
analysts use these data to evaluate
productivity and economic growth
prospects. In addition, the ICTS
provides improved source data
significant to BEA’s estimate of the
investment component of Gross
Domestic Product, capital stock
estimates, and capital flow tables. Other
Federal agencies, private industry
organizations, and academic researchers
use the survey results for analyzing and
studying past and current economic
performance, short-term economic
forecasts, productivity, long-term
economic growth, tax policy, capacity
utilization, business fixed capital stocks
and capital formation, international
competitiveness and competitiveness
and trade policy, market research, and
financial analysis.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit, Not-for-profit institutions.
Frequency: Annually.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:36 Jun 13, 2014
Jkt 232001
Legal Authority: The Census Bureau
conducts this survey under the authority of
Title 13 of the United States Code, Sections
131 and 182. Sections 224 and 225 make the
survey mandatory.
This information collection request
may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
Follow the instructions to view
Department of Commerce collections
currently under review by OMB.
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to www.OIRA Submission@
omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806.
Dated: June 10, 2014.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014–13884 Filed 6–13–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–07–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economic Development Administration
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; Revolving Loan
Fund Reporting and Compliance
Requirements
Economic Development
Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before August 15, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Internet at JJessup@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to: Philip Saputo, Program
Analyst, U.S. Department of Commerce,
Economic Development Administration
Performance and National Programs
Division, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW., Suite 71030, Washington, DC
20230, Phone: 202–400–0662, Email:
PSaputo@eda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
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I. Abstract
The mission of the Economic
Development Administration (EDA) is
to lead the federal economic
development agenda by promoting
innovation and competitiveness,
preparing American regions for growth
and success in the worldwide economy.
One of EDA’s economic development
tools is the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)
program. Under the RLF program, EDA’s
regional offices award competitive
grants to units of state and local
government, institutions of higher
education, public or private non-profit
organizations, EDA-approved economic
development district organizations, and
Indian Tribes to establish RLFs.
Following grant award, an RLF grantee
disburses money from the RLF to make
loans at interest rates that are at or
below the current market rate to small
businesses or to businesses that cannot
otherwise borrow capital. On occasion,
RLFs also make loans to finance public
infrastructure. As the loans are repaid,
the grantee uses a portion of interest
earned to pay administrative expenses
and adds the remaining principal and
interest repayments to the RLF’s capital
base to make new loans. An RLF award
that is well managed is actively used to
make loans to eligible businesses and
entities, continues to revolve funds, and
does not have a termination date.
One of the unique features of the
program is that, by law, EDA must
exercise fiduciary responsibility over its
RLF portfolio in perpetuity—a
significant challenge since many RLF
grants date back to 1979. EDA’s
regulations therefore require EDA RLF
grantees to submit an ED–209, Semiannual Report to EDA, every six months
for each RLF they operate. In addition,
EDA RLF grantees must submit an ED–
209I, RLF Income and Expense
Statement, if either of the following
conditions applies to their RLF: (a) Total
administrative expenses for the 6-month
period exceed $100,000, or (b)
administrative expenses for the 6-month
period exceed 50 percent of RLF income
for the 6-month period. EDA requires
that both of these reports be completed
using EDA authorized and provided,
standardized, auto calculable Fillable
PDF (Portable Document Format) Forms,
instead of using the web-based
electronic reporting system previously
available, known as Revolving Loan
Fund Management System (RLFMS). As
of January 24, 2012, EDA terminated
network services, including RLFMS, in
response to a significant information
technology security incident and has
suspended use of RLFMS and will use
a digital fillable PDF of the ED–209 and
E:\FR\FM\16JNN1.SGM
16JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 115 (Monday, June 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34283-34284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13884]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 of
1995.
Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
Title: Information and Communication Technology Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0607-0909.
Form Number(s): ICT-1(S), ICT-1(M), ICT-1(L).
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Burden Hours: 79,286.
Number of Respondents: 45,000.
Average Hours per Response: 1.76 hours.
Needs and Uses: Economic policymakers are concerned about the lack
of available data related to e-business infrastructure investment. Such
data are critical for evaluating productivity growth, changes in
industrial capacity, and current economic developments. Rapid advances
in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment have
resulted in these assets having short useful lives and being replaced
faster than other types of equipment. Companies are expensing the full
cost of such assets during the current annual period rather than
capitalizing the value of such assets and expensing the cost over two
or more years. In some cases this is due not only to the short useful
life of the asset, but also to the fact that companies have varying
dollar levels for capitalization.
The Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES) (OMB Project 0607-
0782) currently collects summary data on business capital expenditures
annually and detailed data on types of structures and equipment every
five years. The fact that the ACES program does not include non-
capitalized expenditures for e-business infrastructure and infrequently
collects detailed data on types of structures and equipment creates
serious data gaps. To fill these gaps and as a supplement to the ACES
survey, the Census Bureau created the Information and Communication
Technology Survey (ICTS). The ICTS uses the ACES sampling, follow-up
and estimation methodologies including mailing to the same employer
companies.
Data users tell us that they need comprehensive and consistent data
on investment by all private non-farm businesses in capitalized and
non-capitalized ICT equipment and software. The objectives of the ICTS
are:
(a) To provide estimates of capitalized and non-capitalized ICT
equipment expenditures for all private non-farm sectors of the economy
at 3-digit and selected 4-digit North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS) levels;
(b) to base the survey on a probability sample that yields measures
of statistical reliability of the survey estimates;
(c) to produce annual enterprise-level data with the level of
detail, coverage, and quality which was previously unavailable;
(d) to provide detailed data on capitalized and non-capitalized ICT
expenditures for estimating the national income and product accounts,
estimating the productivity of U.S. industries, evaluating fiscal and
monetary policy, and conducting research using capitalized and non-
capitalized expenditures data; and
(e) to provide industry analysts with necessary data for market
analysis, economic forecasting, product development, and business
planning.
This request is for continuation of a currently approved collection
and will cover the 2013 through 2015 ICTS (conducted in fiscal years
2014 through 2016). Due to budgetary constraints in 2013, the Census
Bureau suspended the 2012 ICTS. However, funds were appropriated for
fiscal year 2014 allowing the Census Bureau to reinstate the ICTS for
the 2013 survey year.
We will collect and publish data based on the 2012 NAICS.
Industries in the survey will comprise 3-digit and selected 4-digit
2012 NAICS codes.
The annual ICTS collects data on two categories of non-capitalized
expenses (purchases; and operating leases and rental payments), for
four types of information and communication technology equipment and
software (computers and peripheral equipment; ICT equipment, excluding
computers and peripherals; electromedical and electrotherapeutic
apparatus; and computer software, including payroll associated with
software development). The survey also collects capital expenditures
data on the four types of ICT equipment and software cited above.
In prior ICTS data collection, the Census Bureau used mail out/mail
back survey forms to collect data. Employer companies were able to
respond via Centurion (the Census Bureau's online reporting system), by
mail, or by using our toll-free number to reply via secure facsimile
machine. We asked companies to respond to the survey within 30 days of
the initial mailing. If companies did not respond by the designated
time, they received letters and/or telephone calls encouraging
participation.
For the 2013 ICTS data collection, the Census Bureau will rely
primarily on electronic reporting. Employer
[[Page 34284]]
companies will receive a mailed notification letter containing their
User ID and password, and directed to respond via Centurion through the
Census Bureau's Business Help Site. The online reporting instrument is
an electronic version of the paper data collection instrument, and
based on the company's diversity of operations and number of industries
with payroll. Companies operating in only one industry will access an
ICT-1(S) form or electronic instrument. These companies will not be
asked to report ICT expenditures by industry, this will eliminate the
need for industry self coding. Companies operating in more than one,
but less than nine industries will access an ICT-1(M) form or
electronic instrument. Companies that operate in nine or more
industries will access an ICT-1(L) form or electronic instrument.
Companies will be able to print the form through online services or
request a paper form by mail.
The Census Bureau will continue to ask companies to respond to the
survey within 30 days. Reminder letters and/or telephone calls
encouraging participation will continue to go to all companies that
have not responded by the designated time.
For the 2014 and 2015 ICTS data collection, the Census Bureau will
determine whether to use the same data collection strategy based upon
the electronic response rate for the 2013 ICTS.
The ICTS is an important part of the Federal Government's effort to
improve and supplement ongoing statistical programs. The Bureau of
Economic Analysis (BEA), Federal Reserve Board, Bureau of Labor
Statistics and industry analysts use these data to evaluate
productivity and economic growth prospects. In addition, the ICTS
provides improved source data significant to BEA's estimate of the
investment component of Gross Domestic Product, capital stock
estimates, and capital flow tables. Other Federal agencies, private
industry organizations, and academic researchers use the survey results
for analyzing and studying past and current economic performance,
short-term economic forecasts, productivity, long-term economic growth,
tax policy, capacity utilization, business fixed capital stocks and
capital formation, international competitiveness and competitiveness
and trade policy, market research, and financial analysis.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit
institutions.
Frequency: Annually.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: The Census Bureau conducts this survey under
the authority of Title 13 of the United States Code, Sections 131
and 182. Sections 224 and 225 make the survey mandatory.
This information collection request may be viewed at
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce
collections currently under review by OMB.
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice
to www.OIRA Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395-5806.
Dated: June 10, 2014.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-13884 Filed 6-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
