80 FR 25662 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Precanvass Operation for the 2017 Commodity Flow Survey

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 86 (May 5, 2015)

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.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25662-25663]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10468]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Precanvass 
Operation for the 2017 Commodity Flow Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

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.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before July 6, 2015.

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 [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to James Hinckley, Census Bureau, Room 6K057-South 
Building, Washington, DC 20233 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to conduct a Precanvass Operation in 
preparation for the 2017 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 2016.
    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, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation.
    The Commodity Flow Survey data are used by policy makers and 
transportation planners in various federal, state, and local agencies 
for accessing the demand for transportation facilities and services, 
energy use, and safety risk and environmental concerns. Additionally, 
business owners, private researchers, and analysts use the Commodity 
Flow Survey data for analyzing trends in the movement of goods, 
mapping, spatial patterns of commodity and vehicle flows, forecasting 
demands for the movement of goods, and determining needs for associated 
infrastructure and equipment.
    In conducting the Precanvass, the Census Bureau will select a 
sample from U.S. manufacturing, mining, and wholesale establishments, 
enterprise support establishments, electronic shopping, mail-order 
houses, and publishing establishments. 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 2017 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 2017 Commodity Flow Survey. In 
addition, those establishments excluded from the sample frame will be 
saved the added burden of receiving a 2017 Commodity Flow Survey 
questionnaire.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will mail letters 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 2017 Commodity Flow Survey. The estimated 
size of the Precanvass is 150,000 establishments. The size is subject 
to change to meet the goals of the survey, but will be no larger than 
approximately 150,000 establishments.
    The Census Bureau will primarily use electronic data capture 
methodology, with occasional data capture from facsimile receipts, 
secured messaging attachments, and telephone call-in responses. Letter 
mailings and telephone follow-up will be conducted for the nonresponse 
cases. General information on shipping activity and value of shipments 
will be collected via check box style questions. Contact information 
will also be collected and used to improve the mailing and follow-up 
activities for the 2017 Commodity Flow Survey.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0921.
    Form Number(s): CFS-0001.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses and other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 150,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 12,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., sections 131, 182, 224 and 225; 
49 U.S.C., section 111.

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

[[Page 25663]]

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: April 30, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-10468 Filed 5-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P