80 FR 46238 - 2017 Economic Census

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 149 (August 4, 2015)

Page Range		46238-46239
FR Document		2015-19147

The Bureau of the Census (U.S. Census Bureau) publishes this notice to announce that it is planning to conduct the 2017 Economic Census. The Census Bureau also is requesting public comment on the 2017 Economic Census content. This collection will be fully electronic using a secure encrypted Internet data collection system called Centurion. The Economic Census is conducted at 5-year intervals (years ending in 2 and 7) and is the most comprehensive compilation of statistics about U.S. businesses and the economy. The granting of specific authority to conduct the program is Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 131, which authorizes and requires the Economic Census.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 149 (Tuesday, August 4, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 149 (Tuesday, August 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46238-46239]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19147]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 150721631-5631-01]

2017 Economic Census

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Determination and Request for Comment.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (U.S. Census Bureau) publishes this
notice to announce that it is planning to conduct the 2017 Economic
Census. The Census Bureau also is requesting public comment on the 2017
Economic Census content. This collection will be fully electronic using
a secure encrypted Internet data collection system called Centurion.
The Economic Census is conducted at 5-year intervals (years ending in 2
and 7) and is the most comprehensive compilation of statistics about
U.S. businesses and the economy. The granting of specific authority to
conduct the program is Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section
131, which authorizes and requires the Economic Census.

DATES: The Census Bureau will begin the electronic mailout for the 2017
Economic Census in the Fall of 2017,

[[Page 46239]]

and responses will be due by February 12, 2018. Written comments must
be submitted on or before October 5, 2015 to ensure consideration of
your comments on the 2017 Economic Census content.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments regarding the 2017 Economic
Census to Kevin Deardorff, Chief, Economy Wide Statistics Division,
U.S. Census Bureau, Room 8K154, Washington, DC 20233; or Email
[ec.frn17@census.gov].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Economy-Wide Statistics Division, U.S.
Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 6K141, Washington, DC 20233-
6700, by phone (800) 242-2184, or by email ec.frn17@census.gov>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

Section 131 of Title 13 U.S.C. directs the Secretary [of Commerce]
to ``. . . take, compile, and publish censuses of manufactures, of
mineral industries, and of other businesses, including the distributive
trades, service establishments, and transportation (exclusive of means
of transportation for which statistics are required by law to be filed
with, and are compiled and published by, a designated regulatory body),
in the year 1964, then in the year 1968, and every fifth year
thereafter, and each such census shall relate to the year immediately
preceding the taking thereof.''
This notice announces that the Census Bureau is preparing to
conduct the 2017 Economic Census. The Economic Census is the U.S.
Government's official 5-year measure of American Business and the
economy, and has been taken periodically since 1810. The Economic
Census is the most comprehensive source of information about American
businesses from the national to the local level. These Economic Census
data products provide uniquely detailed basic measures that are
summarized by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
industry for the U.S., states, metropolitan areas, counties, economic
places, and ZIP Code areas. Data include details on the product
composition of industry sales, receipts, revenue, or shipments; and on
a great variety of industry-specific subjects. Additionally, the
Economic Census produces statistics about businesses in Puerto Rico,
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and it provides data on selected special-
interest topics, including the characteristics of business owners,
domestic freight shipments, and business expenses. Published data cover
close to 1,000 industries, 8,000 goods and services, every state, the
District of Columbia, over 3,000 counties and 15,000 cities and towns.
The Economic Census is a primary source of facts about the
structure and functioning of the U.S. economy. Economic Census
statistics are more complete, specific, and reliable than any other
single set of economic information. It provides comprehensive,
detailed, high quality, and authoritative statistics that meet the
needs of government, businesses, policymakers, academic researchers,
and the American public. The program's data products inform policies
and programs that promote business vitality, job creation, and
sustainable growth. Moreover, they provide the official measures of
output for industries and geographic areas and serve much of the
foundation for the National Income and Product Accounts, Gross Domestic
Product estimates, and other composite measures of the Nation's
economic performance. These data supply weights and benchmarks for
indexes of industrial production, productivity, and prices; and provide
benchmarks for other Federal statistical series. Some of these
statistical series include current business surveys done by the Census
Bureau, which are used by trade associations, business organizations,
economic development agencies, and individual businesses to assess and
improve business performance.

B. Electronic Collection

The 2017 Economic Census will be the first to be conducted
completely by electronic collection (100 percent Internet Collection).
The electronic instrument, Centurion, provides improved quality with
automatic data checks and is context-sensitive to assist the data
provider in identifying potential reporting problems before submission,
thus reducing the need for follow-up. Centurion is Internet-based,
eliminating the need for downloading software and increasing the
integrity and confidentiality of the data. The Census Bureau will
furnish usernames and passwords for the electronic instrument to the
organizations included in the survey, and an image of the electronic
instrument will be available on the 2017 Economic Census Web site once
the census has launched.

C. Economic Census Content

The Census Bureau posted copies of the 2012 Economic Census forms
on its Web site at: https://bhs.econ.census.gov/ec12/php/census-form.php. Please take a moment to review the forms relevant to your
interests and provide us with your comments for us to consider as we
prepare content for the 2017 questionnaires. In particular, Item 26
``Special Inquiries'' may be of the most interest to you. The Special
Inquiries item is dedicated to variable questions of particular
interest to the industries to which the questionnaire is directed.
While general questions are asked of all establishments, these variable
questions allow special data to be collected, which measure important
changes in our economy and support the needs of individual industries.
We are particularly interested in comments on the usefulness of
existing inquiries for continued inclusion and in suggestions for new
measures that would be appropriate to include in the Economic Census.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required
to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure
to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of
information displays a current valid Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. The Census Bureau, through the proper established
procedures, will be obtaining an OMB control number under the PRA as we
get closer to launching the program in 2017.
I have, therefore, directed that the 2017 Economic Census be
conducted for the purpose of collecting these data.

Dated: July 30, 2015.
John H. Thompson,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2015-19147 Filed 8-3-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P

46238 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 149 / Tuesday, August 4, 2015 / Notices

farm, ranch, and forest land to public for 30 days on its analysis and environmental impact statement is not
voluntarily make that land available for received only one comment that needed for this project.
access by the public for hunting, fishing, expressed no concerns. The project purpose is continued
and other wildlife-dependent recreation. Other Environmental Review and flood prevention. The planned works of
Grant recipients may also use VPA–HIP Coordination Requirements: VPA–HIP improvement include upgrading an
funds to improve habitat on enrolled grant recipients will conduct site- existing floodwater retarding structure.
public access program lands. specific evaluations of lands where The Notice of a Finding of No
NRCS expects most actions carried habitat improvement projects are Significant Impact (FONSI) has been
out with VPA–HIP funds to follow planned to address project compliance forwarded to the various Federal, State,
NRCS conservation practice standards with applicable laws and regulations, and local agencies and interested
and fall within existing categorical including NEPA, Clean Water Act, parties. A limited number of the FONSI
exclusions. Although VPA–HIP Endangered Species Act, and the are available to fill single copy requests
applicants that agree to follow NRCS National Historic Preservation Act. at the above address. Basic data
conservation practice standards will NRCS will conduct or oversee any developed during the environmental
receive preference for acceptance and required consultation with the VPA–HIP assessment are on file and may be
funding, there is no requirement they do grant recipients in accordance with reviewed by contacting John A. Bricker
so. It is also possible some actions may applicable regulations. at the above number.
not fall within a categorical exclusion. Signed this 22nd day of July 2015, in No administrative action on
Therefore, NRCS decided to prepare a Washington, DC. implementation of the proposal will be
Programmatic EA to review the effects Jason A. Weller, taken until 30 days after the date of this
of activities that are likely to occur with Chief, Natural Resources Conservation publication in the Federal Register.
VPA–HIP grants. Service.
Proposed Action: The Proposed John A. Bricker,
[FR Doc. 2015–19036 Filed 8–3–15; 8:45 am]
Action is to award VPA–HIP grants as State Conservationist.
BILLING CODE 3410–16–P
authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill, as [This activity is listed in the Catalog of
amended. Under this alternative, NRCS Federal Domestic Assistance under 10.904,
will provide an opportunity for State DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention,
and Tribal governments to apply for and is subject to the provisions of Executive
grants to encourage owners and Natural Resources Conservation Order 12372, which requires inter-
operators of privately held farm, ranch, Service government consultation with State and local
and forest land to voluntarily make that officials].
land available for access by the public Upper North River Watershed Dam No. [FR Doc. 2015–19091 Filed 8–3–15; 8:45 am]
for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife- 77, Augusta County, Virginia BILLING CODE 3410–16–P
dependent recreation, and to improve
AGENCY: Natural Resources
and manage fish and wildlife habitat on
Conservation Service, USDA. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
their land under programs administered
by State or Tribal governments. Grants ACTION: Notice of a Finding of No
will be awarded through a competitive Significant Impact. Bureau of the Census
process. SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102[2][c] [Docket Number 150721631–5631–01]
Alternatives: The Programmatic EA of the National Environmental Policy
evaluates the environmental impacts of Act of 1969, the Council on 2017 Economic Census
the Proposed Action and the no-action Environmental Quality Regulations [40 AGENCY: Bureau of the Census,
alternative. The Proposed Action is the CFR part 1500]; and the Natural Commerce.
agency’s preferred alternative, and it Resources Conservation Service
meets the purpose of and need for the ACTION: Notice of Determination and
Regulations [7 CFR part 650]; the Request for Comment.
project with only minor, short-term Natural Resources Conservation Service,
adverse impacts to the environment U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census
anticipated. The no-action alternative notice that an environmental impact (U.S. Census Bureau) publishes this
does not meet the purpose and need for statement is not being prepared for the notice to announce that it is planning to
the action, and results in more adverse
rehabilitation of Upper North River conduct the 2017 Economic Census. The
impacts to the environment than the
Watershed Dam No. 77, Augusta Census Bureau also is requesting public
preferred alternative.
Scoping: In developing the County, Virginia. comment on the 2017 Economic Census
Programmatic EA, NRCS conducted FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John content. This collection will be fully
internal scoping with various agency A. Bricker, State Conservationist, electronic using a secure encrypted
discipline experts, and used experience Natural Resources Conservation Service, Internet data collection system called
gained from previous VPA–HIP grants 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 209, Centurion. The Economic Census is
and associated EAs. Potential adverse Richmond, Virginia 23229. Telephone conducted at 5-year intervals (years
impacts identified through the scoping (804) 287–1691, email jack.bricker@ ending in 2 and 7) and is the most
process include localized, temporary, va.usda.gov. comprehensive compilation of statistics
minor increases in soil erosion, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
about U.S. businesses and the economy.
sediment transport, and particulate environmental assessment of this The granting of specific authority to
conduct the program is Title 13, United
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matter from ground-disturbing activities federally assisted action indicates that
and the use of agricultural equipment the project will not cause significant States Code (U.S.C.), Section 131, which
during the installation of conservation local, regional, or national impacts on authorizes and requires the Economic
practices. In the longer term, there will the environment. As a result of these Census.
be habitat improvements, and increased findings, John A. Bricker, State DATES: The Census Bureau will begin
recreational and economic benefits. Conservationist, has determined that the the electronic mailout for the 2017
NRCS solicited comments from the preparation and review of an Economic Census in the Fall of 2017,

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Document Created: 2015-12-18 14:51:49
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 14:51:49

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of Determination and Request for Comment.
Dates		The Census Bureau will begin the electronic mailout for the 2017 Economic Census in the Fall of 2017, and responses will be due by February 12, 2018. Written comments must be submitted on or before October 5, 2015 to ensure consideration of your comments on the 2017 Economic Census content.
Contact		Economy-Wide Statistics Division, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 6K141, Washington, DC 20233- 6700, by phone (800) 242-2184, or by email [email protected]>.
FR Citation		80 FR 46238

80 FR 46238 - 2017 Economic Census

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCEBureau of the Census

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 149 (August 4, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census