80 FR 50824 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 162 (August 21, 2015)

Page Range		50824-50825
FR Document		2015-20709
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 162 (Friday, August 21, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50824-50825]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20709]


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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: Quarterly Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0175.
    Form Number(s): MQ-C2.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Number of Respondents: 7,500.
    Average Hours Per Response: 2 hours and 5 minutes.
    Burden Hours: 62,500.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau on behalf of the Federal 
Reserve Board (FRB) and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), within the 
Department of Defense (DOD), requests an extension of approval for the 
Quarterly Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization (QPC). The survey 
provides information on use of industrial capacity in manufacturing and 
publishing plants as defined by the North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS). The Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization 
began in the 1970's as an annual survey that collected fourth quarter 
data only. The annual survey continued through 2006. In 2007 the FRB 
requested that the survey be converted to a quarterly survey due to the 
necessity for quarterly data rather than annual. The survey is the only 
source of capacity rates at industry levels. Changes in capacity 
utilization are considered important indicators of investment demand 
and inflationary pressure. For these reasons, the estimates of capacity 
utilization are closely monitored by government policy makers and 
private sector decision makers.
    This survey utilizes a multi-mode data collection process that 
includes internet reporting, fax, telephone and mail. The survey 
collects the value of quarterly production and the value of production 
that could be achieved if operating under ``full production'' 
capability and ``emergency production'' capability. The ratio of the 
actual to the full is the basis of the estimates of full capacity 
utilization rates and similarly, the actual to the emergency for the 
emergency capacity utilization rates. The survey also collects 
information by shift, on work patterns at the actual production level.
    The FRB is the primary user of the current QPC data and expressed 
the need for these quarterly data. FRB publishes measures of industrial 
production (IP), capacity, and capacity utilization in its G.17 
statistical release, which has been designated by the federal 
government as a Principal Federal Economic Indicator. Utilization rates 
from the QPC are a principle source for the measures of capacity and 
capacity utilization. The indexes of IP are either estimated from 
physical product data or estimated from monthly data on inputs to the 
production process, specifically production worker hours and an 
indicator of capital input. For many years, data on electric power use 
was used as the indicator of industry capital input. The deregulation 
of electricity markets led to the deterioration in the coverage and 
quality of the electricity data. As a result, in November 2005, the FRB 
discontinued its use of the industrial electric power data in the 
current estimates of IP. In order to maintain the quality of the IP 
index, the collection of these quarterly data, including the 
utilization rate data and the workweek of capital, are critical 
indicators of capital input use and industry output.
    The FRB uses these data in several ways. First, the QPC data is the 
primary source of the benchmark information for the capacity indexes 
and utilization rates published by the FRB. Second, the QPC utilization 
rate data and the capital workweek data are used as an indicator of 
capital use in the estimation of monthly IP. Third, the QPC utilization 
rate data and the workweek data are used to improve the projections of 
labor productivity that are used to align IP with comprehensive 
benchmark information from the Economic Census covering the 
Manufacturing sector and the Annual Survey of Manufactures. Finally, 
utilization rate data will assist in the assessment of recent changes 
in IP, as most of the high-frequency movement in utilization rates 
reflect production changes rather than capacity changes.
    The DLA uses the data to assess readiness to meet demand for goods 
under selected national emergency scenarios.
    In addition to the FRB and DLA uses, these data are published on 
the Census Bureau's Web site, http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/capacity/index.html.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Section 8(b), 50 
U.S.C. Section 98, et. seq, and 12 U.S.C. Section 244.
    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.

[[Page 50825]]

    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-5806.

    Dated: August 18, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-20709 Filed 8-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
50824 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 162 / Friday, August 21, 2015 / Notices

If persons who will attend the Budget (OMB) for clearance the Federal Economic Indicator. Utilization
meeting require accommodations based following proposal for collection of rates from the QPC are a principle
on a disability, please contact Carolyn information under the provisions of the source for the measures of capacity and
Allen at callen@usccr.gov at the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. capacity utilization. The indexes of IP
Midwestern Regional Office at least ten chapter 35). are either estimated from physical
(10) working days before the scheduled Agency: U.S. Census Bureau. product data or estimated from monthly
date of the meeting. Title: Quarterly Survey of Plant data on inputs to the production
Records and documents discussed Capacity Utilization. process, specifically production worker
during the meeting will be available for OMB Control Number: 0607–0175. hours and an indicator of capital input.
public viewing prior to and after the Form Number(s): MQ–C2. For many years, data on electric power
meeting at: https://database.faca.gov/ Type of Request: Extension of a use was used as the indicator of
committee/meetings.aspx?cid=269 and currently approved collection. industry capital input. The deregulation
clicking on the ‘‘Meeting Details’’ and Number of Respondents: 7,500. of electricity markets led to the
‘‘Documents’’ links. Records generated Average Hours Per Response: 2 hours
deterioration in the coverage and quality
from this meeting may also be inspected and 5 minutes.
Burden Hours: 62,500. of the electricity data. As a result, in
and reproduced at the Regional Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census November 2005, the FRB discontinued
Programs Unit, as they become Bureau on behalf of the Federal Reserve its use of the industrial electric power
available, both before and after the Board (FRB) and the Defense Logistics data in the current estimates of IP. In
meeting. Persons interested in the work Agency (DLA), within the Department of order to maintain the quality of the IP
of this Committee are directed to the Defense (DOD), requests an extension of index, the collection of these quarterly
Commission’s Web site, http:// approval for the Quarterly Survey of data, including the utilization rate data
www.usccr.gov, or may contact the Plant Capacity Utilization (QPC). The and the workweek of capital, are critical
Regional Programs Unit at the above survey provides information on use of indicators of capital input use and
email or street address. industrial capacity in manufacturing industry output.
Agenda and publishing plants as defined by the The FRB uses these data in several
North American Industry Classification ways. First, the QPC data is the primary
Opening Remarks 8–8:15 a.m. System (NAICS). The Survey of Plant source of the benchmark information for
• Panel 1: 8:15 a.m.–9:30 a.m.—School Capacity Utilization began in the 1970’s the capacity indexes and utilization
Administrator Panel as an annual survey that collected rates published by the FRB. Second, the
• Panel 2: 9:45 a.m.–11:00 a.m.— fourth quarter data only. The annual QPC utilization rate data and the capital
Academic Panel survey continued through 2006. In 2007 workweek data are used as an indicator
• Panel 3: 11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m.— the FRB requested that the survey be of capital use in the estimation of
Community Panel converted to a quarterly survey due to monthly IP. Third, the QPC utilization
the necessity for quarterly data rather rate data and the workweek data are
Break 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
than annual. The survey is the only used to improve the projections of labor
• Panel 4: 1:30 p.m.–2:45 p.m.— productivity that are used to align IP
source of capacity rates at industry
Government Panel with comprehensive benchmark
• Panel 5: 3:00 p.m.–4:15 p.m.— levels. Changes in capacity utilization
are considered important indicators of information from the Economic Census
Teacher Panel covering the Manufacturing sector and
• Open Forum 4:15–4:45 p.m.—Public investment demand and inflationary
pressure. For these reasons, the the Annual Survey of Manufactures.
Participation Finally, utilization rate data will assist
estimates of capacity utilization are
Closing Remarks 4:45–5 p.m. closely monitored by government policy in the assessment of recent changes in
makers and private sector decision IP, as most of the high-frequency
DATES: The meeting will be held on movement in utilization rates reflect
Friday, September 11, 2015, from 8 makers.
This survey utilizes a multi-mode production changes rather than capacity
a.m.–5 p.m. changes.
data collection process that includes
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at The DLA uses the data to assess
internet reporting, fax, telephone and
the Oklahoma City University School of mail. The survey collects the value of readiness to meet demand for goods
Law, Crowe & Dunlevy Commons, 800 quarterly production and the value of under selected national emergency
N. Harvey Avenue, Oklahoma City production that could be achieved if scenarios.
73102. operating under ‘‘full production’’ In addition to the FRB and DLA uses,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: capability and ‘‘emergency production’’ these data are published on the Census
Melissa Wojnaroski, DFO, at 312–353– capability. The ratio of the actual to the Bureau’s Web site, http://
8311 or mwojnaroski@usccr.gov. full is the basis of the estimates of full www.census.gov/manufacturing/
Dated: August 17, 2015. capacity utilization rates and similarly, capacity/index.html.
David Mussatt, the actual to the emergency for the Affected Public: Business or other for-
emergency capacity utilization rates. profit.
Chief, Regional Programs Unit.
The survey also collects information by Frequency: Quarterly.
[FR Doc. 2015–20664 Filed 8–20–15; 8:45 am]
shift, on work patterns at the actual Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
BILLING CODE 6335–01–P
production level. Legal Authority: Title 13, United
The FRB is the primary user of the States Code, Section 8(b), 50 U.S.C.
rmajette on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

current QPC data and expressed the Section 98, et. seq, and 12 U.S.C.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE need for these quarterly data. FRB Section 244.
publishes measures of industrial This information collection request
Submission for OMB Review;
production (IP), capacity, and capacity may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
Comment Request
utilization in its G.17 statistical release, Follow the instructions to view
The Department of Commerce will which has been designated by the Department of Commerce collections
submit to the Office of Management and federal government as a Principal currently under review by OMB.

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Document Created: 2018-02-23 11:00:50
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 11:00:50
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
FR Citation		80 FR 50824