80 FR 67703 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 212 (November 3, 2015)

Page Range		67703-67704
FR Document		2015-27962
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 212 (Tuesday, November 3, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 212 (Tuesday, November 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67703-67704]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27962]


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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: Business R&D and Innovation Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0912.
    Form Number(s): BRDI-1, BRDI-1(S).
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Number of Respondents: BRDI-1 = 7,000; BRDI-1(S) = 38,000.
    Average Hours per Response: BRDI-1 = 15 hours; BRDI-1(S) = 38 
minutes.
    Burden Hours: 126,500.
    Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau is requesting clearance to 
conduct the Business R&D and Innovation Survey (BRDIS) for the 2015-
2017 survey years with the revisions outlined in this document. 
Companies are the major performers of research and development (R&D) in 
the United States, accounting for over 70 percent of total U.S. R&D 
outlays each year. A consistent business R&D information base is 
essential to government officials formulating public policy, industry 
personnel involved in corporate planning, and members of the academic 
community conducting research. To develop policies designed to promote 
and enhance science and technology, past trends and the present status 
of R&D must be known and analyzed. Without comprehensive business R&D 
statistics, it would be impossible to evaluate the health of science 
and technology in the United States or to make comparisons between the 
technological progress of our country and that of other nations.
    The National Science Foundation Act of 1950 as amended authorizes 
and directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) ``. . . to provide a 
central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis 
of data on scientific and engineering resources and to provide a source 
of information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal 
government.'' One of the methods used by NSF to fulfill this mandate is 
The Business R&D and Innovation Survey (BRDIS)--the primary federal 
source of information on R&D in the business sector. NSF together with 
the Census Bureau, the collecting and compiling agent, analyze the data 
and publish the resulting statistics.
    NSF has published annual R&D statistics collected from the Survey 
of Industrial Research and Development (1953-2007) and BRDIS (2008-
2014) for 61 years. The results of the surveys are used to assess 
trends in R&D expenditures by industry sector, investigate productivity 
determinants, formulate science and tax policy, and compare individual 
company performance with industry averages. This survey is the Nation's 
primary source for international comparative statistics on business R&D 
spending.
    BRDIS will continue to collect the following types of information:
     R&D expense based on accounting standards.
     Worldwide R&D of domestic companies.
     Business segment detail.
     R&D related capital expenditures.
     Detailed data about the R&D workforce.
     R&D strategy and data on the potential impact of R&D on 
the market.
     R&D directed to application areas of particular national 
interest.
     Data measuring innovation and intellectual property 
protection activities.
    The following changes will be made to the 2015-2017 BRDIS compared 
to the 2014 BRDIS:
     Section 3: Adding question on domestic R&D performed by 
others and paid for by the Federal Government.
     Section 4: Deleting four questions on R&D with technology 
focus of photonics/optics.
     Section 4: Adding four questions on the Research/
Development split for foreign R&D.
    Information from BRDIS will continue to support the America 
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 as well as other R&D-related 
initiatives introduced during the clearance period. Other initiatives 
that have used BRDIS statistics include: The Innovation Measurement--
Tracking the State of Innovation in the American Economy (U.S. 
Department of Commerce); Science of Science and Innovation Policy 
(NSF); and Rising Above the Gathering Storm (National Research 
Council).
    Policy officials from many Federal agencies rely on these 
statistics for essential information. Businesses and trade 
organizations rely on BRDIS data to benchmark their industry's 
performance against others. For example, total U.S. R&D expenditures 
statistics have been used by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to 
update the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPAs) and, in fact, 
the BEA recently has recognized and incorporated R&D as fixed 
investment in the NIPA. Accurate R&D data are needed to continue the 
development and effect subsequent updates to this detailed satellite 
account. Also, NSF, BEA and the Census Bureau periodically update a 
data linking project that utilizes BRDIS data to augment global R&D 
investment information that is obtained from BEA's Foreign Direct 
Investment (FDI) and U.S. Direct Investment Abroad (USDIA) surveys. 
Further, the Census Bureau links data collected by BRDIS with other 
statistical files. At the Census Bureau, historical company-level R&D 
data are linked to a file that contains information on the outputs and 
inputs of companies' manufacturing plants. Researchers are able to 
analyze the relationships between R&D funding and other economic 
variables by using micro-level data.
    Individuals and organizations access the survey statistics via the 
Internet in annual InfoBriefs published by NSF's

[[Page 67704]]

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) that 
announce the availability of statistics from each cycle of BRDIS and 
detailed statistical table reports that contain all of the statistics 
NSF produces from BRDIS. Information about the kinds of projects that 
rely on statistics from BRDIS is available from internal records of 
NSF's NCSES. In addition, survey statistics are regularly cited in 
trade publications and many researchers use the survey statistics from 
these secondary sources without directly contacting NSF or the Census 
Bureau.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 8(b), 131, 
and 182, and Title 42, United States Code, Sections 1861-76 (National 
Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended).
    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 [email protected] or fax to (202)395-5806.

    Dated: October 29, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-27962 Filed 11-2-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 212 / Tuesday, November 3, 2015 / Notices 67703

public viewing prior to and after the (BRDIS) for the 2015–2017 survey years • R&D directed to application areas of
meeting at https://database.faca.gov/ with the revisions outlined in this particular national interest.
committee/meetings.aspx?cid=249 and document. Companies are the major • Data measuring innovation and
clicking on the ‘‘Meeting Details’’ and performers of research and development intellectual property protection
‘‘Documents’’ links. Records generated (R&D) in the United States, accounting activities.
from this meeting may also be inspected for over 70 percent of total U.S. R&D The following changes will be made
and reproduced at the Regional outlays each year. A consistent business to the 2015–2017 BRDIS compared to
Programs Unit, as they become R&D information base is essential to the 2014 BRDIS:
available, both before and after the government officials formulating public • Section 3: Adding question on
meeting. Persons interested in the work policy, industry personnel involved in domestic R&D performed by others and
of this Committee are directed to the corporate planning, and members of the paid for by the Federal Government.
Commission’s Web site, http:// academic community conducting • Section 4: Deleting four questions
www.usccr.gov, or may contact the research. To develop policies designed on R&D with technology focus of
Regional Programs Unit at the above to promote and enhance science and photonics/optics.
• Section 4: Adding four questions on
email or street address. technology, past trends and the present
the Research/Development split for
AGENDA: status of R&D must be known and
foreign R&D.
Welcome and Introductions analyzed. Without comprehensive Information from BRDIS will continue
Elizabeth Kronk Warner, Chair business R&D statistics, it would be to support the America COMPETES
Preparatory Discussion for Public impossible to evaluate the health of Reauthorization Act of 2010 as well as
Hearing on Voting Rights in Kansas science and technology in the United other R&D-related initiatives introduced
Kansas Advisory Committee States or to make comparisons between during the clearance period. Other
Open Comment the technological progress of our initiatives that have used BRDIS
Public Participation country and that of other nations. statistics include: The Innovation
Adjournment The National Science Foundation Act Measurement—Tracking the State of
DATES: The meeting will be held on of 1950 as amended authorizes and Innovation in the American Economy
Thursday, November 19, 2015, at 12:00 directs the National Science Foundation (U.S. Department of Commerce);
p.m. CST. (NSF) ‘‘. . . to provide a central Science of Science and Innovation
clearinghouse for the collection, Policy (NSF); and Rising Above the
PUBLIC CALL INFORMATION:
interpretation, and analysis of data on Gathering Storm (National Research
Dial: 888–427–9376
scientific and engineering resources and Council).
Conference ID: 1744905
to provide a source of information for Policy officials from many Federal
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: policy formulation by other agencies of
Melissa Wojnaroski, DFO, at 312–353– agencies rely on these statistics for
the Federal government.’’ One of the essential information. Businesses and
8311 or mwojnaroski@usccr.gov methods used by NSF to fulfill this trade organizations rely on BRDIS data
Dated: October 29, 2015. mandate is The Business R&D and to benchmark their industry’s
David Mussatt, Innovation Survey (BRDIS)—the performance against others. For
Chief, Regional Programs Unit. primary federal source of information example, total U.S. R&D expenditures
[FR Doc. 2015–27991 Filed 11–2–15; 8:45 am] on R&D in the business sector. NSF statistics have been used by the Bureau
BILLING CODE 6335–01–P
together with the Census Bureau, the of Economic Analysis (BEA) to update
collecting and compiling agent, analyze the National Income and Product
the data and publish the resulting Accounts (NIPAs) and, in fact, the BEA
statistics. recently has recognized and
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
NSF has published annual R&D incorporated R&D as fixed investment in
Submission for OMB Review; statistics collected from the Survey of the NIPA. Accurate R&D data are
Comment Request Industrial Research and Development needed to continue the development
(1953–2007) and BRDIS (2008–2014) for and effect subsequent updates to this
The Department of Commerce will 61 years. The results of the surveys are detailed satellite account. Also, NSF,
submit to the Office of Management and used to assess trends in R&D BEA and the Census Bureau
Budget (OMB) for clearance the expenditures by industry sector, periodically update a data linking
following proposal for collection of investigate productivity determinants, project that utilizes BRDIS data to
information under the provisions of the formulate science and tax policy, and augment global R&D investment
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. compare individual company information that is obtained from BEA’s
chapter 35). performance with industry averages. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and
Agency: U.S. Census Bureau. This survey is the Nation’s primary U.S. Direct Investment Abroad (USDIA)
Title: Business R&D and Innovation source for international comparative surveys. Further, the Census Bureau
Survey. statistics on business R&D spending. links data collected by BRDIS with other
OMB Control Number: 0607–0912. BRDIS will continue to collect the statistical files. At the Census Bureau,
Form Number(s): BRDI–1, BRDI–1(S). following types of information: historical company-level R&D data are
Type of Request: Revision of a • R&D expense based on accounting linked to a file that contains information
currently approved collection. standards. on the outputs and inputs of companies’
• Worldwide R&D of domestic
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Number of Respondents: BRDI–1 = manufacturing plants. Researchers are
7,000; BRDI–1(S) = 38,000. companies. able to analyze the relationships
Average Hours per Response: BRDI–1 • Business segment detail. between R&D funding and other
= 15 hours; BRDI–1(S) = 38 minutes. • R&D related capital expenditures. economic variables by using micro-level
Burden Hours: 126,500. • Detailed data about the R&D data.
Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau workforce. Individuals and organizations access
is requesting clearance to conduct the • R&D strategy and data on the the survey statistics via the Internet in
Business R&D and Innovation Survey potential impact of R&D on the market. annual InfoBriefs published by NSF’s

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67704 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 212 / Tuesday, November 3, 2015 / Notices

National Center for Science and comment (80 FR 49985–49986, 8/18/ link) and pendant mounts (duty rate
Engineering Statistics (NCSES) that 2015). The FTZ staff examiner reviewed ranges from duty-free to 5.8%).
announce the availability of statistics the application and determined that it Public comment is invited from
from each cycle of BRDIS and detailed meets the criteria for approval. interested parties. Submissions shall be
statistical table reports that contain all Pursuant to the authority delegated to addressed to the FTZ Board’s Executive
of the statistics NSF produces from the FTZ Board’s Executive Secretary (15 Secretary at the address below. The
BRDIS. Information about the kinds of CFR Sec. 400.36(f)), the application to closing period for their receipt is
projects that rely on statistics from establish Subzone 79D is approved, December 14, 2015.
BRDIS is available from internal records subject to the FTZ Act and the Board’s A copy of the notification will be
of NSF’s NCSES. In addition, survey regulations, including Section 400.13, available for public inspection at the
statistics are regularly cited in trade and further subject to FTZ 79’s 2,000- Office of the Executive Secretary,
publications and many researchers use acre activation limit. Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room
the survey statistics from these Dated: October 28, 2015. 21013, U.S. Department of Commerce,
secondary sources without directly Andrew McGilvray, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW.,
contacting NSF or the Census Bureau. Washington, DC 20230–0002, and in the
Executive Secretary.
Affected Public: Business or other for ‘‘Reading Room’’ section of the FTZ
profit. [FR Doc. 2015–28030 Filed 11–2–15; 8:45 am]
Board’s Web site, which is accessible
Frequency: Annually. BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
via www.trade.gov/ftz.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13, United For further information, contact
States Code, Sections 8(b), 131, and 182, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Kathleen Boyce at Kathleen.Boyce@
and Title 42, United States Code, trade.gov or (202) 482–1346.
Sections 1861–76 (National Science Foreign-Trade Zones Board Dated: October 28, 2015.
Foundation Act of 1950, as amended). [B–69–2015] Andrew McGilvray,
This information collection request Executive Secretary.
may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. Notification of Proposed Production [FR Doc. 2015–28029 Filed 11–2–15; 8:45 am]
Follow the instructions to view Activity; Zale Delaware, Inc.; Subzone BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
Department of Commerce collections 39F; (Assembly of Jewelry) Irving,
currently under review by OMB. Texas
Written comments and DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
recommendations for the proposed Zale Delaware, Inc. (Zale), operator of
information collection should be sent Subzone 39F, submitted a notification of International Trade Administration
within 30 days of publication of this proposed production activity to the FTZ
notice to OIRA_Submission@ Board for its facility in Irving, Texas. Antidumping or Countervailing Duty
omb.eop.gov or fax to (202)395–5806. The notification conforming to the Order, Finding, or Suspended
requirements of the regulations of the Investigation; Advance Notification of
Dated: October 29, 2015.
FTZ Board (15 CFR 400.22) was Sunset Reviews
Glenna Mickelson,
received on October 26, 2015.
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief The Zale facility is used for the AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance,
Information Officer.
distribution and assembly of jewelry International Trade Administration,
[FR Doc. 2015–27962 Filed 11–2–15; 8:45 am] Commerce.
and accessories. Pursuant to 15 CFR
BILLING CODE 3510–07–P 400.14(b), FTZ activity would be limited Background
to the specific foreign-status materials
and components and specific finished Every five years, pursuant to section
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
products described in the submitted
Foreign-Trade Zones Board notification (as described below) and amended (‘‘the Act’’), the Department of
subsequently authorized by the FTZ Commerce (‘‘the Department’’) and the
[S–119–2015] Board. International Trade Commission
Production under FTZ procedures automatically initiate and conduct a
Approval of Subzone Status could exempt Zale from customs duty review to determine whether revocation
Swisscosmet Corporation New Port payments on the foreign status of a countervailing or antidumping duty
Richey, Florida components used in export production. order or termination of an investigation
On August 12, 2015, the Executive On its domestic sales, Zale would be suspended under section 704 or 734 of
Secretary of the Foreign-Trade Zones able to choose the duty rate during the Act would be likely to lead to
(FTZ) Board docketed an application customs entry procedures that applies to continuation or recurrence of dumping
submitted by the City of Tampa, grantee finished diamond rings, diamond ear or a countervailable subsidy (as the case
of FTZ 79, requesting subzone status rings, necklaces and pendants (duty rate may be) and of material injury.
subject to the existing activation limit of 5.5%) for the foreign status inputs noted
Upcoming Sunset Reviews for
FTZ 79, on behalf of Swisscosmet below. Customs duties also could
December 2015
Corporation in New Port Richey, possibly be deferred or reduced on
Florida. foreign status production equipment. The following Sunset Reviews are
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

The application was processed in The components and materials scheduled for initiation in December
accordance with the FTZ Act and sourced from abroad include: Cut 2015 and will appear in that month’s
Regulations, including notice in the diamonds, ring mounts, ear ring Notice of Initiation of Five-Year Sunset
Federal Register inviting public mounts, necklaces (rope and mixed Review (‘‘Sunset Review’’).

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Document Created: 2018-03-01 11:32:52
Document Modified: 2018-03-01 11:32:52
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 67703