81 FR 12868 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Commodity Flow Survey
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
U.S. Census Bureau Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 48 (March 11, 2016)
U.S. Census Bureau
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 48 (March 11, 2016)
| Page Range | 12868-12869 | |
| FR Document | 2016-05494 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 12868-12869] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-05494] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE U.S. Census Bureau Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Commodity Flow Survey AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before May 10, 2016. 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 6H051, Washington, DC 20233 (or via the Internet at [email protected]). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The Commodity Flow Survey, a component of the 2017 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 to assess the demand for transportation facilities and services, energy use, and safety risks 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. The survey provides data on the movement of commodities in the United States from their origin to destination. The survey produces summary statistics on value, tons, ton-miles and average miles by commodity, industry, and mode of transportation. The Census Bureau will publish these shipment characteristics for the nation, census regions and divisions, states, and CFS defined geographical areas. Primary strategies for reducing respondent burden in the Commodity Flow Survey include: employing a stratified random sample of business establishments, requesting data on a limited sample of shipment records from each establishment, accepting estimates of shipping activity, and providing the opportunity for establishments to report electronically. II. Method of Collection The Commodity Flow Survey will be sent to a sample of business establishments in mining, manufacturing, wholesale, and select retail and services industries. The survey will also cover auxiliary establishments (i.e., warehouses and managing offices) of multi- [[Page 12869]] establishment companies. Each selected establishment will receive four questionnaires, one during each calendar quarter of 2017. On each questionnaire, an establishment will be asked to report data for approximately 20-30 shipments for a predefined reporting week. These data will include the value, net weight, commodity, and origin and destination of each selected shipment. A limited number of establishments will be asked to report more than 40 shipments, providing better representation of their shipping activity. Respondents may report via paper questionnaire or via secure electronic reporting. III. Data OMB Control Number: 0607-0932. Form Number: CFS 1000 (2017). Type of Review: Regular submission. Affected Public: Business and other for-profit. Estimated Number of Respondents: 100,000. Estimated Time per Response: 2.5 hours. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,000,000. Estimated Total Cost: $0. Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory. Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 8(b), 131 and 193; Title 49 U.S.C., Section 6302. 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 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: March 8, 2016. Glenna Mickelson, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2016-05494 Filed 3-10-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
![12868 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2016 / Notices
minorities, and veterans in order to • Data users to understand time-series copies of the information collection
provide a framework for assessing and data in certain industries for instrument(s) and instructions should
directing federal, state, and local entrepreneurs. be directed to James Hinckley, Census
government programs designed to • Business owners or perspective Bureau, Room 6H051, Washington, DC
promote the activities of disadvantaged business owners to gain knowledge 20233 (or via the Internet at
groups. about the funding of businesses. james.hinckley@census.gov).
The SBA and the MBDA will use the Affected Public: Business or other for- SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
data to allocate resources for their profit, not-for-profit institutions, State,
local or tribal government. I. Abstract
business assistance programs.
The data will also be widely used by Frequency: Annually. The Commodity Flow Survey, a
private firms and individuals to Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. component of the 2017 Economic
evaluate their own businesses and Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Census, is the only comprehensive
markets. Additionally, the data will be Sections 8(b), 131 and 182. Executive source of multimodal, system-wide data
used by entrepreneurs to write business Order 11625, Section 1(a)(3). on the volume and pattern of goods
plans and loan application letters, by This information collection request movement in the United States. The
the media for news stories, by may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. Commodity Flow Survey is conducted
researchers and academia for Follow the instructions to view in partnership with the Bureau of
determining firm characteristics, and by Department of Commerce collections Transportation Statistics, Office of the
the legal profession in evaluating the currently under review by OMB. Assistant Secretary for Research and
concentration of minority businesses in Written comments and Technology, U.S. Department of
particular industries and/or geographic recommendations for the proposed Transportation.
information collection should be sent The Commodity Flow Survey data are
areas.
within 30 days of publication of this used by policy makers and
Government program officials, transportation planners in various
industry organization leaders, economic notice to OIRA_Submission@
omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. federal, state, and local agencies to
and social analysts and researchers, and assess the demand for transportation
business entrepreneurs are anticipated Dated: March 7, 2016.
facilities and services, energy use, and
users of ASE statistics. Examples of data Glenna Mickelson, safety risks and environmental
use include: Management Analyst, Office of the Chief concerns. Additionally, business
• The Small Business Administration Information Officer. owners, private researchers, and
(SBA) and the Minority Business [FR Doc. 2016–05447 Filed 3–10–16; 8:45 am] analysts use the Commodity Flow
Development Agency (MBDA) to assess BILLING CODE 3510–07–P Survey data for analyzing trends in the
business assistance needs and allocate movement of goods, mapping spatial
available program resources. patterns of commodity and vehicle
• Local government commissions on DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE flows, forecasting demands for the
small and disadvantaged businesses to movement of goods, and determining
establish and evaluate contract U.S. Census Bureau needs for associated infrastructure and
procurement practices. Proposed Information Collection; equipment.
• Federal, state and local government Comment Request; Commodity Flow
The survey provides data on the
agencies as a framework for planning, movement of commodities in the United
Survey
directing and assessing programs that States from their origin to destination.
promote the activities of disadvantaged AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, The survey produces summary statistics
groups. Commerce. on value, tons, ton-miles and average
• The National Women’s Business ACTION: Notice. miles by commodity, industry, and
Council to assess the state of women’s mode of transportation. The Census
business ownership for policymakers, SUMMARY: The Department of Bureau will publish these shipment
researchers, and the public at large. Commerce, as part of its continuing characteristics for the nation, census
• Consultants and researchers to effort to reduce paperwork and regions and divisions, states, and CFS
analyze long-term economic and respondent burden, invites the general defined geographical areas.
demographic shifts, and differences in public and other Federal agencies to Primary strategies for reducing
ownership and performance among take this opportunity to comment on respondent burden in the Commodity
geographic areas. proposed and/or continuing information Flow Survey include: employing a
collections, as required by the stratified random sample of business
• Individual business owners to
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, establishments, requesting data on a
analyze their operations in comparison
Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C. limited sample of shipment records
to similar firms, compute their market
3506(c)(2)(A)). from each establishment, accepting
share, and assess their growth and
DATES: To ensure consideration, written estimates of shipping activity, and
future prospects.
providing the opportunity for
• Researchers and businesses to comments must be submitted on or
establishments to report electronically.
understand the innovation and research before May 10, 2016.
and development activities conducted ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments II. Method of Collection
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
by entrepreneurs. to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental The Commodity Flow Survey will be
• Researchers and businesses to Paperwork Clearance Officer, sent to a sample of business
understand the record-keeping and Department of Commerce, Room 6616, establishments in mining,
management practices implemented by 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., manufacturing, wholesale, and select
entrepreneurs. Washington, DC 20230 (or via the retail and services industries. The
• Federal agencies to assess the Internet at jjessup@doc.gov). survey will also cover auxiliary
competitiveness of businesses by FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: establishments (i.e., warehouses and
ownership characteristics. Requests for additional information or managing offices) of multi-
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2016 / Notices 12869
establishment companies. Each selected DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BEA received OMB approval for this
establishment will receive four information collection request on
questionnaires, one during each Submission for OMB Review; December 22, 2015. (Previous notices
calendar quarter of 2017. On each Comment Request may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov;
questionnaire, an establishment will be under the Information Collection
The Department of Commerce will
asked to report data for approximately Review tab, click on ‘‘Search’’ and use
submit to the Office of Management and
20–30 shipments for a predefined the OMB control number 0608–0067 to
Budget (OMB) for clearance the
reporting week. These data will include search for the BE–125 survey
following proposal for collection of
the value, net weight, commodity, and instrument.) Subsequent to this date,
information under the provisions of the
origin and destination of each selected BEA identified additional changes to the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
shipment. A limited number of data collected on the survey that would
Chapter 35).
establishments will be asked to report Agency: Bureau of Economic Analysis allow BEA to align the country detail
more than 40 shipments, providing (BEA), Department of Commerce. published in the ITAs more closely with
better representation of their shipping Title: Quarterly Survey of international economic accounting
activity. Respondents may report via Transactions in Selected Services and guidelines. As a result, the following
paper questionnaire or via secure Intellectual Property with Foreign changes are proposed for the collection
electronic reporting. Persons. of information on transactions in
OMB Control Number: 0608–0067. intellectual property:
III. Data
Form Number: BE–125. Mandatory Schedules A and B will be
OMB Control Number: 0607–0932. Type of Request: Regular submission. expanded to collect additional detail on
Form Number: CFS 1000 (2017). Number of Responses: 8,800 annually intellectual property (IP) transactions. A
Type of Review: Regular submission. (2,200 filed each quarter; 1,700 U.S. person who engages in IP
Affected Public: Business and other reporting mandatory data, and 500 that transactions with foreign persons will
for-profit. would file other responses). be required to distribute their receipts
Average Hours per Response: 19 and/or payments according to the type
Estimated Number of Respondents:
hours is the average for those reporting of transaction and the type of IP. The
100,000.
data, and 1 hour is the average for those covered transaction types are: (1)
Estimated Time per Response: 2.5 Transactions for the rights to use IP, (2)
not reporting data or providing
hours. transactions for the rights to reproduce
voluntary responses, but hours may vary
Estimated Total Annual Burden considerably among respondents and/or distribute IP, and (3) transactions
Hours: 1,000,000. because of differences in company size for the outright sales or purchases of IP.
Estimated Total Cost: $0. and complexity. Reporters will be required to identify
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. Estimated Total Annual Burden the foreign country(ies) involved in the
Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Hours: 131,200. transaction(s) and to distribute the
Sections 8(b), 131 and 193; Title 49 Needs and Uses: The Quarterly amounts reported for each country
U.S.C., Section 6302. Survey of Transactions in Selected according to whether the foreign person
Services and Intellectual Property with is the U.S. person’s foreign affiliate, part
IV. Request for Comments Foreign Persons (BE–125) is a survey of the U.S. person’s foreign parent
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether that collects data from U.S. persons who group, or an unaffiliated foreign person.
the proposed collection of information engage in covered transactions with BEA estimates the proposed changes
is necessary for the proper performance foreign persons in selected services or will increase the average number of
of the functions of the agency, including intellectual property. A U.S. person hours per response from 18 hours to 19
whether the information shall have must report if it had sales of covered hours for those reporting data. The
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the services or intellectual property to reporting thresholds of the current BE–
agency’s estimate of the burden foreign persons that exceeded $6 125 survey will be retained. The effort
(including hours and cost) of the million for the previous fiscal year, or to keep current reporting thresholds
proposed collection of information; (c) are expected to exceed that amount unchanged is intended to minimize
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and during the current fiscal year, or if it respondent burden while considering
clarity of the information to be had purchases of covered services or the needs of data users. Existing
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the intellectual property from foreign language in the instructions and
burden of the collection of information persons that exceeded $4 million for the definitions will be reviewed and
on respondents, including through the previous fiscal year, or are expected to adjusted as necessary to clarify survey
use of automated collection techniques exceed that amount during the current requirements.
or other forms of information fiscal year. Affected Public: Businesses or other
technology. The data are needed to monitor U.S. for-profit organizations.
Comments submitted in response to trade in services, to analyze the impact
of trade on the U.S. and foreign Frequency: Quarterly.
this notice will be summarized and/or This information collection request
included in the request for OMB economies, to compile and improve the
U.S. economic accounts, to support U.S. may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
approval of this information collection; Follow instructions to view the
commercial policy on trade in services,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
they also will become a matter of public Department of Commerce collections
record. to conduct trade promotion, and to
improve the ability of U.S. businesses to currently under review by OMB.
Dated: March 8, 2016. identify and evaluate market Written comments and
Glenna Mickelson, opportunities. The data are used in recommendations for the proposed
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief estimating the services component of information collection should be sent
Information Officer. the U.S. international transactions within 30 days of publication of this
[FR Doc. 2016–05494 Filed 3–10–16; 8:45 am] accounts (ITAs) and national income notice to OIRA Submission@
BILLING CODE 3510–07–P and product accounts. omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 975–5806.
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Document Created: 2016-03-11 01:51:29
Document Modified: 2016-03-11 01:51:29
| 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. | |
| Dates | To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before May 10, 2016. | |
| Contact | Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to James Hinckley, Census Bureau, Room 6H051, Washington, DC 20233 (or via the Internet at [email protected]). | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 12868 |
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