82 FR 36728 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Annual Business Survey (ABS)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
U.S. Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 150 (August 7, 2017)

Page Range		36728-36730
FR Document		2017-16605

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 82 Issue 150 (Monday, August 7, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 150 (Monday, August 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36728-36730]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16605]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Annual Business 
Survey (ABS)

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.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before October 6, 2017.

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 Patrice Norman, U.S. Census Bureau, EWD, 8K151, 
Washington, DC 20233-6600, (301) 763-7198, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 36729]]

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau, with support from the National Science 
Foundation (NSF), plans to conduct the Annual Business Survey (ABS) for 
the 2017-2021 survey years. The ABS is a new survey designed to combine 
Census Bureau firm-level collections to reduce respondent burden, 
increase data quality, reduce operational costs, and operate more 
efficiently. The ABS replaces the five-year Survey of Business Owners 
(SBO) for employer businesses, the Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs 
(ASE), and the Business R&D and Innovation for Microbusinesses (BRDI-M) 
surveys. The Survey of Business Owners has been conducted as part of 
the economic census every five years since 1972 to collect selected 
economic and demographic characteristics for businesses and business 
owners by gender, ethnicity, race, and veteran status for both employer 
and nonemployer businesses. The Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs was 
conducted for three reference years (2014, 2015, and 2016) as a 
supplement to the SBO to provide more frequent data on economic and 
demographic characteristics for businesses and business owners by 
gender, ethnicity, race, and veteran status for employer businesses. 
The Business R&D and Innovation for Microbusinesses survey was first 
fielded in 2016 as an expansion to the Business R&D and Innovation 
Survey (BRDI-S) to measure firm innovation and investigate the 
incidence of R&D activities in growing sectors, such as small business 
enterprises not covered by BRDIS. Detailed R&D information for 
businesses with 10 or more employees will continue to be collected 
separately on the BRDIS. Statistics from the new ABS will be used by 
government program officials, industry organization leaders, economic 
and social analysts, business entrepreneurs, and domestic and foreign 
researchers in academia, business, and government. Estimates produced 
on owner demographic data may be used to assess business assistance 
needs, allocate available program resources, and create a framework for 
planning, directing, and assessing programs that promote the activities 
of disadvantaged groups; to assess minority-owned businesses by 
industry and area and to educate industry associations, corporations, 
and government entities; to analyze business operations in comparison 
to similar firms, compute market share, and assess business growth and 
future prospects. Estimates produced on research and development and 
innovation may be used to compare R&D costs across industries, 
determine where R&D activity is conducted geographically, and identify 
the types of businesses with R&D; to contribute to the Bureau of 
Economic Analysis (BEA) system of national accounts; to increase 
investments in research and development, strengthen education, and 
encourage entrepreneurship; and to compare business innovation in the 
United States to that of other countries.
    The ABS covers all domestic, nonfarm employer businesses with 
operations during the survey year. The ABS will provide the only 
comprehensive data on business owner demographics and business 
characteristics, including financing, research and development (for 
microbusinesses), and innovation. Nonemployer businesses are not in 
scope for the ABS. The Census Bureau will submit a separate clearance 
for approval to collect business and owner characteristics from 
nonemployer businesses if it is determined that a collection is needed 
to produce those estimates. The ABS will collect the following 
information from employer businesses:
     Owner characteristics, including the gender, ethnicity, 
race, and veteran status of the principal owner(s) from all firms in 
the sample
     Various business characteristics, including financing from 
all firms in the sample
     Research and development activity and costs from firms 
with less than 10 employees
     Innovation practices from all firms in the sample
    Additional owner topics include military service, owner 
acquisition, job functions, number of hours worked, primary income, 
prior business ownership, age of owner, education and field of degree, 
citizenship and place of birth, and owner's reason for owning the 
business. Other business topics include number of owners and percent 
ownership, family owned and operated, business aspirations, funding 
sources, profitability, types of customers, types of workers, employee 
benefits, home operation, Web site use, and business activity. Starting 
with the 2018 survey, the ABS may include new module questions each 
year based on relevant business topics. Potential topics include 
technological advances, Internet usage, management and business 
practices, exporting practices, and globalization.
    The draft content for the ABS will be cognitively tested with 
approximately 20 businesses under a separate OMB generic clearance. The 
questionnaire and interview protocol will be used to assess the 
feasibility and merit of suggested changes that arise from the testing.
    The 2017 ABS will sample approximately 850,000 employer businesses 
to produce more detailed statistics. Annually from 2018-2021, the 
survey sample will be reduced to approximately 300,000 businesses to 
reduce respondent burden. Businesses that reported business activity on 
Internal Revenue Service tax forms 941, ``Employer's Quarterly Federal 
Tax Return''; 944, ``Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return''; or any one 
of the 1120 corporate tax forms will be eligible for selection.

II. Method of Collection

    The ABS will be collected using only electronic instruments. 
Respondents will receive a letter notifying them of their requirement 
to respond and how to access the survey. Letters will be mailed from 
the Census Bureau's National Processing Center in Jeffersonville, 
Indiana. Responses will be due approximately 30 days from receipt. 
Select businesses will receive a due date reminder via a letter prior 
to the due date. Additionally, two mail follow-ups to nonrespondents 
will be conducted at approximately one-month intervals. Select 
nonrespondents will receive a certified mailing for the second follow-
up if needed.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-XXXX.
    Form Number(s): This electronic-only collection will not utilize 
paper forms.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Large and small employer businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 850,000 employer businesses for 
2017; 300,000 employer businesses for 2018-2021.
    Estimated Time per Response: 35 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 495,833 for 2017; 175,000 for 
2018-2021.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    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).

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

[[Page 36730]]

(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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-16605 Filed 8-4-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P

36728

Notices Federal Register
Vol. 82, No. 150

Monday, August 7, 2017

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER number and the agency informs Program. Also the collected information
contains documents other than rules or potential persons who are to respond to will be used to determine if the
proposed rules that are applicable to the the collection of information that such applicants are a good fit for the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, persons are not required to respond to university and agency based on their
committee meetings, agency decisions and the collection of information unless it proposed major, interest, future
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
displays a currently valid OMB control academic/professional goals, and grade
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are number. point average. Without the information
examples of documents appearing in this Office of Advocacy and Outreach the USDA/HSI Scholars Program would
section. not be able to function consistently.
Title: USDA/HSI Scholars Program Description of Respondents:
Applications. Individuals or households.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OMB Control Number: 0503-New. Number of Respondents: 600.
Summary of Collection: The purpose Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
Submission for OMB Review; of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Annually.
Comment Request (USDA) Hispanic-Serving Institutions Total Burden Hours: 600.
(HSI) Scholars Program is to strengthen
August 2, 2017. the long-term partnership between Ruth Brown,
The Department of Agriculture has USDA and the HSIs; to increase the Departmental Information Collection
submitted the following information number of students studying and Clearance Officer.
collection requirement(s) to OMB for graduating in food, agriculture, natural [FR Doc. 2017–16544 Filed 8–4–17; 8:45 am]
review and clearance under the resources, and other related fields of BILLING CODE 3412–88–P
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, study, to develop a pool of scientists
Public Law 104–13. Comments are and professionals to fill jobs in the food,
requested regarding (1) whether the agricultural, natural resources system; DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
collection of information is necessary and to create a talent pipeline for USDA.
for the proper performance of the The USDA/HSI Scholars Program is a U.S. Census Bureau
functions of the agency, including joint human capital initiative between
whether the information will have the USDA and Hispanic-Serving Proposed Information Collection;
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the Institutions. Through the program, Comment Request; Annual Business
agency’s estimate of burden including USDA will offer scholarships to high Survey (ABS)
the validity of the methodology and school and college students who are AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau,
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance seeking a bachelor’s degree in the field Commerce.
the quality, utility and clarity of the of agriculture, food, or natural resource ACTION: Notice.
information to be collected; and (4) sciences and related disciplines at
ways to minimize the burden of the Hispanic-Serving Institutions. The SUMMARY: The Department of
collection of information on those who USDA/HSI Scholars Program will offer Commerce, as part of its continuing
are to respond, including through the scholarships and internships for a effort to reduce paperwork and
use of appropriate automated, period of up to 4 years. The authority respondent burden, invites the general
electronic, mechanical, or other to collect this information is under 5 public and other Federal agencies to
technological collection techniques or CFR 213.3102(r). take this opportunity to comment on
other forms of information technology. Need and Use of the Information: proposed and/or continuing information
Comments regarding this information Information will be collected to collections, as required by the
collection received by September 6, determine the eligibility of applicants to Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
2017 will be considered. Written the USDA/HSI Scholars Program. Each DATES: To ensure consideration, written
comments should be addressed to: Desk applicant to the program will be comments must be submitted on or
Officer for Agriculture, Office of required to apply to announcements of before October 6, 2017.
Information and Regulatory Affairs, the USDA/HSI Scholars Program and
Office of Management and Budget ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
submit an application with required
(OMB), New Executive Office Building, documentation. The required to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
725—17th Street NW., Washington, DC documentation will include: (1) A Paperwork Clearance Officer,
20502. Commenters are encouraged to resume; (2) Proof of acceptance or Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
submit their comments to OMB via enrollment in school, a letter of 14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
email to: OIRA_Submission@ acceptance, or proof of registration, or Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395–5806 letter from school official on official Internet at PRAcomments@doc.gov).
and to Departmental Clearance Office, letterhead; (3) A copy of the last high FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, school or college transcript; and (4) Two Requests for additional information or
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

Washington, DC 20250–7602. Copies of letters of recommendation. The copies of the information collection
the submission(s) may be obtained by collected information is needed to instrument(s) and instructions should
calling (202) 720–8958. review all components of the be directed to Patrice Norman, U.S.
An agency may not conduct or application for completeness; and Census Bureau, EWD, 8K151,
sponsor a collection of information determine if the application meets the Washington, DC 20233–6600, (301) 763–
unless the collection of information minimum eligibility requirements to be 7198, Patrice.C.Norman@census.gov.
displays a currently valid OMB control considered for the USDA/HSI Scholars SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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36730 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 150 / Monday, August 7, 2017 / Notices

(including hours and cost) of the Background classified in the Harmonized Tariff
proposed collection of information; (c) On November 4, 2016, the Department Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and published a notice of opportunity to at subheading 2922.42.10.00.
clarity of the information to be request an administrative review of the Merchandise subject to the order may
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the antidumping duty order on MSG from also enter under HTS subheadings
burden of the collection of information the PRC.1 In response, on November 29, 2922.42.50.00, 2103.90.72.00,
on respondents, including through the 2016, Ajinomoto North America, Inc. 2103.90.74.00, 2103.90.78.00,
use of automated collection techniques (the petitioner) requested a review of 27 2103.90.80.00, and 2103.90.90.91. The
or other forms of information companies.2 The Department initiated a tariff classifications, CAS registry
technology. review of all 27 companies on January numbers, and UNII numbers are
Comments submitted in response to 13, 2017.3 For a list of these companies, provided for convenience and customs
this notice will be summarized and/or please see Appendix I. The deadline for purposes; however, the written
included in the request for OMB interested parties to submit an SRA or description of the scope is dispositive.6
approval of this information collection; an SRC was February 13, 2017.4 No Methodology
they also will become a matter of public party timely submitted an SRA or an
The Department is conducting this
record. SRC. Thereafter, the petitioner
review in accordance with section
submitted comments on the
Sheleen Dumas, 751(a)(1)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
Department’s selection of respondents,
Departmental PRA Lead, Office of the Chief amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.213.
encouraging the Department to employ
Information Officer.
its customary policy to treat companies Preliminary Results of Review
[FR Doc. 2017–16605 Filed 8–4–17; 8:45 am] as a part of the country-wide entity in The Department’s policy regarding
BILLING CODE 3510–07–P reviews where no party submits an SRA conditional review of the PRC-wide
or SRC.5 entity applies to this administrative
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Scope of the Order review.7 Under this policy, the PRC-
wide entity will not be under review
The product covered by this order is
International Trade Administration unless a party specifically requests, or
MSG, whether or not blended or in
the Department self-initiates, a review of
solution with other products.
[A–570–992] the entity. The Department
Specifically, MSG that has been blended
preliminarily determines that the 27
or is in solution with other product(s) is
Monosodium Glutamate From the companies subject to review are part of
included in this scope when the
People’s Republic of China: the PRC-wide entity. None of the 27
resulting mix contains 15 percent or
Preliminary Results of the companies filed an SRA or an SRC. No
more of MSG by dry weight. Products
Antidumping Duty Administrative review has been requested for the PRC-
with which MSG may be blended
Review; 2015–2016 wide entity. Therefore, the Department
include, but are not limited to, salts,
preliminarily determines that these
sugars, starches, maltodextrins, and
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, companies have not demonstrated their
various seasonings. Further, MSG is
International Trade Administration, included in this order regardless of eligibility for separate rate status and are
Department of Commerce. physical form (including, but not part of the PRC-wide entity. The PRC-
limited to, in monohydrate or wide entity rate is 40.41 percent.8
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
(the Department) is conducting an anhydrous form, or as substrates, Public Comment
administrative review of the solutions, dry powders of any particle Interested parties are invited to
antidumping duty order on size, or unfinished forms such as MSG comment on the preliminary results and
monosodium glutamate (MSG) from the slurry), end-use application, or may submit case briefs and/or written
People’s Republic of China (PRC) packaging. MSG in monohydrate form comments, filed electronically via
covering the period of review (POR) has a molecular formula of C5H8NO4Na- Enforcement and Compliance’s
November 1, 2015, through October 31, H2O, a Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
2016. This review covers 27 registry number of 6106–04–3, and a
Centralized Electronic Service System
manufacturers/exporters (the Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
(ACCESS), within 30 days after the date
companies) of the subject merchandise. number of W81N5U6R6U. MSG in
of publication of these preliminary
Because none of these companies filed anhydrous form has a molecular
results of review.9 ACCESS is available
a separate rate application (SRA) and/or formula of C5H8NO4Na, a CAS registry
to registered users at http://
a separate rate certification (SRC), the number of l42–47–2, and a UNII number
access.trade.gov and is available to all
Department preliminarily finds that the of C3C196L9FG. Merchandise covered
companies are part of the PRC-wide by the scope of this order is currently 6 See Monosodium Glutamate from the People’s

entity. We invite interested parties to 1 See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order,
Republic of China: Second Amended Final
comment on these preliminary results. Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and
Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity Amended Antidumping Order, 80 FR 487 (January
DATES: Applicable August 7, 2017. To Request Administrative Review, 81 FR 76920 6, 2015).
(November 4, 2016). 7 See Antidumping Proceedings: Announcement
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 2 See Ajinomoto’s letter, ‘‘Monosodium Glutamate
of Change in Department Practice for Respondent
Chien-Min Yang, AD/CVD Operations, from China: Request for Administrative Review,’’ Selection in Antidumping Duty Proceedings and
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

Office VII, Enforcement and (November 29, 2016), at attachment 1 which lists Conditional Review of the Nonmarket Economy
27 companies for which Ajinomoto sought a review. Entity in NME Antidumping Duty Proceedings, 78
Compliance, International Trade 3 See Initiation of Antidumping and FR 65963, 65970 (November 4, 2013).
Administration, Department of Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 82 FR 8 See Monosodium Glutamate from the People’s
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 4294 (January 13, 2017) (Initiation Notice). Republic of China: Second Amended Final
NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone 4 See Initiation Notice. Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and
at (202) 482–5484. 5 See Ajinomoto’s letter, ‘‘MSG from China: Amended Antidumping Duty Order, 80 FR 487
Comments on Respondent Selection,’’ (February 15, (January 6, 2015).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 2017). 9 See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(ii).

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Document Created: 2017-08-05 02:59:58
Document Modified: 2017-08-05 02:59:58

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 October 6, 2017.
Contact		Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Patrice Norman, U.S. Census Bureau, EWD, 8K151, Washington, DC 20233-6600, (301) 763-7198, [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 36728

82 FR 36728 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Annual Business Survey (ABS)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCEU.S. Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 150 (August 7, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
U.S. Census Bureau