SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the PRA, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provides the requested data in the desired format.

A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on September 28, 2023 (88 FR 66883). One comment was received from the Bureau of Economic Analysis supporting the collection of this data as nationally important.

We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comments addressing the following issues: (1) is the collection necessary to the proper functions of the USGS minerals information mission; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how the USGS might enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how the USGS might minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifiable information (PII) in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your PII—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your PII from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Abstract: Respondents to these forms supply the USGS with domestic production and consumption data for 13 ores, concentrates, metals, and ferroalloys, some of which are considered strategic and critical, to assist in determining National Defense Stockpile goals. These data and derived information will be published as chapters in Mineral Yearbooks, monthly Mineral Industry Surveys, annual Mineral Commodity Summaries, and special publications for use by Government agencies, Congressional offices, educational institutions, research organizations, financial institutions, consulting firms, industry, academia, and the general public.

Title of Collection: Ferrous Metals Surveys.

OMB Control Number: 1028-0068.

Form Number: Various (15 USGS forms).

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Businesses or Other For-Profit Institutions: U.S. nonfuel minerals producers and consumers of ferrous and related metals.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 980.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 2,718.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: For each form, we will include an average burden time ranging from 10 minutes to 1 hour.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,364.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Frequency of Collection: Monthly or Annually.

Total Estimated Annual Non-Hour Burden Cost: There are no “non-hour cost” burdens associated with this ICR.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, nor is a person required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The authorities for this action are the PRA, the National Materials and Minerals Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980 (30 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), the National Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 21(a)), the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.), and the Defense Production Act (50 U.S.C. 2061 et seq.).

89 FR 14517