SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the PRA, as part of our ( printed page 66708) continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, 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.

We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR described below. We are especially interested in public comments addressing the following issues:

(1) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the USGS minerals information mission; (2) whether the estimate of burden is accurate; (3) how the USGS might enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) how the USGS might minimize the burden of this collection of information 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. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personally 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 Defense National Stockpile Center goals. These data and derived information will be published as chapters in USGS Minerals Yearbooks, monthly USGS Mineral Industry Surveys, annual USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, and special publications for use by Government agencies, Congressional offices, industry education programs, research organizations, financial institutions, consulting firms, industry, academia, and the general public.

The USGS Mineral Resources Program is submitting this Federal Register Notice as a revision to add a new `Iron and Steel Scrap and Pig Iron' monthly canvass (USGS Form 9-4148-M) to this ICR and to revise the `Iron and Steel Scrap and Pig Iron' monthly/annual canvass (USGS Form 9-4116-MA) including its conversion to an annual canvass only (USGS Form 9-4116-A). We estimate that the current 30 minutes average estimated burden time for the monthly/annual canvass will decrease to 20 minutes once converted to an annual canvass only. We also estimate an average estimated burden time of 10 minutes for the new `Iron and Steel Scrap and Pig Iron' monthly canvass. These adjustments are designed to boost response rates and maintain essential statistical insights for industry analyses. The annual canvass, in particular, will focus on eliminating redundant data points, allowing for more efficient responses. Both canvasses aim to capture the “missing middle” of scrap consumption—materials sent to manufacturers with scrap and waste materials returned via contract—whereas the previous canvass only identified post-consumer materials and home scrap. The updated form and new form also improve data collection, expand coverage of consumption and production, and support more advanced analytical capabilities.

Title of Collection: Ferrous Metals Surveys.

OMB Control Number: 1028-0068.

Form Number: Various (16 USGS forms).

Type of Review: Revision 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: 899.

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 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), 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. 21a), 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.).

91 FR 66707