Supporting Statement A for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions
OMB Control Number 1028-0053
Nonferrous Metals Surveys (31 forms—see Table 1)
Expiration Date: October 31, 2008
Terms of Clearance: None
Specific Instructions
A. Justification
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has policy responsibility for the Nation’s mineral resources and their derived industries. The National Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-631, 30 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), the National Materials and Minerals Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-479, 42 U.S.C. 6901) and the Defense Production Act make it incumbent upon the Secretary of the Interior to be informed about and to inform the Congress of important developments, including crises, in the minerals industries. DOI responsibilities regarding mineral resources are discharged through a staff of scientists, including geologists, chemists, and physicists; engineers; economists; and mineral commodity specialists. Many of the responsibilities are assigned to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Two fundamental activities—mining and agriculture—form the basis of the Nation’s wealth because they furnish all the raw materials and most of the energy that are used in all other industries. Additionally, the mining industry supplies the fertilizers, pesticides, and soil conditioners that significantly enhance the performance of the agricultural sector. For those raw materials not produced domestically, supplies must be imported. This adversely affects the trade balance and, for some materials, puts U.S. industries at risk of supply disruptions because of international political developments. Imports may also compete with domestic production, thus jeopardizing U.S. jobs. Accordingly, the Government requires accurate, timely data on raw materials production and related industries to formulate policies that ensure national security and economic well-being. The USGS canvass forms are the fundamental means by which data on minerals, mining, and related materials production are obtained.
Nonferrous metals are used ubiquitously and are significant and essential metals in the construction, transportation, electronics, and chemical industries. In terms of the quantity used and the value, aluminum and copper are the principal metals in the nonferrous group. These metals are followed by some 44 other elements. They range from the minor metals, such as indium, gallium, and germanium, with relatively small-volume uses but having critical applications in advanced technologies, to the precious metals, such as gold and silver, with very high unit values. Additionally, there are other industrial minerals such as lead, tin, and zinc, and the light metals, such as magnesium and titanium. These metals are widely used in virtually every sector of the U.S. economy, and some, such as the precious metals and certain of the minor metals with high unit values, are also of considerable domestic and international interest as investments.
2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection. [Be specific. If this collection is a form or a questionnaire, every question needs to be justified.]
The data obtained from these canvasses are used by Government agencies, Congressional offices, educational institutions, research organizations, financial institutions, consulting firms, industry, and the public. They provide the Government with essential consumption data for use in legislative decisions, research programs, economic studies, analyses, and land use and environmental impact studies. These data also are used to respond to nationwide and international requests for minerals information. With these canvass forms, the USGS collects and analyzes data on production, consumption, stocks, and value of nonferrous metals—a number of which have traditionally been considered as strategic and critical.
Each company reports commodity data consistent with industry standards and as mutually agreed upon by the company and the USGS commodity specialists. Based on these submissions, the USGS routinely supplies information, analyses, and data for decision-making purposes to the Congress and various Presidential councils and commissions. The National Security Council, in particular, has frequently used USGS data in relation to materials mobilization studies and specific Presidential projects, such as sustainability analyses.
Information gathered from these canvasses is used by the Secretary of the DOI in the annual report to the Congress on the state of domestic mining and mineral industries as required by the National Materials and Minerals Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980. Two of the basic provisions of the Act are “the availability of materials is essential for national security, economic well-being, and industrial production” and the “extraction, production, processing, use, recycling, and disposal of materials are closely linked with natural concerns for energy and the environment.” The data also provide ways of identifying industry trends; making supply and demand analyses on varying time cycles; assembling meaningful conclusions concerning such important indicators as industry vitality; and formulating appropriate recommendations for the Government on such matters as stockpiling, tariffs, research and development, and production incentives. The availability, production, supply, and value of some of the minerals are highly variable and must be analyzed more often than on an annual basis.
These canvasses cover production and consumption in all the nonfuel nonferrous metals industries. The data collected are analyzed and used by the USGS to issue, as promptly as possible, various publications that provide essential information while protecting trade secrets and privileged or proprietary commercial or financial information. These data form a substantial part of the USGS Automated Minerals Information System (AMIS).
Furthermore, the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.) requires the Secretary to collect data on strategic and critical materials to assist in determining stockpile goals. The Secretary assigned this responsibility for data collection to the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) and transferred the responsibility to the USGS after the USBM was abolished.
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) uses USGS data in studies of minerals mobilization, to recommend trade policy and to resolve disputes under the International Trade Administration (ITA), to assist in export development, to develop materials research, and to develop worldwide mineral production and trade data.
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) uses USGS data to support international commodity negotiations, to analyze relations with foreign mineral producers, and to recommend tariffs and quotas and as a worldwide mineral database.
The U.S. Agency for International Development uses USGS data to assist in determining which minerals are of interest to the United States for development in developing nations.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) use USGS data in studies of antitrust activities, unfair trade practices, and false advertising or misrepresentation of mineral goods or commodities.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) uses USGS data to determine research on materials and minerals within research laboratories of the Army, Navy, and the Air Force; sea lanes that must be protected; Defense Production Act Title III projects; National Defense Stockpile (NDS) goals and specifications; details of procurement, storage and disposal; and suppliers of mineral commodities.
The Federal Reserve Board (FRB) uses USGS data to develop periodic (monthly, quarterly, and annual) indicators of industrial production and capacity and capacity utilization.
The National Science Foundation, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Research Council use USGS data to ensure maximum benefits from all mineral research.
The U.S. Department of Transportation, the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers use USGS data to determine national and State transportation requirements for the minerals industry.
In addition to the use of USGS data by the majority of Federal Government departments, reports and information are in demand by many types of organizations, including the following:
Participating companies |
Industrial marketing groups |
Industrial and agricultural sectors |
Electric utilities |
Financial institutions |
The general public, especially academic, consulting, and legal organizations |
Export associations |
International industry associations |
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State governments
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Domestic trade associations |
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Certain commodities are canvassed quarterly and monthly to furnish information and data for reports and indexes that are prepared more frequently than on a yearly basis.
Type of information collected: |
Use: |
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Use of various material mineral commodities |
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Sales of mineral commodities |
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Production of mineral commodities |
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Consumption of mineral commodities |
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Stocks |
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Plant capacity |
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Transportation of materials |
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Recycled materials |
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Location of operations |
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Operation status |
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3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden [and specifically how this collection meets GPEA requirements].
Thirty percent of the universe is expected to respond electronically. Paper forms will remain an option for submission of responses because not all industry respondents are able to or wish to transmit their data to the USGS by electronic means. For security purposes, users will not be allowed to access past submissions on-line unless they specifically request administrative privileges to retrieve such historical data.
In addition to producing electronic versions of paper forms, the conversion process encompassed mappings of thousands of fields to the mainframe AMIS database. Extensive cross-checks on data were automated, replacing manual processes. The electronic forms conversion effort fulfills the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) requirements by establishing intelligent links between the input on the electronic forms and the database rather than simply transforming the physical forms to electronic versions of the same.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.
If data are available from other Federal or State agencies, trade associations, or other public sources, then USGS canvasses are not conducted. The USGS continuously reviews data collection practices with other agencies, including the DOC and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the ITC, as well as with industry associations such as the Aluminum Association, the International Copper Study Group, and the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG). For over 120 years, the Federal Government has consistently collected mineral information while trade associations have been created and abolished. Where data are available from other sources, these data are used. Alternate data sources are not available for the commodities that are canvassed.
5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.
The canvass forms are designed to minimize the burden to all respondents. Only essential data are requested in a format common to the reporting industry. When applicable, small businesses often respond with fewer data entries than the larger organizations.
6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.
The USGS provides information necessary for sound Federal, State, and industry decision making. If data are not made available as soon as possible after collection or if canvasses are conducted less frequently, then monitoring of stockpile materials for national defense would be impeded by the gaps in statistics. The level of domestic and foreign productivity and economic fluctuation would be much less apparent or missed, and that data simply would not be timely enough to be reliable for decisions that affect minerals vulnerability, potential environmental impacts, current trends, and future needs. These decisions, in turn, have an effect on such things as taxes, royalty payments, tariffs, land use, environmental regulations, water use, and transportation.
Collection of monthly, quarterly, and annual data allows economic analysis that can capture variations—a longer time interval could not. Collection of these data on a biennial basis would not be practical because the industry respondents do not normally have the data in a convenient format except on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. A 2-year canvass, for example, would require the respondents to alter their accounting procedures or manually add 2 years of data. This would increase their reporting burden. Also, multiyear data are less meaningful and less convenient for analysis by industry and Government agencies.
Sectors of the public that use the data collected by the USGS include, but are not limited to, the concrete, construction, metals, ceramics, refractories, electric utilities, electronic engineering, chemical, coal, paper, rubber, plastics and agricultural industries. The USGS customer base (recipients of these data) is well over 35,000 entities and increases considerably each year.
The DOC, the DOD, the DOS, the World Bank, the FRB, the ITC, the FTC, the Federal Highway Administration, and most of our sister agencies within the DOI are only some of the agencies that rely on these data. The data collected are used to determine the economic health of the Nation, factored into the gross domestic product, and used in forecasts and trend projections in the building and construction industries, which are closely linked to the issue of rebuilding the infrastructure of the country.
Our customers include banks, brokerage houses, other financial institutions, mineral management companies, independent consultants, and many others who need this information to be able to make informed business decisions. This information is not available from any other source.
7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:
* requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;
* requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;
* requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;
* requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records, for more than three years;
* in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;
* requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;
* that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or
* requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.
Users of the published data based on these canvasses may track trends on a monthly basis because of the highly volatile market or seasonal production patterns for the materials covered by these canvasses. Trends may be detected earlier if the data are available monthly rather than at less frequent intervals, such as quarterly, semiannually, or annually. The data collected by the monthly canvasses are absolutely necessary if the USGS is to meet current, reliable information demands of industry and Government mineral analysts who prepare monthly and bimonthly indexes and commodity reports required to analyze the industry. Additionally, the data are necessary if the USGS is to meet the requirements of Public Law 91-631 for the minerals that have erratic supply, demand, value, availability, or seasonal production patterns.
Under the terms of the USGS standard for handling proprietary canvass data included in the supplementary documents, companies can and usually do specify that the data they supply be shared only in aggregated form. These terms ensure that the USGS will continue to receive proprietary data in confidence.
The canvass forms are designed to ensure that respondents are not required to maintain or provide data in a format other than that in which the data are customarily maintained. The respondents are routinely asked to comment on the design of the forms and to make recommendations that help maintain consistency with industry’s methods of accounting.
Please see Appendix A for a full description, justification and reasons for collecting monthly data for the following commodities:
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These data are collected monthly because of the importance of these industries to the industrial economy, such as for the transportation, construction, and electronics sectors. DOD planners use these data to evaluate purchase and disposal plans for the NDS. The mining and metals products industries regularly use these data to evaluate production and consumption plans. Minerals policy planners need the most up-to-date information in making decisions concerning these industries.
8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice [and in response to the PRA statement associated with the collection over the past three years] and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.
Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported. [Please list the names, titles, addresses, and phone numbers of persons contacted.]
Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years — even if the collection of information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.
On April 16, 2008, we published a Federal Register notice (73 FR 20706) announcing that we would submit this information collection to OMB for approval. The notice provided a 60-day public comment period ending on June 16, 2008. We received no comments in response to the notice.
Mineral commodity specialists are routinely contacted by Federal and State agencies, Members of Congress, trade associations, the financial community, private companies, universities, and private citizens that request general and specific data and information.
When persons outside the USGS submit requests for information, the USGS mineral commodity specialists and statistical assistants respond in a timely manner. The USGS receives and responds to several thousand e-mail and telephone inquiries each month During these discussions and interactions, views are exchanged on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, reporting format, data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported, burden estimates and other aspects of this Information Collection. Although minor changes to the collection instruments were made within the last 3-year OMB approval period for this collection, these views help the USGS to improve its data and publications.
On the basis of such feedback, information-use patterns are established commodity by commodity. Once patterns are determined, canvass forms are revised to collect data and to meet the information needs. As information request patterns change, the data collected and reported are modified. The expanded time series does not require any additional reporting from the industry.
The list below identifies industry contacts consulted on the burden estimates and other aspects of this Information Collection between June and July 2008.
Exide Technologies James Ibigbami, Senior Cost Analyst Alpharetta, GA Date of contact: June 2008 |
Pogo Mine Dean Martin, Controller Delta Junction, AK Date of contact: June 2008 |
RTI International Metals Justin Simerlink, Cost Accountant Niles, OH Date of contact: July 2008 |
Copper Queen Mine and Copreco Mine Jennifer Huish, Senior Accounting Analyst Bisbee, AZ Date of contact: July 2008 |
9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payments or gifts are made to respondents.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
Public Law 96-479, Section 5(3) (f), ensures the confidentiality of all data reported by persons or firms engaged in any phase of mineral or mineral-material production or large-scale consumption. The disclosure of data shall be in aggregated form so as not to reveal data from a single person or firm.
To implement Section 5(3) (f), the USGS withholds all data reported as “Company Proprietary Data,” and data are disclosed only in the aggregate. Additionally, tests are performed on aggregated data to ensure confidentiality. USGS policy states that absent specific company permission, aggregated data can be reported only if it represents three or more companies and if no one company accounts for more than 75% of the total or if no two companies account for more than 90% of the total. Proprietary data may only be disclosed to Congress or to Federal defense agencies upon official request for appropriate purposes and in some instances to a State government under a cooperative agreement (Memorandum of Understanding). Except in response to requests by Congress or by Federal defense agencies, proprietary data will never be disclosed without the specific permission of the company as represented in the disclosure query. The disclosure statement and query are printed on each canvass form.
The USGS standard for handling proprietary canvass data further discusses protections for USGS proprietary data including penalties associated with violations.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
Sensitive data are not sought.
12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:
* Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. Unless directed to do so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential respondents is desirable. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. Generally, estimates should not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.
* If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens.
* Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included in Item 14.
Variations can be expected in the reporting burden for completion of these forms because of the differences in operation size and accounting systems. The data sought are those routinely maintained in the course of business. For some companies with more than one plant, the submission takes the form of a consolidated report covering all company operations. This greatly reduces the reporting burden.
We estimate public reporting burden for this collection of information (includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information) is 3,973 annual burden hours (Table 1). Respondents report details of their production and consumption monthly, quarterly, and annually. These 3 respondent groups are mutually exclusive. For example, companies that report on a monthly basis are not asked to report the same data on an annual basis. For the 5,339 associated responses, average completion time ranges from 20 minutes to 2 hours per form.
Table 1. Consolidated estimates of burden
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PRIVATE SECTOR |
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Form No. |
Frequency |
Number of Respondents |
Responses |
Completion Time |
Burden Hours |
9-4052-A |
Annually |
36 |
36 |
30 min |
18 |
9-4053-A |
Annually |
40 |
40 |
20 min |
13 |
9-4054-M |
Monthly |
8 |
96 |
30 min |
48 |
9-4055-A |
Annually |
22 |
22 |
30 min |
11 |
9-4057-QA |
Quarterly |
36 |
144 |
30 min |
72 |
9-4057-QA |
Annually |
133 |
133 |
30 min |
67 |
9-4060-QA |
Quarterly |
13 |
52 |
30 min |
26 |
9-4060-QA |
Annually |
40 |
40 |
30 min |
20 |
9-4061-A |
Annually |
11 |
11 |
30 min |
6 |
9-4066-M |
Monthly |
23 |
276 |
30 min |
138 |
9-4070-A |
Annually |
77 |
77 |
60 min |
77 |
9-4073-A |
Annually |
22 |
22 |
75 min |
28 |
9-4074-A |
Annually |
47 |
47 |
2 hours |
94 |
9-4080-A |
Annually |
19 |
19 |
1 hour |
19 |
9-4081-MA |
Monthly |
24 |
288 |
1 hour |
288 |
9-4081-MA |
Annually |
62 |
62 |
1 hour |
62 |
9-4082-A |
Annually |
410 |
410 |
30 min |
205 |
9-4083-A |
Annually |
20 |
20 |
45 min |
15 |
9-4084-M |
Monthly |
37 |
444 |
45 min |
333 |
9-4086-MA |
Monthly |
23 |
276 |
30 min |
138 |
9-4086-MA |
Annually |
73 |
73 |
30 min |
37 |
9-4089-MA |
Monthly |
32 |
384 |
90 min |
576 |
9-4089-MA |
Annually |
109 |
109 |
90 min |
164 |
9-4090-M |
Monthly |
10 |
120 |
30 min |
60 |
9-4091-A |
Annually |
29 |
29 |
30 min |
15 |
9-4094-MA |
Monthly |
5 |
60 |
90 min |
90 |
9-4094-MA |
Annually |
18 |
18 |
90 min |
27 |
9-4095-MA |
Monthly |
69 |
828 |
45 min |
621 |
9-4095-MA |
Annually |
89 |
89 |
45 min |
67 |
9-4097-A |
Annually |
48 |
48 |
45 min |
36 |
9-4098-M |
Monthly |
35 |
420 |
45 min |
315 |
9-4100-A |
Annually |
16 |
16 |
1 hour |
16 |
9-4101-A |
Annually |
10 |
10 |
1 hour |
10 |
9-4102-A |
Annually |
20 |
20 |
1 hour |
20 |
9-4103-A |
Annually |
26 |
26 |
1 hour |
26 |
9-4122-Q |
Quarterly |
23 |
92 |
30 min |
46 |
9-4125-A |
Annually |
50 |
50 |
30 min |
25 |
9-4141-M |
Monthly |
36 |
432 |
20 min |
144 |
TOTALS |
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1,801 |
5,339 |
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3,973 |
We estimate the dollar value of annual burden hours to be $103,219 (Table 2) based on the National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United States June 2007 published by the Bureau of Labor Standards Occupation and Wages, June 2007 (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes193092.htm) and benefits multipliers from the BLS news release December 11, 2007 - USDL 07-1883. The particular values utilized are:
Private Sector: Average hourly wage is $18.56 multiplied by 1.4 to account for benefits ($25.98).
Table 2: Dollar Value of Respondent Burden Hours
Respondents |
Annual Number of Responses |
Total Annual Burden Hours |
Dollar Value of Burden Hour Including Benefits |
Total Dollar Value of Annual Burden Hours |
Private |
5,339 |
3,973 |
$25.98 |
$103,219 |
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual [non-hour] cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in Items 12 and 14).
There is no non-hour cost burden to respondents under this collection. There is no recordkeeping nor any fees associated with collection of this information.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information. Agencies also may aggregate cost estimates from Items 12, 13, and 14 in a single table.
The total annual cost to the Federal Government is $2,022,500. This includes the operational expenses ($606,500) and cost to the Federal Government for salaries and benefits for administering this information collection ($1,416,000).
Operational expenses include mailing, overhead, printing, processing and non-Federal support staff (Table 3).
Table 3. Operational Expenses and estimated costs
Operational Expenses |
Estimated Cost |
Printing of canvass forms |
$300 |
Mailing lists compilation and maintenance |
$1,700 |
Mailing operation |
$7,600 |
Editing, coding, tabulation, analyzing |
$242,500 |
ADP processing |
$232,700 |
Electronic publication of results |
$8,400 |
Government Printing Office print costs for 2 Federal Register Notices |
$1,300 |
Electronic forms development and maintenance |
$112,000 |
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Total |
$606,500 |
The total estimated cost to the Federal Government for processing and reviewing information received as a result of this collection is $1,416,000 (Table 4). This includes Federal employee salaries and benefits. The table below shows Federal staff and grade levels performing various tasks associated with this information collection. We used the Office of Personnel Management Salary Table 2008-DCB (http://www.opm.gov/oca/08tables/html/dcb.asp) to determine the hourly rate. We multiplied the hourly rate by 1.5 to account for benefits (as implied by the BLS news release December 11, 2007 - USDL 07-1883).
Table 4. Federal Employee Salaries and Benefits
1 |
21 |
32 |
4 |
53 |
64 |
75 |
86 |
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Positions |
Grade and step |
Estimated percent of time spent on collection |
Estimated average hourly rate including benefits (1.5 x average hourly rate) |
Estimated weighted average hourly rate including benefits (1.5 x average hourly rate) |
Percent distribution of Federal employee salary/benefit cost |
Estimated Federal employee salary/benefit annualized costs |
Estimated Federal employee Hours (annualized) |
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Commodity Specialists |
GS-13/8 |
33.6% |
$73.54 |
$24.71 |
49.2% |
$697,000 |
9,500 |
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Statistical Assistants |
GS-6/3 |
50% |
27.14 |
13.57 |
27.0 |
$382,000 |
14,100 |
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Computer Specialists |
GS-13/8 |
5% |
73.54 |
3.68 |
7.3 |
$103,000 |
1,400 |
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Editors |
GS-12/ 8 |
5% |
61.85 |
3.09 |
6.2 |
$88,000 |
1,400 |
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Mineral Records Administrator |
GS-12/8 |
1.4% |
61.85 |
$0.87 |
1.7 |
$24,000 |
400 |
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Management |
GS-14 /8 |
5% |
86.90 |
4.35 |
8.6 |
$122,000 |
1,400 |
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Total Estimated of Percent time spent on collection* |
100% |
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Estimated Total Weighted Hourly Average ($/hr) |
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$50.27 |
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Estimated Total annual Federal employee salary/ benefit cost |
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$1,416,000 |
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Total estimated hours (annualized) |
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28,200 |
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1The grades/steps in the table represent an average of several employees at several grades/steps – some of the employees may work full-time on the collection, while other employees may work part-time.
2Data collection, processing, and publication
3Column 3 x Column 4
4 Column 5/Estimated total weighted hourly average
5 Column 6 x Estimated Total annual Federal employee salary/benefit cost (totals rounded to nearest thousand)
6 Column 7/ Column 4 (differences due to rounding)
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.
We estimate that there will be 5,339 responses totaling 3,973 burden hours. This is a net decrease of 689 responses and 89 burden hours from our previous request of 6,028 responses and 4,062 burden hours.
The difference represents an adjustment where we fine-tuned the number of respondents based on our experience in administering this collection along with the types of respondent feedback, discussions, and interactions as described in our answer to Question 8.
16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.
The AMIS mainframe system and off-the-shelf software packages are used to compile and tabulate the data and to prepare tables for publication. National, State, and regional tabulations are prepared and published annually at http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/minerals/ in table format from data collected by these canvasses. Preliminary estimates are prepared and published in the Mineral Commodity Summaries, which is the earliest Government publication to furnish estimates covering the previous year’s nonfuel mineral industry. Data are also published in the monthly and quarterly issues of the Mineral Industry Surveys series and the Annual Reports from the Minerals Yearbook and other USGS publications.
Tables present various aspects of commodities, such as consumption and production of products together with industry stocks. Economic changes are incorporated and industry trends and activities are studied. Statistical data are processed and analyzed by the Data Collection and Coordination Section, which also establishes timing for all key steps in the work.
Tabulation and publication of data are governed by the USGS standard for handling proprietary canvass data included in the supplementary documents. Data are available via the Internet and in print for select publications in the USGS minerals information series.
Monthly, quarterly, and semiannual tables are generally published within 50 workdays from the end of the reporting month. Annual data are generally published within 9 months from the end of the reporting year. This publication schedule maintains a very high percentage of responses.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
We will display the OMB control number and expiration date on each form in this collection.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19, “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions."
There are no exceptions to the certification statement.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions |
| Author | pondsp |
| Last Modified By | pondsp |
| File Modified | 2008-10-15 |
| File Created | 2008-10-02 |