Per June 1997 agreement among industry
respondents, the U.S. Geological Survey proposes amending this
monthly information collection to split out blended cement (sales
to final customers) from the portland cement category and to
collect clinker production data by State. This will allow improved
analysis of the growing, environmentally important, blended cement
market and the accurate determination of regional clinker
production capacity utilization. This will benefit all major users
of the data.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.