USGS Renews Its Request for Businesses to Count Ferrous Metals
Published Date: 10/22/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Geological Survey wants to keep collecting info about ferrous metals but with some updates to make it easier and clearer. This affects businesses and agencies involved in metal reporting, who should share their thoughts by December 21, 2026. The goal is to reduce paperwork hassle while keeping important metal data flowing smoothly—no extra costs, just smarter forms!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New form and expanded data coverage
The USGS is adding a new monthly 'Iron and Steel Scrap and Pig Iron' canvass (USGS Form 9-4148-M) and converting the previous monthly/annual canvass (USGS Form 9-4116-MA) to an annual-only form (USGS Form 9-4116-A). The updated forms expand coverage to capture the "missing middle" of scrap consumption (materials sent to manufacturers with scrap and waste returned via contract) and aim to improve collection of consumption and production data.
Shorter reporting time per response
If your business reports ferrous metals data to the USGS, the agency is changing estimated completion times: the existing monthly/annual canvass will convert to an annual-only form and average time per response is estimated to drop from 30 minutes to 20 minutes. A new monthly canvass (USGS Form 9-4148-M) is estimated to take 10 minutes; total estimated annual respondents are 980 with 2,718 responses and 899 total annual burden hours.
No new non-hour monetary costs
The USGS states there are no 'non-hour cost' burdens associated with this information collection, meaning the agency estimates no new out-of-pocket fees or monetary costs tied to these forms. Responding remains voluntary.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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