[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 51402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25140]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Business and Professional Classification Report
ACTION: Proposed Agency Information Collection Activity; Comment
Request.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on
proposed or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506
(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 2,
1996.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instruction(s)
should be directed to Carl A. Konschnik, Bureau of the Census, Room
2651-FOB 3, Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301) 457-2675.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
I. Abstract
The Bureau of the Census uses Form B-625, ``Business and
Professional Classification Report,'' to collect information needed to
keep the retail, wholesale, and service samples current with the
business universe. Because of rapid changes in the marketplace caused
by the emergence of new businesses, the death of others, transfer of
ownership, mergers, and so forth, four times a year the Bureau of the
Census canvasses a different sample of new Employer Identification
Numbers (EINs) obtained from the Internal Revenue Service and the
Social Security Administration. The completed Form B-625, ``Business
and Professional Classification Report,'' provides us with sales,
receipts or revenue, company organization, new or refined Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC), and other key information needed for
sampling to maintain proper coverage of the universe. Based on the
collected information, EINs meeting the criteria for inclusion in the
Bureau's retail, wholesale or service surveys are subjected to a second
sampling. The retail and wholesale EINs selected in this second
sampling are placed on a panel to report in our surveys on a monthly
basis. The selected service cases are also placed on a panel but report
only annually. We are considering revisions to Form B-625 to reflect
changing survey conditions. For example, we may drop the request for a
list of individual business locations associated with the EIN. We may
also make revisions to enable classification coding under the new North
American Industry Classification System.
II. Method of Collection
We collect this information by mail, FAX, and by phone for mail
nonresponse.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0607-0189.
Form Number: B-625.
Type of Review: Regular Submission.
Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations, not-
for-profit institutions, Federal Government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 42,000.
Estimated Time Per Response: 13 minutes.
Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 9,101 hours.
Estimated Total Cost: The total cost in fiscal year 1996 for the
Business and Professional Classification Report is $785,000, all funded
by the Bureau of Census.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 182.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden (including
hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on respondents, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: September 25, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-25140 Filed 10-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
