[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 212 (Monday, November 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59343-59344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29005]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
Construction Project Reporting Surveys (CPRS)
ACTION: Proposed Collection; 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 and/or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 2, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,
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 instructions
should be directed to George A. Roff, Jr., Bureau of the Census, Room
2225, Building 4, Washington, DC 20233 on (301) 457-1605.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Census Bureau is the preeminent collector and provider of
timely, relevant and quality data about the people and economy of the
United States. Economic data are the Census Bureau's primary program
commitment during nondecennial census years. The Census Bureau, under
the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Section 182, conducts
the following three Construction Project Reporting Surveys (CPRS);
Private Construction Projects, State and Local Governments and
Multifamily Residential. These surveys provide the dollar value of
construction put in place by private companies, individuals, private
multifamily residential buildings, and state and local government
sectors. The C-700 form (Private Construction Projects) collects
construction put in place data for nonresidential projects owned by
private companies or individuals. The C-700(R) (Multifamily Residential
Projects) form collects construction put in place data for private
multifamily residential buildings. Form C-700(SL) (State and Local
Government Projects) collects construction put in place data for state
and local government projects.
The Census Bureau uses the information from the CPRS to publish the
value of construction put in place series. Published estimates are used
by a variety of private business and trade associations to estimate the
demand for building materials and to schedule production, distribution,
and sales efforts. They also provide various governmental agencies with
a tool to evaluate economic policy and to measure progress towards
established goals. For example, Bureau of Economic Analysis staff use
data to develop the construction components of gross private domestic
investment in the gross domestic product. The Federal Reserve Board and
the Department of Treasury use the value in place data to predict the
gross domestic product, which is presented to the Board of Governors
and has an impact on monetary policy.
II. Method of Collection
The universes for these surveys are as follows:
(1) Private nonresidential and state and local projects are
obtained from F.W. Dodge, a division of the McGraw-Hill Information
Systems Company, for projects valued at $50,000 or more in the United
States, except Hawaii. Building permit notifications are used for
sampling in permit-issuing places of Hawaii and for projects in areas
not covered by Dodge.
(2) Multifamily projects are sampled from the Census Bureau's
Housing Starts Survey.
An independent systematic sample of projects is selected each month
according to predetermined sampling rates. Once a project is selected
it remains in the sample until completion of the project. Preprinted
forms are mailed monthly to respondents to fill in current month data
and any revisions to previous months. To manage CPRS data, a database
was created. A portion of this database is used for computer assisted
telephone interviewing. Repondents are contacted on the day and time
specified by them, thereby reducing their burden.
III. Data
OMB Numbers: 0607-0153 C-700 (Private Construction Projects), 0607-
0163 C-700(R) (Multifamily Residential Projects), 0607-0171 C-700(SL)
(State and Local Government Projects).
Form Numbers: C-700, C-700(R), C-700(SL).
Type of Review: Regular Review.
Affected Public: Individuals, Businesses or Other for Profit, Non
Profit Institutions, Small Businesses or Organizations, and State or
Local Governments.
[[Page 59344]]
Estimated Number of Respondents: C-700= 6,000, C-700(R)=1,440, C-
700(SL)= 6,000.
Estimated Time Per Response: .25 hrs per month.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: C-700= 18,000, C-700(R)=4,320,
C-700(SL)=18,000.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the Government for this
work is estimated to be $2.702 million.
Respondents Obligation: Construction Project Reporting Surveys are
voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, 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 the 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 through the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: October 28, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-29005 Filed 10-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
