[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10984-10985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6440]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
1997 Economic Census Covering Utilities; Transportation;
Information; Finance and Insurance; and Real Estate, Rental and Leasing
Sectors
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 and/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 May 17, 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 instructions
should be directed to Sidney O. Marcus III, Bureau of the Census, Room
2784, Building 3, Washington, DC 20233 on (301) 457-2786.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Census Bureau is the preeminent collector and provider of
timely, relevant, and useful 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 economic census,
conducted every five years under authority of Title 13 U.S.C., is the
primary source of facts about the structure and functioning of the
Nation's economy and features unique industry and geographic detail.
Economic census statistics serve as part of the framework for the
national accounts and provide essential information for government,
business, and the general public. The 1997 Economic Census will cover
virtually every sector of the U.S. economy including more than 923,000
establishments with payroll in the utilities; transportation;
information; finance and insurance; and real estate, rental and leasing
sectors. However, approximately thirteen percent of establishments will
not be required to file separate reports because they will be included
in consolidated company reports; for explanation see selection
procedure for establishments of multi-establishment firms below.
II. Method of Collection
Establishments in these sectors of the economic census will be
selected for mailout from a frame given by the Census Bureau's Standard
Statistical Establishment List. To be eligible for selection, an
establishment must be: (i) classified in the utilities; transportation;
information; finance and insurance; or real estate, rental and leasing
sectors; (ii) an active operating establishment of a multi-
establishment firm, or a single-establishment firm with payroll; and
(iii) located in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Mail
selection procedures will distinguish the following groups of
establishments:
A. Establishments of Multi-Establishment Firms
Selection procedures will assign all eligible establishments of
multi-establishment firms to the mail component of the potential
respondent universe, except for those in selected industries in
utilities, transportation, information, and finance and insurance. In
these selected industries, where revenue and certain other operating
data are not easily attributable to individual establishments,
division- or firm-level organizations are asked to report kind of
activity, payroll, and employment for
[[Page 10985]]
several establishments, and other required data at a more aggregate
level on a consolidated report form.
We estimate that the census mail canvass for 1997 will include
approximately 230,000 establishment and consolidated reports for multi-
establishment firms in these sectors.
B. Single-Establishment Firms With Payroll
In selected industries, small single-establishment firms are
selected for the mail canvass on a sample basis. As an initial step in
the selection process, we will conduct a study of the potential
respondent universe. The study of potential respondents will produce a
set of industry-specific payroll cutoffs that we will use to
distinguish large versus small single-establishment firms within each
industry or kind of business. This payroll size distinction will affect
selection as follows:
1. Large Single-Establishment Firms
Selection procedures will assign large single-establishment firms
having annualized payroll (from Federal administrative records) that
equals or exceeds the cutoff for their industry to the mail component
of the potential respondent universe. We estimate that the census mail
canvass for 1997 will include approximately 340,000 firms in this
category.
2. Small Single-Establishment Firms
Selection procedures will assign a sample of small single-
establishment firms having annualized payroll below the cutoff for
their industry to the mail component of the potential respondent
universe. Sampling strata and corresponding probabilities of selection
will be determined by a study of the potential respondent universe
conducted shortly before mail selection operations begin. We estimate
that the census mail canvass for 1997 will include approximately 32,000
firms in this category.
All remaining single-establishment firms with payroll will be
represented in the census by data from Federal administrative records.
Generally, we will not include these small employers in the census mail
canvass. However, administrative records sometimes have fundamental
deficiencies that make them unsuitable for use in producing detailed
industry statistics by geographic area. When we find such a deficiency,
we will mail the firm a census short form to collect basic information
needed to resolve the problem. We estimate that the census mail canvass
for 1997 will include approximately 198,000 firms in this category.
III. Data
This information collected from businesses in these sectors of the
economic census will produce basic statistics by kind of business for
number of establishments, revenue, payroll, and employment. It also
will yield a variety of subject statistics, including revenue by source
and other industry-specific measures. Primary strategies for reducing
burden in Census Bureau economic data collections are to reengineer
program methods and requirements, and to increase electronic reporting
through broader use of computerized self-administered census
questionnaires, electronic data interchange, and other electronic data
collection methods.
OMB Number: Not Available.
Form Number: The forms used to collect information from businesses
in these sectors of the economic census are tailored to specific
business practices and are too numerous to list separately in this
notice. You can obtain information on the proposed content of the forms
by calling Sidney O. Marcus III on (301) 457-2786.
Type of Review: Regular Review.
Affected Public: Businesses or Other for Profit Institution, Non-
Profit Institutions, Small Businesses or Organizations, and State or
Local Governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
Utilities (Standard form)--23,800
Utilities (Short form)--(none)
Transportation (Standard form)--131,900
Transportation (Short form)--10,500
Information (Standard form)--78,100
Information (Short form)--(none)
Finance and Insurance (Standard form)--156,300
Finance and Insurance (Short form)--75,800
Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Standard form)--154,500
Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Short form)--83,200
Estimated total number of respondents for these five sectors: 714,100
Estimated Time Per Response:
Utilities (Standard form)--1.8 hours
Utilities (Short form)--(none)
Transportation (Standard form)--1.1 hours
Transportation (Short form)--0.2 hours
Information (Standard form)--1.5 hours
Information (Short form)--(none)
Finance and Insurance (Standard form)--1.4 hours
Finance and Insurance (Short form)--0.3 hours
Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Standard form)--1.2 hours
Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Short form)--0.2 hours
Estimated Total Burden Hours:
Utilities (Standard form)--42,800
Utilities (Short form)--(none)
Transportation (Standard form)--145,100
Transportation (Short form)--2,100
Information (Standard form)--117,200
Information (Short form)--(none)
Finance and Insurance (Standard form)--218,800
Finance and Insurance (Short form)--22,700
Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Standard form)--185,400
Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Short form)--16,600
Estimated total burden hours for these five sectors: 750,700
Estimated Total Cost: The cost to the government for this work is
included in the total cost over five years of the 1997 Economic Census,
estimated to be $218 million.
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: March 13, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-6440 Filed 3-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
