2013-06969. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.

Title: Construction Progress Reporting Surveys.

OMB Control Number: 0607-0153.

Form Number(s): C-700, C-700(F), C-700(SL), C-700(R).

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Burden Hours: 54,600.

Number of Respondents: 21,000.

Average Hours per Response: 15 minutes per month.

Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau is requesting an extension of a currently approved collection for forms C-700, Private Construction Projects; C-700 (R), Multi-family Residential Projects, C-700 (SL), State and Local Governments Projects and C-700 (F), Federal Government Projects.

These forms are used to conduct the Construction Progress Reporting Surveys (CPRS) to collect information on the dollar value of construction put in place on building projects under construction by private companies or individuals, private multi-family residential buildings, and on building projects under construction by federal and state and local governments.

Data for these surveys are collected on a sample basis from federal, state and local agency officials, owners of private nonresidential projects, and owners of private multi-family residential building projects. Total projected cost estimates are requested the first month and monthly progress reports are requested until the project is completed.

The Census Bureau uses the information collected on these forms to publish estimates of the monthly value of construction put in place: (1) For nonresidential projects owned by private companies or individuals; (2) for projects owned by state and local agencies; (3) for multi-family residential building projects owned by private companies or individuals; and (4) for projects owned by the federal government. Statistics from the CPRS become part of the monthly “Value of Construction Put in Place” or “Construction Spending” series, a principal economic indicator that is used extensively by the Federal Government in making policy decisions and used to estimate the gross domestic product (GDP). The private sector uses the statistics for market analysis and other research. Construction now accounts for more than five percent of GDP.

The C-700 is used to collect data on industrial and manufacturing plants, office buildings, retail buildings, service establishments, religious buildings, schools, universities, hospitals, clinics, and miscellaneous buildings. The C-700 (SL) is used to collect data on public schools, courthouses, prisons, hospitals, civic centers, highways, bridges, sewer systems, and water systems. The C-700 (R) is used to collect data on residential buildings and apartment projects with two or more housing units. The C-700 (F) is used to collect data on residential buildings and nonresidential projects that include office buildings, conservation and development, public safety and health care. Published statistics are used by all levels of government to evaluate economic policy, to measure progress toward national goals, to make policy decisions, and to formulate legislation. For example, Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) staff uses the data to develop the construction components of gross private domestic investment in the gross domestic product. The Federal Reserve Board and the Department of the 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. Private businesses and trade organizations use the data for estimating the demand for building materials and to schedule production, distribution and sales efforts.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit Institutions; Federal Government; State, local or Tribal Governments.

Frequency: Monthly until building project is completed.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 182.

OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, [phone].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax [phone]) or email ([e-mail]).

Dated: March 21, 2013.

Glenna Mickelson,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.