[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17873-17874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9982]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
1997 Economic Census Covering Trucks, Automobiles, and Buses;
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activity, Comment Request
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 June 24, 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 Robert Crowther, Bureau of the Census, Room 2754,
Building 3, Washington, DC 20233, (301) 457-2797.
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 economic census,
conducted 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.
The 1997 Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey, a component of the
Economic Census, will produce basic statistics on the physical and
operational characteristics of the nation's trucks, automobiles, and
buses. It also will yield a variety of subject statistics, including
vehicles by annual miles, major use, fuel type, miles per gallon, and
products carried. The Census Bureau will publish truck estimates at the
state and national level, and automobile and bus estimates at the
national level.
Primary strategies for reducing burden in the Vehicle Inventory and
Use Survey data collections include employing a stratified random
sample to use the least number of sampling units required to produce
reliable statistics, separate vehicle-type specific questionnaires,
check boxes with ranges in lieu of specific responses, accepting
estimates, and utilizing a short form for light trucks with homogeneous
characteristics.
II. Method of Collection
The Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey will survey a sample of
private and commercial trucks, automobiles, and buses registered in the
50 States and the District of Columbia. Government vehicles will not be
sampled. Trucks will be divided into 5 different groups: ``pick-up,''
``van,'' ``single-unit light,'' ``single-unit heavy,'' and ``truck
tractors.'' Automobiles will be divided into 2 different groups:
``station wagon'' and ``other automobiles.'' Buses will be divided into
4 different groups: ``buses,'' ``transit buses,'' ``school buses,'' and
``large van-type buses.'' All vehicles will be selected at random with
equal probabilities of selection within a group. For each selected
vehicle, a questionnaire will be mailed to the owner identified in the
vehicle registration records. The owner will be asked to respond only
for the vehicle identified by the registration information imprinted on
the questionnaires, regardless of whether or not he still owns the
vehicle.
Mail selection procedures will distinguish the following groups of
vehicles:
A. Light Trucks
A sample of ``pickups'' and ``vans'' (including panel trucks,
minivans, sport utility vehicles, and station wagons built on truck
chassis) will be selected. We estimate that the census mail canvass for
1997 will include
[[Page 17874]]
approximately 35,000 light trucks of the estimated over 55 million
privately and commercially registered light trucks.
B. Medium and Heavy Trucks
Selection procedures will assign all single-unit trucks (excluding
those in the pickup and van strata) with a gross vehicle weight (GVW)
of 26,000 pounds or less to the ``single-unit light'' stratum, the
remaining single unit trucks to the ``single-unit heavy'' stratum, and
truck tractors to the ``truck tractor'' stratum. We estimate that the
census mail canvass for 1997 will include approximately 93,000 medium
and heavy trucks of the estimated over 4 million privately and
commercially registered medium and heavy trucks.
C. Automobiles
Selection procedures will assign automobiles to either the
``station wagon'' or ``other automobiles'' strata based on the
vehicle's identification number (VIN). We estimate that the census mail
canvass for 1997 will include approximately 3,100 automobiles of the
estimated over 132 million automobiles.
D. Buses
Selection procedures will assign all non-government buses to one of
the following groups: ``intercity buses'' consisting of tour/charter
buses, ``transit buses'' consisting of public transportation buses,
``school buses'' consisting of privately-owned school buses, and
``large van-type buses'' consisting of all remaining buses. We estimate
that the census mail canvass for 1997 will include approximately 710 of
the estimated over 250,000 non-government buses.
III. Data
OMB Number: Not Available.
Form Number:
TC-9501: Light Trucks
TC-9502: Medium and Heavy Trucks
TC-9503: Automobiles
TC-9504: Buses
Type of Review: Regular Review.
Affected Public: Individuals, Farms, Businesses and Other For-profit,
Non-profit Institutions, Small Businesses or Organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
TC-9501: (Light Trucks): 35,190
TC-9502: (Medium and Heavy Trucks): 92,797
TC-9503: (Automobiles): 3,100
TC-9504: (Buses): 710
Total Number of Respondents--131,797
Estimated Time Per Response:
TC-9501: (Light Trucks): .5 hours
TC-9502: (Medium and Heavy Trucks): .83 hours
TC-9503: (Automobiles): .5 hours
TC-9504: (Buses): .83 hours
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:
TC-9501: (Light Trucks): 17,595
TC-9502: (Medium and Heavy Trucks): 77,022
TC-9503: (Automobiles): 1,550
TC-9504: (Buses): 589
Total Annual Burden Hours--96,756
Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the government for this work
is included in the total cost 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: April 18, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-9982 Filed 4-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
