[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 36349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17543]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
Cost Study for Single-Family Value-in-Place (VIP)
ACTION: 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 September 9,
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 Masato Asanuma, Bureau of the Census,
Manufacturing and Construction Division, Room 2136, FOB 4, Washington,
DC 20233-6900, (301) 457-1241.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Census Bureau produces a monthly data series on the value of
private single-family residential construction put in place. Estimates
for the series are derived from the Bureau's Survey of Construction
(SOC) by using a mathematical model and construction progress patterns.
The application of the mathematical model requires us to subtract out
nonconstruction costs from sales price or contract value that we
collect for the SOC and add construction costs not normally included in
the contract value. The factors representing these corrections to the
cost need to be updated in order to bring them up to date with today's
housing market and recent innovations in construction. The factors
currently in use were derived from two studies conducted in the early
1980's. The Census Bureau will conduct a special one-time study to re-
estimate these factors based on current single-family construction
data.
II. Method of Collection
A subset of the SOC respondents for single-family housing
completions will be asked to provide the Census Bureau with up to nine
construction cost items. The sample will be drawn from the single
family units in the SOC that have been completed. The sample of 7,600
SOC respondents will be spread over a period of 13 months. The study is
a mailout/mailback survey with telephone followups for nonresponse and
data review. The respondents will be initially contacted within two
months of the reported completion of the SOC.
III. Data
OMB Number: Not available.
Form Number: C-702(S) and C-702(C).
Type of Review: Regular.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,600.
Estimated Time Per Response: 12 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,520.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $12,000.
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: July 3, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-17543 Filed 7-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
