[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 137 (Monday, July 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38624-38625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18264]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Quarterly Survey of Residential Alterations and Repairs
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)).
[[Page 38625]]
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 17,
1999.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
5033, 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., U.S. Census Bureau, Room
2126 Building 4, Washington, DC 20233-6916 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
this survey which allows us to prepare estimates of the expenditures
for residential improvement and repairs. This segment of the
construction industry amounted to over $120 billion in 1998. A portion
of these data are collected on form SORAR-705, which is mailed
quarterly to owners of rental or vacant residential properties. Since
residential improvement and repairs are a large and growing economic
activity, any measure of the construction industry is incomplete
without inclusion of these data.
The Census Bureau uses the information to publish improvement and
repair expenditures for rental or vacant properties. Data on
improvement and repairs to owner-occupied properties are collected in
the Consumer Expenditures Survey. Combined published estimates are used
by a variety of private businesses and trade associations for marketing
studies, economic forecasts and assessments of the construction
industry. They also provide all levels of government with a tool to
evaluate economic policy and measure progress towards established
goals. For example, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) uses the
improvement statistics to develop the structures component of gross
private domestic investment in the national income and product
accounts.
II. Method of Collection
The universe for this survey are the owners or designated
representatives of the more than 40 million rental and vacant units in
the United States. A sample of these owners--i.e., those identified in
the Consumer Expenditures Survey--is mailed a questionnaire to report
detailed improvement and repair expenditures for their entire property.
Approximately 2,800 owners are queried each quarter.
The sample design uses a rotation procedure which brings one-fourth
of the sample (approximately 700 properties) into the survey each
quarter and takes one-fourth out of the survey each quarter. The data
collected are adjusted for unreturned or unusable forms by region and
metropolitan statistical area (MSA) status. The weights are adjusted so
that sample counts of renter occupied and vacant housing units agree
with independently derived controls from the Current Population Survey.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0607-0130.
Form Number: SORAR-705.
Type of Review: Regular Review.
Affected Public: Individuals or Households, Businesses or Other
For-Profit Organizations, and State, Local or Tribal Governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,800 per quarter.
Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,800.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: The only cost to respondents is that
of their time.
Respondent's Obligation: 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: July 12, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-18264 Filed 7-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
