[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