[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]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Cost Study for Single-Family Value-in-Place (VIP)

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 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