[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 51402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25140]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Business and Professional Classification Report

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 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 December 2, 
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 instruction(s) 
should be directed to Carl A. Konschnik, Bureau of the Census, Room 
2651-FOB 3, Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301) 457-2675.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Abstract

    The Bureau of the Census uses Form B-625, ``Business and 
Professional Classification Report,'' to collect information needed to 
keep the retail, wholesale, and service samples current with the 
business universe. Because of rapid changes in the marketplace caused 
by the emergence of new businesses, the death of others, transfer of 
ownership, mergers, and so forth, four times a year the Bureau of the 
Census canvasses a different sample of new Employer Identification 
Numbers (EINs) obtained from the Internal Revenue Service and the 
Social Security Administration. The completed Form B-625, ``Business 
and Professional Classification Report,'' provides us with sales, 
receipts or revenue, company organization, new or refined Standard 
Industrial Classification (SIC), and other key information needed for 
sampling to maintain proper coverage of the universe. Based on the 
collected information, EINs meeting the criteria for inclusion in the 
Bureau's retail, wholesale or service surveys are subjected to a second 
sampling. The retail and wholesale EINs selected in this second 
sampling are placed on a panel to report in our surveys on a monthly 
basis. The selected service cases are also placed on a panel but report 
only annually. We are considering revisions to Form B-625 to reflect 
changing survey conditions. For example, we may drop the request for a 
list of individual business locations associated with the EIN. We may 
also make revisions to enable classification coding under the new North 
American Industry Classification System.

II. Method of Collection

    We collect this information by mail, FAX, and by phone for mail 
nonresponse.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0189.
    Form Number: B-625.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations, not-
for-profit institutions, Federal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 42,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 13 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 9,101 hours.
    Estimated Total Cost: The total cost in fiscal year 1996 for the 
Business and Professional Classification Report is $785,000, all funded 
by the Bureau of Census.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., 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 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 the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: September 25, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-25140 Filed 10-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P