[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Business and Professional Classification Report 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 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