[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 193 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51675-51676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25310]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Questionnaire for Building Permit Official

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 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 instructions 
should be directed to Linda P. Hoyle, Bureau of the Census, 
Manufacturing and Construction Division, Room 2105, FOB 4, Washington, 
DC 20233-6900, (301) 457-1321.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Bureau of the Census uses Form SOC-903 to collect information 
from state and local building permit officials, such as (1) the types 
of permits they issue, (2) the length of time a permit is valid, (3) 
how they store the permits, and (4) the geographic coverage of the 
permit system. We need this information to carry out the sampling for 
the Survey of Housing Starts, Sales and Completions, also known as the 
Survey of Construction (SOC). The SOC provides widely used measures of 
construction activity, including the economic indicators Housing 
Starts, Housing Completions, and New Housing Sales.
    In July 1997, we will use an electronic form to collect all SOC-903 
data. We have been experimenting with Computer Assisted Personal 
Interviewing (CAPI) and have been using this technology on a test basis 
since November 1995. Currently, interviewers use a paper form to record 
respondents' answers. We have improved the CAPI instrument over the 
paper form based on a reassessment of our data capture needs and 
efforts to minimize burden. For example, we have deleted some items 
that are no longer used, added others that enhance the conduct of the 
SOC, and improve the flow of questions and overall survey 
administration.

[[Page 51676]]

II. Method of Collection

    The Bureau of the Census uses its field representatives to obtain 
information on the operating procedures of a permit office. The field 
representative visits the permit office, conducts the interview, and 
completes the paper form. The Bureau of the Census will change to CAPI 
for all data collection in July 1997. There will be no change in the 
burden hours.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0125.
    Form Number: SOC-903.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: State and Local Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 835.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 209 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The total cost in FY 1996 of the 
Survey of Construction program, of which this questionnaire is a part, 
is $3,686,200. Of this amount, $1,765,000 is borne by the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, and $1,921,200 is borne by the Bureau of 
the Census. The cost to the respondents is estimated to be $3,066 based 
on an average hourly salary of $14.67 \1\ for state and local 
government employees.
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    \1\ Taken from the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of State and 
Local Government Employment.
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    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 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: September 27, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-25310 Filed 10-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P