[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54763-54764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26991]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census


1997 Economic Censuses General Schedule

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)).


[[Page 54764]]


DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 23, 
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 D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information of 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to William Bostic, Bureau of the Census, Room 2641, 
Building 3, Washington, DC 20233-6100 and 301-457-2672 or E-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau is the preeminent collector of timely, relevant 
and quality data about the people and the economy of the United States. 
Economic data are the Census Bureau's primary program commitment during 
non-decennial census years. The economic census, conducted 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. The Census Bureau will implement the new North American 
Industry Classification System (NAICS) in the 1997 Economic Census. The 
implementation of the NAICS as a replacement for the 1987 Standard 
Industrial Classification (SIC) system will require contacting 
businesses to collect classification information to update the 1997 
Economic Census mailing lists.
    Accurate and reliable industry and geographic codes are critical to 
the Bureau of Census statistical programs. New businesses are assigned 
industry classification by the Social Security Administration (SSA). 
However, approximately 22 percent of these businesses cannot be 
assigned industry codes because insufficient information is provided on 
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form SS-4. Since the 1992 Economic 
Censuses, the number of unclassified businesses has grown to over 
500,000.
    In order to provide detailed industry data reflecting NAICS for the 
1997 Economic Censuses and the Standard Statistical Establishment List 
(SSEL), these unclassified businesses must be assigned industry codes. 
The Census Bureau has contracted with the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
(BLS) to receive classification information for unclassified 
businesses. However, differences in NAICS implementation schedules, 
coverage, and updating procedures between the two agencies and our 
further attempts to assign industry codes to these businesses based on 
their name will still leave some 300,000 unclassified businesses on the 
1997 Economic Censuses mail list. This data collection, Form NC-9923, 
is designed to obtain classification information for different types of 
industries including reflecting changes from the SIC to NAICS and 
provide current information on physical locations.
    The failure to collect this classification information will have an 
adverse effect on the quality and usefulness of economic statistics and 
severely hamper the Census Bureau's ability to implement NAICS in the 
1997 Economic Censuses.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will select establishments to receive this survey 
from the Census Bureau's SSEL. The Census Bureau will mail the NC-9923 
to establishments in order to collect classification information. The 
NC-9923 will contain a list of 6-digit codes and descriptions. 
Respondents are to select the activity which best describes their 
business by checking the box next to the activity listed or describe 
their principal business activity if no box can be checked.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not Available.
    Form Number: NC-9923.
    Type of Review: Regular Review.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for profit organizations, Non-
for-profit institutions, Small businesses or organizations, and State, 
local or tribal governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300,000.
    Estimated Total Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 25,000 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to government for this survey 
is included in the total cost of the 1997 Economic Census, estimated to 
be $218 million.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 USC, Sections 131 and 224.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's 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 will also 
become a matter of pubic record.

    Dated: October 16, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-26991 Filed 10-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P