[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 198 (Tuesday, October 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 53287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27136]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Survey of Building and Zoning Permit Systems

ACTION: Proposed collection; 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 November 28, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
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 Hoyle, Manufacturing and Construction 
Division, Bureau of the Census, Room 2105-FOB 4, Washington, DC 20233-
6900, phone number (301) 457-1321.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Bureau of the Census produces statistics used to monitor 
activity in the large and dynamic construction industry. These 
statistics help state and local governments and the Federal Government, 
as well as private industry, to analyze this important sector of the 
economy. The accuracy of the Census Bureau statistics regarding the 
amount of construction authorized depends on data supplied by building 
and zoning officials throughout the country.
    The Bureau of the Census uses Form C-411 to obtain information from 
state and local building permit officials needed for updating the 
universe of permit-issuing places. The questions pertain to the legal 
requirements for issuing building or zoning permits in the local 
jurisdictions. Information is obtained on such items as geographic 
coverage and types of construction for which permits are issued.
    The universe of permit-issuing places is the sampling frame for the 
Building Permits Survey (BPS) and the Survey of Construction. These two 
sample surveys provide widely used measures of construction activity, 
including the economic indicators, Housing Units Authorized by Building 
Permits and Housing Starts.
    We made the following changes to the form:
    a. We deleted two questions:
    (1) ``What kind of permits does your office issue?'' and
    (2) ``When did your government first begin issuing permits?''
    The first question asked for the same information as another 
question. We no longer need the information requested in the second 
question.
    b. We added two questions:
    (1) ``If the jurisdiction listed in Section A.1 is a county, does 
your office issue permits for portions of jurisdictions located in 
other counties?'' and
    (2) ``If the jurisdiction listed in Section A.1 is a city, town, 
village, borough or township, is it in more than one county?''
    We need the above information to ensure that we update our universe 
of permit-issuing places correctly for these types of places.
    We will request information about permits issued for new 
residential nonhousekeeping; new nonresidential building; additions, 
alterations, and conversions; and demolitions and razing of buildings 
only through a reimbursable agreement. If we do not get that agreement, 
we will only collect information about permits issued for new 
residential buildings.

II. Method of Collection

    The form is sent to a jurisdiction when the Census Bureau has 
reason to believe that a new permit system has been established or an 
existing one has changed, based on information from a variety of 
sources including survey respondents, regional councils and Census' 
Geography Division which keeps abreast of changes in corporate status. 
Responses typically approach 100 percent.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0350.
    Form Number: C-411.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and Local Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,000 per year.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 500 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the respondents is 
estimated to be $7,325 based on an average hourly salary of $14.65 \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 USC 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: October 8, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-27136 Filed 10-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P