[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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
Survey of Building and Zoning Permit Systems
ACTION: Proposed collection; 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 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Taken from the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of State and
Local Government Employment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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