[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 137 (Monday, July 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38624-38625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18264]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Quarterly Survey of Residential Alterations and Repairs

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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).


[[Page 38625]]


DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 17, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5033, 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 George A. Roff, Jr., U.S. Census Bureau, Room 
2126 Building 4, Washington, DC 20233-6916 on (301) 457-1605.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau is the preeminent collector and provider of 
timely, relevant and quality data about the people and economy of the 
United States. Economic data are the Census Bureau's primary program 
commitment during nondecennial census years. The Census Bureau, under 
the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Section 182, conducts 
this survey which allows us to prepare estimates of the expenditures 
for residential improvement and repairs. This segment of the 
construction industry amounted to over $120 billion in 1998. A portion 
of these data are collected on form SORAR-705, which is mailed 
quarterly to owners of rental or vacant residential properties. Since 
residential improvement and repairs are a large and growing economic 
activity, any measure of the construction industry is incomplete 
without inclusion of these data.
    The Census Bureau uses the information to publish improvement and 
repair expenditures for rental or vacant properties. Data on 
improvement and repairs to owner-occupied properties are collected in 
the Consumer Expenditures Survey. Combined published estimates are used 
by a variety of private businesses and trade associations for marketing 
studies, economic forecasts and assessments of the construction 
industry. They also provide all levels of government with a tool to 
evaluate economic policy and measure progress towards established 
goals. For example, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) uses the 
improvement statistics to develop the structures component of gross 
private domestic investment in the national income and product 
accounts.

II. Method of Collection

    The universe for this survey are the owners or designated 
representatives of the more than 40 million rental and vacant units in 
the United States. A sample of these owners--i.e., those identified in 
the Consumer Expenditures Survey--is mailed a questionnaire to report 
detailed improvement and repair expenditures for their entire property. 
Approximately 2,800 owners are queried each quarter.
    The sample design uses a rotation procedure which brings one-fourth 
of the sample (approximately 700 properties) into the survey each 
quarter and takes one-fourth out of the survey each quarter. The data 
collected are adjusted for unreturned or unusable forms by region and 
metropolitan statistical area (MSA) status. The weights are adjusted so 
that sample counts of renter occupied and vacant housing units agree 
with independently derived controls from the Current Population Survey.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0130.
    Form Number: SORAR-705.
    Type of Review: Regular Review.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households, Businesses or Other 
For-Profit Organizations, and State, Local or Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,800 per quarter.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,800.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The only cost to respondents is that 
of their time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, 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: July 12, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-18264 Filed 7-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P