[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7488-7489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3562]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions

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)).

DATE: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 17, 2000.

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 (or via 
the Internet at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to G. Daniel Sansbury, Census Bureau, Room 2105, FOB 
4, Washington, DC 20233-6900, (301) 457-1321.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau conducts the Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and 
Completions, also known as the Survey of Construction (SOC), to collect 
monthly data on new residential construction from a sample of owners or 
builders. The Census Bureau uses the Computer Assisted Personal 
Interviewing (CAPI) electronic questionnaires SOC-QI/SF.1 and SOC-QI/
MF.1 to collect data on starts and completions dates of construction, 
physical characteristics of the structure (floor area, number of 
bathrooms, type of heating system, etc.), and if

[[Page 7489]]

applicable, date of sale, sales price, and type of financing. The SOC 
program provides widely used measures of construction activity, 
including the economic indicators Housing Starts, Housing Completions, 
and New Home Sales. We plan to request a three year extension of the 
expiration date with no changes to forms SOC-QI/SF.1 and SOC-QI/MF.1.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau uses its field representatives to collect the 
data. The field representatives conduct interviews to obtain data.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0110.
    Form Number: SOC-QI/SF.1 and SOC-QI/MF.1.
    Type of Review: Regular Review.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, business or other for-
profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,667.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1.08.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9,395.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The estimated cost to the respondent 
is $222,560 based on the average hourly pay for respondent to be 
$23.69.\*\
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    \*\ Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
Occupational Employment Statistics Survey for 1997.
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    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: February 8, 2000.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-3562 Filed 2-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P