[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8191-8192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2515]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


2002 Economic Census Covering the Wholesale Trade Sector

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 April 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via 
the Internet at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

[[Page 8192]]

copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Donna Hambric, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2682, 
Building 3, Washington DC 20233-0001 (301-457-2725 or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The economic census, conducted under authority of Title 13, United 
States Code (USC), is the primary source of facts about the structure 
and functioning of the Nation's economy. Economic statistics serve as 
part of the framework for the national accounts and provide essential 
information for government, business, and the general public. Economic 
data are the Census Bureau's primary program commitment during 
nondecennial census years. The 2002 Economic Census covering the 
wholesale trade sector (as defined by the North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS)) will measure the economic activity of 
more than 480,000 establishments. The information collected will 
produce basic statistics by kind of business on the number of 
establishments, sales, payroll, and employment. It will also yield a 
variety of subject statistics, including sales by commodity line, sales 
by class of customer, and other industry-specific measures. Primary 
strategies for reducing burden in Census Bureau economic data 
collections are to increase electronic reporting through broader use of 
computerized self-administered census questionnaires, on-line 
questionnaires, spreadsheet reporting, and other electronic data 
collection methods.

II. Method of Collection

Mail Selection Procedures

    The wholesale trade sector of the economic census will select 
establishments for its mail canvass from the Census Bureau's Business 
Register. To be eligible for selection, an establishment will be 
required to satisfy the following conditions: (i) it must be classified 
in the wholesale trade sector; (ii) it must be an active operating 
establishment of a multi-establishment firm (i.e., a firm that operates 
at more than one physical location), or it must be a single-
establishment firm with payroll (i.e., a firm operating at only one 
physical location); and (iii) it must be located in one of the 50 
states or the District of Columbia. Mail selection procedures will 
distinguish the following groups of establishments:
1. Establishments of Multi-Establishment Firms
    Selection procedures will assign all active operating 
establishments of multi-establishment firms to the mail component of 
the potential respondent universe. We estimate that the 2002 Economic 
Census mail canvass for the wholesale trade sector will include 
approximately 124,800 establishments of multi-establishment firms.
2. Single-Establishment Firms With Payroll
    Selection procedures will assign all single-establishment firms 
having annualized payroll (from Federal administrative records) to the 
mail component of the potential respondent universe. We estimate that 
the 2002 Economic Census mail canvass for the wholesale trade sector 
will include approximately 355,200 establishments of single-
establishment firms.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not available.
    Form Number: The 40 standard forms used to collect information from 
businesses in this sector of the Economic Census are tailored to 
specific business practices and are too numerous to list separately in 
this notice. Requests for information on the proposed content of the 
forms should be directed to Donna Hambric, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 
2682, Building 3, Washington DC 20233-0001 (301-457-2725 or via the 
Internet at [email protected]).
    Type of Review: Regular review.
    Affected Public: State or local governments, businesses, or other 
for profit or non-profit institutions or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 480,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1.50 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 720,000 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $11,030,400.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, U.S.C., 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 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: January 22, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-2515 Filed 1-29-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P