[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9289-9291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3171]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


2002 Economic Census Covering the Utilities, Transportation and 
Warehousing, Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and 
Leasing Sectors

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)).

[[Page 9290]]


DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 9, 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 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Steven Roman, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2665, 
Building 3, Washington DC 20233-0001 (301-457-2824 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 
Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, Finance and Insurance, and 
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors (as defined by the North 
American Industry Classification System (NAICS)) will measure the 
economic activity of more than 987,000 establishments. However, 
approximately fifteen percent of establishments will not be required to 
file separate reports because they will be included in consolidated 
company reports; for explanation see selection procedure for 
establishments of multi-establishment firms below. The information 
collected will produce basic statistics by kind of business on the 
number of establishments, revenue, payroll, and employment. It will 
also yield a variety of subject statistics, including revenue lines by 
kind of business, 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, and other electronic data collection methods.

II. Method of Collection

A. Mail Selection Procedures

    The Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, Finance and 
Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors of the 
economic census will select establishments for their mail canvasses 
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 one of the Utilities, 
Transportation and Warehousing, Finance and Insurance, or Real Estate 
and Rental and Leasing sectors; (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 eligible establishments of 
multi-establishment firms to the mail component of the potential 
respondent universe, except for those in selected industries in 
utilities, and finance and insurance. In these selected industries, 
where revenue and certain other operating data are not easily 
attributable to individual establishments, division- or firm-level 
organizations are asked to report kind of activity, payroll, and 
employment for several establishments, and other required data at a 
more aggregate level on a consolidated report form.
    We estimate that the census mail canvass for 2002 will include 
approximately 215,400 establishment and consolidated reports for multi-
establishment firms in these sectors.
2. Single-Establishment Firms With Payroll
    As an initial step in the selection process, we will conduct a 
study of the potential respondent universe. This study will produce a 
set of industry-specific payroll cutoffs that we will use to 
distinguish large versus small single-establishment firms within each 
industry or kind of business. This payroll size distinction will affect 
selection as follows:
    (a) Large Single-Establishment Firms. Selection procedures will 
assign single-establishment firms having annualized payroll (from 
Federal administrative records) that equals or exceeds the cutoff for 
their industry to the mail component of the potential respondent 
universe. We estimate that the 2002 Economic Census mail canvasses for 
Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, Finance and Insurance, and 
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors will include approximately 
400,300 large single-establishment firms.
    (b) Small Single-Establishment Firms. Selection procedures will 
assign a sample of single-establishment firms having annualized payroll 
below the cutoff for their industry to the mail component of the 
potential respondent universe. Sampling strata and corresponding 
probabilities of selection will be determined by a study of the 
potential respondent universe conducted shortly before mail selection 
operations begin. We estimate that the 2002 Economic Census mail 
canvasses for the Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, Finance 
and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors will 
include approximately 37,000 small single-establishment firms selected 
in this sample.
    All remaining single-establishment firms with payroll will be 
represented in the census by data from Federal administrative records. 
Generally, we will not include these small employers in the census mail 
canvasses. However, administrative records sometimes have fundamental 
industry classification deficiencies that make them unsuitable for use 
in producing detailed industry statistics by geographic area. When we 
find such a deficiency, we will mail the firm a census classification 
form. We estimate that the 2002 Economic Census mail canvasses for 
Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, Finance and Insurance, and 
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors will include approximately 
227,000 small single-establishment firms that receive these forms.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not available.
    Form Number: The 30 standard and five classification forms used to 
collect information from businesses in these sectors 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 Steven Roman, U.S. 
Census Bureau, Room 2665, Building 3, Washington DC 20233-0001 (301-
457-2824 or via the Internet at [email protected]).
    Type of Review: Regular review.

[[Page 9291]]

    Affected Public: State or local governments, businesses, or other 
for profit or non-profit institutions or organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents

Utilities (Standard form)--7,700
Utilities (Short form)--(none)

Transportation (Standard form)--168,000
Transportation (Short form)--51,000

Finance and Insurance (Standard form)--240,000
Finance and Insurance (Short form)--83,000

Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Standard form)--237,000
Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Short form)--93,000

Estimated total number of respondents for these four sectors: 879,700

Estimated Time Per Response

Utilities (Standard form)--1.9 hours
Utilities (Short form)--(none)

Transportation (Standard form)--1.1 hours
Transportation (Short form)--0.2 hours

Finance and Insurance (Standard form)--1.4 hours
Finance and Insurance (Short form)--0.2 hours

Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Standard form)--1.1 hours
Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Short form)--0.2 hours

Estimated Total Burden Hours

Utilities (Standard form)--14,630
Utilities (Short form)--(none)

Transportation (Standard form)--184,800
Transportation (Short form)--10,200

Finance and Insurance (Standard form)--336,000
Finance and Insurance (Short form)--16,600

Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Standard form)--260,700
Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Short form)--18,600

Estimated total burden hours for these four sectors: 841,530

Estimated Total Annual Cost

Utilities (Standard form)--$266,266
Utilities (Short form)--(none)

Transportation (Standard form)--$3,363,360
Transportation (Short form)--$185,640

Finance and Insurance (Standard form)--$6,115,200
Finance and Insurance (Short form)--$302,120

Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Standard form)--$4,744,740
Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (Short form)--$338,520

    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: February 2, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-3171 Filed 2-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P