[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 136 (Monday, July 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36998-36999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17638]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; 2002 Economic Census Covering 
the Construction 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 September 14, 
2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Paperwork 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 Patricia L. Horning, U.S. Census Bureau, 
Manufacturing and Construction Division, (301) 457-4680, Room 2229, 
Building #4, Washington, DC 20233 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).

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 economic census, 
conducted under authority of Title 13, United States Code, is the 
primary source of facts about the structure and functioning of the 
Nation's economy and features unique industry and geographic detail. 
Economic census statistics serve as part of the framework for the 
national accounts and provide essential information for government, 
business and the general public. The 2002 Economic Census Covering the 
Construction Sector (as defined by the North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) is a sample survey that will measure the 
economic activity of almost 700,000 establishments engaged in building 
construction and land subdivision and land development, heavy 
construction (except buildings), such as highways, power plants, 
pipelines; and construction activity by special trade contractors.
    The information collected from businesses in this sector of the 
economic census will produce basic statistics by industry for number of 
establishments, value of construction work, payroll, employment, 
selected costs, depreciable assets, inventories, and capital 
expenditures. It also will yield a variety of subject statistics, 
including estimates of type of construction work done, kind of business 
activity, size of establishments 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

    The construction industry sector of the economic census will select 
establishments for its mail canvass from a frame given by 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 construction industry sector; (ii) it must 
be an active operating establishment of a multi-establishment firm, or 
it must be a single-establishment firm with payroll; 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:

A. Establishments of Multi-Establishment Firms

    Selection procedures will assign all active construction 
establishments of multi-establishment firms to the mail component of 
the potential respondent universe. We estimate that the mail canvass 
for the 2002 construction sector will include approximately 11,000 
establishments of multi-establishments firms.

[[Page 36999]]

B. Single-Establishment Firms with Payroll

    As an initial step in the selection process, we will conduct a 
study of the potential respondent universe for construction industries. 
The entire set of eligible single-establishment firms will be 
considered for inclusion in the mail canvass. Sampling strata and 
corresponding probabilities of selection will be determined by this 
study conducted shortly before mail selection operations begin.
    One of the primary goals is to produce reliable State level 
estimates for each NAICS industry. We will use a stratified random 
sample strategy for selecting the sample of single-establishments 
firms. The population of eligible single-establishment firms will be 
partitioned into State by NAICS groupings. Within each group, we will 
further sub-divide the population into a minimum of two strata based on 
the annualized payroll of the firms within these groupings. Independent 
random samples will be selected for each stratum. The total sample size 
for each State by NAICS cell will be determined based on the 
reliability constraint for the cell and any additional U.S. level 
reliability constraints for the industry. The impact of the multi-
establishment firms in producing the estimates will be factored into 
determining the sample sizes for the single-establishment firms. We 
estimate that the census mail canvass 2002 will include approximately 
159,000 establishments.
    There is some uncertainty associated with the new 2002 NAICS 
classification for the construction sector on the Census Bureau's 
Business Register. The number of single-establishment firms selected in 
the sample is dependent upon conducting the Census Bureau's 
classification refile operation in 2001 (see Federal Register Notice 
dated January 30, 2001, 2002 Economic Census Construction Refile 
Survey). The refile operation will significantly increase the accuracy 
of the 2002 NAICS classification of construction firms on the Business 
Register. When the refile operation is conducted, the number of single-
establishment construction firms included in the mail canvass needed to 
produce reliable estimates for the 2002 Economic Census on a State by 
NAICS basis will be reduced from the estimated 159,000 to approximately 
119,000.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not available.
    Form Number: The 13 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. You can obtain information on the proposed content of the 
forms by calling Patricia L. Horning on (301) 457-4680 (or via the 
Internet at [email protected]).
    Type of Review: Regular review.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for profit, non-profit 
institutions or organizations, and State or Local Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 170,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2.4 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 408,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $6,250,560.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, 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: July 10, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-17638 Filed 7-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P