[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 13309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6959]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    DOC has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance the following proposal for collection of information under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: 2002 Economic Census of Puerto Rico and Outlying Areas.
    Form Number(s): OA-97120, OA-97220, OA-97123, OA-97223, OA-97130, 
OA-97230, OA-97142, OA-97242,OA-97144, OA-97244, OA-97152, OA-97252, 
OA-97172, OA-97272, OA-97180, OA-97280, OA-97190, OA-97290, OA-98163, 
OA-98173, OA-98183, OA-98193.
    Agency Approval Number: None.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Burden: 55,750 hours in FY 2003.
    Number of Respondents: 61,500.
    Avg Hours Per Response: 55 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau plans to conduct the 2002 
Economic Census of Puerto Rico and Island Areas, which in addition to 
Puerto Rico, includes Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, as part of the 
2002 Economic Census.
    The 2002 Economic Census of Puerto Rico and Island Areas will cover 
the following sectors (as defined by the North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS)): Mining, Utilities, Construction, 
Manufacturing; Wholesale and Retail Trades, Transportation and 
Warehousing, Information; Finance and Insurance; Real Estate and Rental 
and Leasing; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; 
Management of Companies and Enterprises; Administrative and Support, 
Waste Management and Remediation Services; Educational Services; Health 
Care and Social Assistance; Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation; 
Accommodation and Food Services; and Other Services (except Public 
Administration). This scope is equivalent to that of the stateside 
economic census.
    The economic census provides the only source for dependable, 
comparable data at a geographic level consistent with U.S. counties. 
The 2002 Economic Census of Puerto Rico and Island Areas is 
particularly important because of the rapid and varied changes taking 
place in the economies of these areas. The economic census is the 
primary source of dependable facts about the structure and functioning 
of the economies of Puerto Rico and each of the Island Areas, and 
features the only recognized source of data at a geographic level 
equivalent to U.S. counties. Economic census statistics serve as part 
of the framework for the national accounts of Puerto Rico and the 
Island Areas and provide essential information for government (Federal 
and local), business, and the general public. The governments of Puerto 
Rico and the Island Areas rely on the economic census as an important 
part of the framework for the their income and product accounts, input-
output tables, economic indexes, and other composite measures that 
serve as the factual basis for economic policy-making, planning, and 
program administration. Further, the census provides benchmarks for 
surveys of business which track short-term economic trends, serve as 
economic indicators, and contribute critical source data for current 
estimates of the gross product of Puerto Rico and the Island Areas. In 
addition, industry, business, academia, and the general public use 
information from the economic census for evaluating markets, preparing 
business plans, making business decisions, developing economic models 
and forecasts, conducting economic research, and establishing 
benchmarks for their own sample surveys.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; Individuals or 
households; State, local, or tribal government.
    Frequency: One time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 131 and 224.
    OMB Desk Officer: Susan Schechter, (202) 395-5103.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Madeleine Clayton, Departmental Paperwork 
Clearance Officer, (202)482-3129, Department of Commerce, room 6608, 
14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the 
Internet at [email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Susan Schechter, OMB Desk Officer, room 10201, New Executive Office 
Building, Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: March 19, 2002.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-6959 Filed 3-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P