[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 70044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29377]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Questionnaire for Building Permit Official

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 January 21, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 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 Erica Filipek, Census Bureau, Room 2105, FOB 4, 
Washington, DC 20233-6900, (301) 763-5161.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau uses the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing 
(CAPI) electronic questionnaire SOC-QBPO to collect information from 
state and local building permit officials, such as (1) the types of 
permits they issue, (2) the length of time a permit is valid, (3) how 
they store permits, and (4) the geographic coverage of the permit 
system. We need this information to carry out the sampling for the 
Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions (OMB number 0607-
0110), also known as Survey of Construction (SOC). The SOC provides 
widely used measures of construction activity, including the economic 
indicators Housing Starts, Housing Completions, and New Housing Sales.
    We plan no changes to the information collection methodology. In 
addition, there are no plans to change the sample size.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau uses its field representatives to obtain 
information on the operating procedures of a permit office. The field 
representative visits the permit office, conducts the interview, and 
completes the electronic form.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0125.
    Form Number: SOC-QBPO.
    Type of Review: Regular review.
    Affected Public: State and local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 900.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 225 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The estimated cost to the respondent 
is $4,230 based on an average hourly salary of $18.80 for state and 
local government employees. This estimate was taken from the Census 
Bureau's Annual Survey of State and Local Government Employment, 2001.
    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: November 14, 2002.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-29377 Filed 11-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P