[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 76 (Monday, April 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19497-19498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9678]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Survey of Residential Alterations and Repairs

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 June 20, 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 Tamara Cole, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2123, 
Building 4, Washington, DC 20233-1912, (301) 763-4665 (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 Census Bureau conducts 
surveys to estimate expenditures for residential improvement, including 
alterations and repairs. This segment of the economy amounted to more 
than $157 billion in 2001. Work done to rental or vacant residential 
properties is collected on the Survey of Residential Alterations and 
Repairs (SORAR) report form. The Consumer Expenditures Survey collects 
data for improvement and repairs to owner-occupied residential 
properties.
    The Census Bureau publishes estimates from these two sources in the 
C50 Series, Expenditures for Residential Improvements and Repairs. 
These estimates are used by a variety of private businesses and trade 
associations for marketing studies, economic forecasts, and assessments 
of the remodeling and construction industries. They also help 
governments evaluate economic policy. For example, the Bureau of 
Economic Analysis uses these statistics to develop the structures 
component of gross private domestic investment in the national income 
and product accounts.
    In an effort to make our data dissemination more timely, the survey 
will begin monthly data collection for the January 2004 survey month. 
Currently the survey is conducted quarterly. At the same time, to 
improve the scope of the survey, we will begin to collect expenditures 
for wall-to-wall carpeting and kitchen appliances. To reduce some of 
the respondent burden, we expect to decrease the number of improvement 
queries on the monthly form. For example, siding work done as an 
``alteration'' and siding work done as a ``major replacement'' may be 
combined into one siding improvement category.

II. Method of Collection

    The universe for this survey is the owners or designated 
representatives of the more than 40 million rental and vacant housing 
units in the United States. A sample of these owners, as identified in 
the Consumer Expenditure Survey, is mailed the SORAR-705 form. They are 
asked to report detailed alterations, improvement, and repair 
expenditures for their entire property.
    When the survey begins monthly data collection, approximately 2,800 
owners will be sampled each month. The sample design uses a rotation 
procedure which will bring one-twelfth of the sample (about 230 
properties) into the survey each month and, conversely, take one-
twelfth out each month. The data collected will continue to be adjusted 
for unreturned or unusable forms by region and metropolitan statistical 
area (MSA). The weights are adjusted so that sample counts of renter 
occupied and vacant housing units agree with independently derived 
controls from the Current Population Survey.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0130.
    Form Number: SORAR-705.
    Type of Review: Regular Review.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, Businesses or Other for 
Profit, and State or Local Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,800.
    Estimated Time Per Response: .25 hours per month.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,400.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the respondents is 
estimated to be $84,000.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, U.S.C. 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

[[Page 19498]]

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: April 15, 2003.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-9678 Filed 4-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P