[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 191 (Thursday, October 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56813-56814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24960]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Title: Report of Privately-Owned Residential Building or Zoning 
Permits Issued (Building Permits Survey)

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

[[Page 56814]]

take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 1, 
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 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request a three year extension of a 
currently approved collection of the Form C-404, Building Permits 
Survey. The Census Bureau produces statistics used to monitor activity 
in the large and dynamic construction industry. Given the importance of 
this industry, several of the statistical series are key economic 
indicators. Two such series are (a) Housing Units Authorized by 
Building Permits and (b) Housing Starts. Both are based on data from 
samples of permit-issuing places. These statistics help state and local 
governments and the Federal Government, as well as private industry, to 
analyze this important sector of the economy.
    The Census Bureau uses Form C-404 to collect data to provide 
estimates of the number and valuation of new residential housing units 
authorized by building permits. We use the data, a component of the 
index of leading economic indicators, to estimate the number of housing 
units started, completed, and sold, if single-family, and to select 
samples for the Census Bureau's demographic surveys. Policymakers, 
planners, businessmen/women, and others use the detailed geographic 
data collected from state and local officials on new residential 
construction authorized by building permits to monitor growth and plan 
for local services and to develop production and marketing plans. The 
Building Permits Survey is the only source of statistics on residential 
construction for states and smaller geographic areas. Building permits 
are public records so the information is not subject to disclosure 
restrictions.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau collects this information by mail and 
electronically through files we download or receive on diskettes or via 
e-mail.
    Monthly, we currently collect this information by mail for about 
8,170 permit-issuing jurisdictions and electronically for 550 
jurisdictions. Annually, we collect this information by mail for about 
10,180 jurisdictions. The universe for the survey will be updated in 
January 2004 from about 18,900 jurisdictions to 19,600 jurisdictions. A 
new monthly sample will also be introduced. Monthly data for 2004 will 
be collected for both the old and the new monthly samples. For 2004, we 
plan to collect monthly data for about 10,600 permit-issuing 
jurisdictions (at least 560 electronically), and to collect annual data 
for about 9,000 jurisdictions. The sample overlap will end in January 
2005, thereafter, we will collect monthly data for about 8,600 
jurisdictions (at least 560 electronically) and annual data for about 
11,000 jurisdictions.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0094.
    Form Number: C-404.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 19,600.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes for monthly respondents who 
report by mail, 3 minutes for monthly respondents who report 
electronically, and 25 minutes for annual respondents who report by 
mail.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 24,166 for 2004, 20,999 
thereafter.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $323,596.
    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: September 26, 2003.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-24960 Filed 10-1-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P