[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 82 (Wednesday, April 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 23169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9609]


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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: State and Local Construction Coverage Study.
    Form Number(s): SLUE-007(A), SLUE-007(B).
    Agency Approval Number: None.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Burden: 5,500 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 5,500.
    Avg. Hours Per Response: 1 hour.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau is requesting a new one time 
collection for the State and Local Construction Coverage Study. The 
Census Bureau collects monthly Value in Place (VIP) data on State and 
local government construction in the Construction Progress Reporting 
Surveys (CPRS) (OMB 0607-0153). We also collect fiscal year 
data on similar construction in the Annual Survey of Government Finance 
(ASGF) (OMB  0607-0585). It is expected that these estimates 
should be comparable on a fiscal basis; nevertheless, they have 
continued to differ significantly during the past decades. One major 
source of the differences is the undercoverage of the desired universe 
by the sampling frame used in the CPRS. The F.W. Dodge Division of 
McGraw-Hill Information Systems Company identifies and lists projects 
started by State and local governments nationwide. We select a sample 
of projects from this list for the CPRS. Due to the differences in the 
level of coverage by value and geographical area, various projects have 
no chance of being selected for the CPRS.
    The most recent evaluation of this undercoverage was done in 1988, 
producing an undercoverage estimate of 18 percent. The continuing 
difference on the fiscal year basis between the CPRS and the ASGF 
indicates the need for a reevaluation of the sampling frame coverage.
    We will utilize a mailout/mailback strategy to collect the data. 
Questionnaires will be mailed out in two waves (wave 1 to half of the 
sampled agencies and wave 2 to the other half) three months apart. 
Nonresponse followup will be conducted by telephone beginning 30 days 
after the initial mailout. We will not publish the results of this 
study, but we will use the factors determined by the study to adjust 
the final weighted estimates from the CPRS.
    We will conduct this study on a one time basis. The Census Bureau 
will use the information collected for evaluation purposes and survey 
improvement through the adjustment of the State and local construction 
VIP estimate by the estimated coverage rate. The consequence for not 
conducting an undercoverage evaluation will be that the Census Bureau 
will produce less accurate estimates for the State and local government 
construction VIP. The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the CPRS 
estimates to develop the construction components for input to the Gross 
Domestic Product (GDP) accounts. Other government agencies such as the 
Council of Economics Advisers, the Federal Reserve Bank Board, and the 
Department of Treasury use these estimates in making policy decisions.
    Affected Public: State, local, or tribal government.
    Frequency: One time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 161 and 182.
    OMB Desk Officer: Susan Schechter, (202) 395-5103.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, room 6625, 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 either by fax (202-395-7245) or e-
mail ([email protected]).

    Dated: April 22, 2004.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-9609 Filed 4-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P