[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 68 (Monday, April 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 18356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7112]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Survey of Building and Zoning Permit Systems

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 10, 2005.

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 produces statistics used to monitor activity in 
the large and dynamic construction industry. 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 
accuracy of the Census Bureau statistics regarding the amount of 
construction authorized depends on data supplied by building and zoning 
officials throughout the country.
    The Census Bureau uses the Survey of Building and Zoning Permit 
Systems to obtain information from state and local building permit 
officials needed for updating the universe of permit-issuing places. 
The questions pertain to the legal requirements for issuing building or 
zoning permits in the local jurisdictions. Information is obtained on 
such items as geographic coverage and types of construction for which 
permits are issued.
    The universe of permit-issuing places is the sampling frame for the 
Building Permits Survey (BPS) and the Survey of Construction (SOC). 
These two sample surveys provide widely used measures of construction 
activity, including the economic indicators, Housing Units Authorized 
by Building Permits and Housing Starts.
    We plan to change the format of the form and add a question asking 
how many new residential housing unit permits were issued in the prior 
calendar year.

II. Method of Collection

    The form is sent to a jurisdiction when the Census Bureau has 
reason to believe that a new permit system has been established or an 
existing one has changed, based on information from a variety of 
sources including survey respondents, regional councils and the Census 
Bureau's Geography Division which keeps abreast of changes in corporate 
status. Responses typically approach 85 percent.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0350.
    Form Number: C-411.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and Local Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,000 per year.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 500 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the respondents is 
estimated to be $9,770 based on an average hourly salary of $19.54 for 
state and local government employees.
    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: April 5, 2005.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-7112 Filed 4-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P