[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 14 (Monday, January 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3456-3457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-675]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


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: 2007 Economic Census General Classification Report.
    Form Number(s): NC-99023, NC-99023-L1, NC-99023-L11, NC-99023-L21, 
NC-99023-L31.
    Agency Approval Number: None.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Burden: 33,333 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 200,000.
    Avg. Hours per Response: 10 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: Accurate and reliable industry and geographic codes 
are critical to the U.S. Census Bureau's economic statistical programs. 
New businesses are assigned industry classifications by the Social 
Security Administration (SSA). Over seven percent of these businesses 
cannot be assigned industry codes because insufficient information is 
provided on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form SS-4. Since the 
2002 Economic Census, the number of unclassified businesses has grown 
to over 110,000 (over 3% increase).
    In order to provide detailed industry data for the 2007 Economic 
Census and the Business Register, the basic sampling frame for many of 
our current surveys, these unclassified businesses must be assigned 
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. During the 
2007 Economic Census, the NC-99023 questionnaire will be used to 
collect information from unclassified single-unit establishments. In 
2006, the year prior to the census, this form will be used to collect 
information from: (1) Unclassified establishments due to insufficient 
information provided on their SS-4 forms, and (2) partially classified 
establishments.
    Establishments that are currently unclassified or partially 
classified could be misclassified in the economic census without a 
complete NAICS code. This refile operation will determine a complete 
and reliable classification in order to ensure the establishment is 
tabulated in the correct detailed industry for the 2007 Economic 
Census. Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides industry 
codes for establishments that they have classified in their universe 
but which are unclassified in the Business Register, detailed industry 
classification would still be missing for the remaining units. If these 
establishments are not mailed as part of the economic census, economic 
data for these cases could be lost. Classification information obtained 
from these establishments will also be

[[Page 3457]]

included in the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns (CBP) 
publications. CBP publications provide annual data on establishment 
counts, employment, and payroll for all sectors of the economy at 
national, State, and county levels.
    The economic census is the primary source of facts about the 
structure and functioning of the Nation's economy featuring industry 
and geographic detail. Economic census statistics and their derivatives 
serve as part of the framework for the national accounts and provide 
essential information for government, business, and the general public. 
The Federal Government uses census information as an important part of 
the framework for the national income and product accounts, input-
output tables, economic indexes, and other composite measures that 
serve as the factual basis for economic policy-making, planning, and 
program administration. Further, the census provides sampling frames 
and benchmarks for current surveys of business which track short-term 
economic trends, serve as economic indicators, and contribute critical 
source data for current estimates of gross domestic product. State and 
local governments rely on the economic census as a unique source of 
small geographic area economic statistics for use in policy-making, 
planning, and program administration. Finally, industry, business, 
academia, and the general public use information from the economic 
census for evaluating markets, preparing business plans and making 
business decisions; conducting economic research, including forecasting 
and modeling; and establishing benchmarks for their own sample surveys.
    The failure to collect this information would result in less 
reliable source data and benchmarks reflecting today's economy for the 
national accounts, input-output tables, and other measures of economic 
activity. This would lead to a substantial degradation in the quality 
of these important statistics.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Frequency: Every 5 years.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: 13 U.S.C. 131 and 224.
    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: January 17, 2006.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-675 Filed 1-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P