[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5236-5237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1296]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2007 Economic 
Census Covering the Wholesale Trade Sector

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 April 3, 2006.

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 Yvonne Wade, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2682, 
Building 3, Washington, DC 20233-0001, (301) 763-2661 (or via the 
Internet at [email protected]).

[[Page 5237]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The economic census, conducted under authority of Title 13, United 
States Code (USC), is the primary source of facts about the structure 
and functioning of the Nation's economy. Economic statistics serve as 
part of the framework for the national accounts and provide essential 
information for government, business, and the general public. Economic 
data are the Census Bureau's primary program commitment during 
nondecennial census years. The 2007 Economic Census covering the 
Wholesale Trade sector (as defined by the North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS)) will measure the economic activity of 
more than 450,000 establishments. The information collected will 
produce basic statistics by kind of business on the number of 
establishments, sales, payroll, and employment. It will also yield a 
variety of subject statistics, including sales by product line, sales 
by class of customer, and other industry-specific measures. Primary 
strategies for reducing burden in Census Bureau economic data 
collections are to increase reporting through standardized 
questionnaires and broader electronic data collection methods.

II. Method of Collection

    Mail Selection Procedures: Establishments in the Wholesale Trade 
sector of the economic census will be selected from the Census Bureau's 
Business Register for a mail canvass. To be eligible for selection, an 
establishment will be required to satisfy the following conditions: (i) 
It must be classified in the Wholesale Trade sector; (ii) it must be an 
active operating establishment of a multi-establishment firm (i.e., a 
firm that operates at more than one physical location); and (iii) it 
must be located in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. 
Mail selection procedures will distinguish the following groups of 
establishments:

1. Establishments of Multi-Establishment Firms

    All active operating establishments of multi-establishment firms 
will be included in the mail component of the potential respondent 
universe. We estimate that the 2007 Economic Census mail canvass for 
the Wholesale Trade sector will include approximately 126,000 
establishments of multi-establishment firms.

2. Single-Establishment Firms With Payroll

    All single-establishment firms having annualized payroll (from 
Federal administrative records) will be included in the mail component 
of the potential respondent universe. We estimate that the 2007 
Economic Census mail canvass for the Wholesale Trade sector will 
include approximately 324,000 establishments of single-establishment 
firms.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: The 42 standard forms and ownership or control flier 
used to collect information from businesses in this sector of the 
Economic Census are tailored to specific business practices and are too 
numerous to list separately in this notice. Requests for information on 
the proposed content of the forms should be directed to M. Yvonne Wade, 
U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2682, Building 3, Washington, DC 20233-0001, 
(301) 763-2661 (or via the Internet at [email protected]).
    Type of Review: Regular review.
    Affected Public: State or local government, business or other for-
profit organizations, and not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 450,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 675,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $16,652,250.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, U.S.C., Sections 131 and 224.

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: January 26, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-1296 Filed 1-31-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P