[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7724-7725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2056]


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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: 2007 Economic Census Classification Report for Construction, 
Manufacturing, and Mining Sectors.
    Form Number(s): NC-99026.
    Agency Approval Number: None.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Burden: 4,167 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 50,000.
    Avg Hours per Response: 5 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: Accurate and reliable industry codes are critical 
to the U. S. Census Bureau's economic statistical programs. 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, unclassified and partially classified businesses must be 
assigned correct North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 
codes. Only when correct NAICS codes are assigned to establishments can 
the Census Bureau be assured that data are tabulated in the correct 
detailed industry and ultimately disseminated accurately.
    The NC-99026 questionnaire will be sent to a sample of partially 
classified single-unit construction, manufacturing, and mining 
establishments in 2006, the year prior to the census. It is extremely 
important to obtain a correct industry classification for construction 
establishments to ensure the sample frame that is drawn for the 
economic census is accurate. For many of the manufacturing and mining 
establishments, this is the only form that they receive for the 
economic census. During the 2007 Economic Census, the NC-99026 
questionnaire will be used to collect information from partially 
classified single-unit manufacturing and mining establishments that 
were not sampled in 2006.
    Establishments that are only 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,

[[Page 7725]]

economic data for these cases could be lost.
    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.
    The NC-99026 form will be used to update the classification codes 
in the Business Register. Classification information obtained from 
these establishments will also be 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.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Frequency: Every 5 years.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., sections 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: February 9, 2006.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-2056 Filed 2-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P