[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10473-10474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2827]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


2007 Economic Census Covering the Utilities, Transportation and 
Warehousing, Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and 
Leasing Sectors

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 May 1, 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 Steven Roman, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2665, 
Building 3, Washington, DC 20233-0001 (301-763-2824 or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

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 
Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, Finance and Insurance, and 
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors (as defined by the North 
American Industry Classification System (NAICS)) will measure the 
economic activity of more than 1 million establishments. However, 
approximately 13% of establishments will not be required to file 
separate reports because they will be included in consolidated company 
reports; for explanation see selection procedure for establishments of 
multi-establishment firms below. The information collected will produce 
basic statistics by kind of business on the number of establishments, 
revenue, payroll, and employment. It will also yield a variety of 
subject statistics, including revenue by product line, 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 Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, 
Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors 
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 one of the Utilities, Transportation and 
Warehousing, Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and 
Leasing sectors; (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), or it must be a single-establishment firm with 
payroll (i.e., a firm operating at only 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
    Selection procedures will assign all eligible establishments of 
multi-establishment firms to the mail component of the potential 
respondent universe, except for those in selected industries in 
utilities, and finance and insurance. In these selected industries, 
where revenue and certain other operating data are not easily 
attributable to individual establishments, division-or firm-level 
organizations are asked to report kind of business, payroll, and 
employment for several establishments, and other required data at a 
more aggregate level on a consolidated report form.
    We estimate that the 2007 Economic Census mail canvasses for the 
Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, Finance and Insurance, and 
Real Estate

[[Page 10474]]

and Rental and Leasing sectors will include approximately 262,800 
establishment and consolidated reports of multi-establishment firms.
2. Single-Establishment Firms With Payroll
    As an initial step in the selection process, we will conduct a 
study of the potential respondent universe. This study will produce a 
set of industry-specific payroll cutoffs that we will use to 
distinguish large versus small single-establishment firms within each 
industry or kind of business. This payroll size distinction will affect 
selection as follows:
a. Large Single-Establishment Firms
    All single-establishment firms having annualized payroll (from 
Federal administrative records) that equals or exceeds the cutoff for 
their industry will be included in the mail component of the potential 
respondent universe. We estimate that the 2007 Economic Census mail 
canvasses for the Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, Finance 
and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors will 
include approximately 273,700 large single-establishment firms.
b. Small Single-Establishment Firms
    A sample of single-establishment firms having annualized payroll 
below the cutoff for their industry will be included in the mail 
component of the potential respondent universe. Sampling strata and 
corresponding probabilities of selection will be determined by a study 
of the potential respondent universe conducted shortly before the mail 
selection operations begin. We estimate that the 2007 Economic Census 
mail canvasses for the Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, 
Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors 
will include approximately 38,300 small single-establishment firms 
selected in this sample.
    All remaining single-establishment firms with payroll will be 
represented in the census by data from Federal administrative records. 
Generally, we will not include these small employers in the census mail 
canvasses. However, administrative records sometimes have fundamental 
industry classification deficiencies that make them unsuitable for use 
in producing detailed industry statistics by geographic area. When we 
find such a deficiency, we will mail the firm a census classification 
form. We estimate that the 2007 Economic Census mail canvasses for the 
Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, Finance and Insurance, and 
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors will include approximately 
78,200 small single-establishment firms that receive these forms.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not available.
    Form Number: The 31 standard forms, five classification forms, and 
three ownership or control fliers used to collect information from 
businesses in these sectors 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 Steven Roman, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 
2665, Building 3, Washington, DC 20233-0001 (301-763-2824 or via the 
Internet at [email protected]).
    Type of Review: Regular review.
    Affected Public: State or local governments, businesses, or other 
for profit or non-profit institutions or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents:
     Utilities (Standard Form)--6,700.
     Utilities (Classification Form)--(none).
     Transportation and Warehousing (Standard Form)--197,000.
     Transportation and Warehousing (Classification Form)--28,000.
     Finance and Insurance (Standard Form)--344,000.
     Finance and Insurance (Classification Form)--23,000.
     Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (Standard Form)--335,000.
     Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (Classification Form)--26,000.
     Total--959,700.
    Estimated Time Per Response:
     Utilities (Standard Form)--1.90 hours.
     Utilities (Classification Form)--(none).
     Transportation and Warehousing (Standard Form)--1.10 hours.
     Transportation and Warehousing (Classification Form)--.20 hours.
     Finance and Insurance (Standard Form)--1.40 hours.
     Finance and Insurance (Classification Form)--.20 hours.
     Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (Standard Form)--1.10 hours.
     Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (Classification Form)--.20 
hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:
     Utilities (Standard Form)--12,700 hours.
     Utilities (Classification Form)--(none).
     Transportation and Warehousing (Standard Form)--216,700 hours.
     Transportation and Warehousing (Classification Form)--5,600 hours.
     Finance and Insurance (Standard Form)--481,600 hours.
     Finance and Insurance (Classification Form)--4,600 hours.
     Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (Standard Form)--368,500 hours.
     Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (Classification Form)--5,200 
hours.
     Total--1,094,900.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost:
     Utilities (Standard Form)--$313,309.
     Utilities (Classification Form)--(none).
     Transportation and Warehousing (Standard Form)--$5,345,989.
     Transportation and Warehousing (Classification Form)--$138,152.
     Finance and Insurance (Standard Form)--$11,881,072.
     Finance and Insurance (Classification Form)--$113,482.
     Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (Standard Form)--$9,090,895.
     Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (Classification Form)--
$128,284.
     Total--$27,011,183.
    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: February 23, 2006.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst.
 [FR Doc. E6-2827 Filed 2-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P