[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 209 (Monday, October 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63282-63283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18163]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    DOC will submit 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: The 2007 Economic Census of Island Areas, which includes 
Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin 
Islands, and American Samoa.
    Form Number(s): IA-97120, IA-97220, IA-97123, IA-97223, IA-97130, 
IA-97230, IA-97142, IA-97242, IA-97144, IA-97244, IA-97152, IA-97252, 
IA-97172, IA-97272, IA-97180, IA-97280, IA-97190, IA-97290, IA-98163, 
IA-98173, IA-98183, IA-98193.
    Agency Approval Number: None.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Burden: 54,500 hours in Fiscal Year 2008.
    Number of Respondents: 59,000.
    Avg Hours Per Response: .92 hours.
    Needs and Uses: The 2007 Economic Census of Island Areas, which 
includes Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, is part of the 2007 Economic 
Census.
    The 2007 Economic Census of Island Areas will cover the following 
sectors (as defined by the North American Industry Classification 
System (NAICS)): Mining, Utilities, Construction, Manufacturing; 
Wholesale and Retail Trades, Transportation and Warehousing, 
Information; Finance and Insurance; Real Estate and Rental and Leasing; 
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Management of 
Companies and Enterprises; Administrative and Support, Waste Management 
and Remediation Services; Educational Services; Health Care and Social 
Assistance; Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation; Accommodation and Food 
Services; and Other Services (except Public Administration). This scope 
is equivalent to that of the stateside economic census.
    The economic census provides the only source for dependable, 
comparable data at a geographic level consistent with U.S. counties. 
The 2007 Economic Census of Island Areas is particularly important 
because of the rapid and varied changes taking place in the economies 
of these areas.
    The economic census is the primary source of dependable facts about 
the structure and functioning of the economies of each Island Area, and 
features the only recognized source of data at a geographic level 
equivalent to U.S. counties. Economic census statistics serve as part 
of the framework for the national accounts of the Island Areas and 
provide essential information for government (Federal and local), 
business, and the general public. The governments of the Island Areas 
rely on the economic census as an important part of the framework for 
their 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 benchmarks for surveys of business which 
track short-term economic trends, serve as economic indicators, and 
contribute critical source data for current estimates of the gross 
product of the Island Areas. In addition, industry, business, academia, 
and the general public use information from the economic census for 
evaluating markets, preparing business plans, making business 
decisions, developing economic models and forecasts, conducting 
economic research, and establishing benchmarks for their own sample 
surveys.
    If the economic census were not conducted in the Island Areas, the 
Federal government would lose the only dependable source of detailed 
comprehensive information of the economies of these areas. 
Additionally, the governments of the Island Areas would lose vital 
source data and benchmarks for their national accounts, input-output 
tables, and other composite measures of economic activity, causing a 
substantial degradation in the quality of these important statistics. 
Further, the governments of the Island Areas would lose critical 
benchmarks for sample-based economic surveys.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Frequency: One time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, U.S.C., Sections 131 and 224.
    OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
    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 Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) 
or e-mail ([email protected]).


[[Page 63283]]


    Dated: October 25, 2006.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-18163 Filed 10-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P