[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 73311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24982]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Questionnaire 
for Building Permit Official

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.

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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before February 25, 2008.

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 Erica Filipek, U.S. Census Bureau, MCD, CENHQ 
Room 7K181, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233, telephone 
(301)763-5161 (or via the Internet at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau plans to request a revision of the current 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of the Questionnaire 
for Building Permit Official (SOC-QBPO). The Census Bureau uses the 
Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) electronic questionnaire 
SOC-QBPO to collect information from state and local building permit 
officials on: (1) The types of permits they issue, (2) the length of 
time a permit is valid, (3) how they store permits, and (4) the 
geographic coverage of the permit system. This information is needed to 
carry out the sampling for the Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and 
Completions (OMB number 0607-0110), also known as Survey of 
Construction (SOC). The SOC provides widely used measures of 
construction activity, including the economic indicators Housing 
Starts, Housing Completions, and New Housing Sales.
    The current clearance for this survey is scheduled to expire on 
March 31, 2009. Census is rewriting the CAPI questionnaire software and 
requesting approval to begin using the revised questionnaire in the 
field in the summer of 2008. The revised questionnaire will include 
some additional information about how permits are issued that will 
improve the sampling for the Survey of Construction. Other information 
which is no longer needed will be eliminated from the questionnaire. 
The overall length of the interview will not change. The sample size 
also will not change.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau uses its field representatives to obtain 
information on the operating procedures of a permit office. The field 
representative visits the permit office, conducts the interview, and 
completes the electronic form.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0125.
    Form Number: SOC-QBPO.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State or Local Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 900.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 225.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, U.S.C., Section 182.

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: December 19, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-24982 Filed 12-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P