[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 321-322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-33172]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2012 Economic 
Census Covering the Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, Finance 
and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Sectors

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before March 7, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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, SSSD, HQ-8K049, 
4600 Silver Hill Road, 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 (U.S.C.), 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 2012 Economic Census covering 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 1.2 million establishments. However,

[[Page 322]]

approximately 12% 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 procedure 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, 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 2012 Economic Census mail canvasses for the 
Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, Finance and Insurance, and 
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors will include approximately 
340,100 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 2012 Economic Census mail 
canvasses for the Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, Finance 
and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors will 
include approximately 307,600 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 2012 Economic Census 
mail canvasses for the Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, 
Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors 
will include approximately 62,400 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 2012 Economic Census mail canvasses for the 
Utilities, Transportation and Warehousing, Finance and Insurance, and 
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing sectors will include approximately 
219,800 small single-establishment firms that receive these forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0931.
    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.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State or local governments, business, or other for 
profit or non-profit institutions or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 931,100
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.982 hours
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 914,000
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $26,515,140
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 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: December 28, 2010.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-33172 Filed 1-3-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P