[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 84 (Thursday, May 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24668-24669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09928]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of 
Building and Zoning Permit Systems

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, 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.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before June 30, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, 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 Erica M. Filipek, U.S. Census Bureau, MCD, CENHQ 
Room 7K057, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233, telephone 
(301) 763-5161 (or via the Internet at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request a three-year extension of a 
currently approved collection of the Form C-411, Survey of Building and 
Zoning Permit Systems. The Census Bureau produces statistics used to 
monitor activity in the large and dynamic construction industry. These 
statistics help state and local governments and the Federal Government, 
as well as private industry, to analyze this important sector of the 
economy. The accuracy of the Census Bureau statistics regarding the 
amount of construction authorized depends on data supplied by building 
and zoning officials throughout the country.
    The Census Bureau uses the Form C-411 to obtain information from 
state and local building permit officials needed for updating the 
universe of permit-issuing places. The questions pertain to the legal 
requirements for issuing building or zoning permits in the local 
jurisdictions. Information is obtained on such items as geographic 
coverage and types of construction for which permits are issued.
    The universe of permit-issuing places is the sampling frame for the 
Building Permits Survey (BPS) and the Survey of Construction (SOC). 
These two sample surveys provide widely used measures of construction 
activity, including the economic indicators Housing Units Authorized by 
Building Permits and Housing Starts.

II. Method of Collection

    The forms are sent to a jurisdiction when the Census Bureau has 
reason to believe that a new permit system has been established or an 
existing one has changed, based on information from a variety of 
sources including survey respondents, regional councils and the Census 
Bureau's Geography Division which keeps abreast of changes in corporate 
status. Responses typically approach 85 percent. There are three 
versions of the Form C-411:

[[Page 24669]]

     C-411(V) for verification of coverage for jurisdictions 
with existing permit systems.
     C-411(M) for municipalities where a new permit system may 
have been established.
     C-411(C) for counties where new permit systems may have 
been established.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0350.
    Form Number: C-411.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and Local Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,000 per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 500.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: The cost to the respondents 
is estimated to be $12,490 based on an average hourly salary of $24.98 
for local government employees. This estimate was taken from the Census 
Bureau's Annual Survey of Government Employment for 2012.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, 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: April 25, 2014.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-09928 Filed 4-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P