Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 7, 2004 / Notices 70631

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on respondents, including through the 

use of automated collections techniques 

or other forms of information 

technology. 

Comments submitted in response to 

this notice will be summarized and/or 

included in the request for the OMB 

approval of this information collection; 

they also will become a matter of public 

record.

Dated: December 1, 2004. 

Madeleine Clayton, 

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer.

[FR Doc. 04–26781 Filed 12–6–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–07–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau 

Government Finance Forms

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment 

request. 

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 February 7, 2005.

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 DHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or 

copies of the information collection 

instrument(s) and instructions should 

be directed to Stephen Poyta, Chief, 

Public Finance Analysis Branch–A, 

Governments Division, U.S. Bureau of 

the Census, Washington, DC 20233–

6800, (301) 763–1580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract 

The Census Bureau plans to request 

clearance for the forms necessary to 

conduct the public finance program 

which consists of an annual collection 

of information and a quinquennial 

collection in the census years ending in 

‘‘2’’ and ‘‘7’’. During the upcoming three 

years, we intend to conduct the 2005 

and 2006 Annual Survey of Government 

Finance, and the 2007 Census of 

Government Finance. 

The Annual Survey of State and Local 

Government Finance collects data on 

state government finances and estimates 

of local government revenue, 

expenditure, debt, and assets, nationally 

and within state areas. Data are 

collected for all agencies, departments, 

and institutions of the fifty state 

governments and for a sample of all 

local governments (counties, 

municipalities, townships, and special 

districts). Data for school districts are 

collected under a separate survey. In the 

census year, equivalent data are 

collected from all local governments. 

This survey is a mail canvass survey 

with an initial mailing and one followup mailing. Telephone follow-up is 

used to contact non-respondents and, as 

necessary, to correct apparent errors and 

incorrect responses. These forms and 

procedures are similar to those used in 

previous finance surveys. We are 

currently in the process of redesigning 

the finance forms, such that items 

included in the previous F–21, F–22, 

and F–28 will now all be included 

within a new overall F–28 form. 

Results of this survey are used by the 

Bureau of Economic Analysis to develop 

the public sector components of the 

National Income and Product Accounts. 

Other Federal agencies that make 

frequent use of these data include the 

U.S. Federal Reserve Board, the 

Congressional Research Service, the 

General Accounting Office, and the 

Department of Justice. Other users 

include state and local government 

executives and legislators, policy 

makers, economists, researchers, and 

the general public. 

II. Method of Collection 

Canvass methodology primarily 

consists of a mail out/mail back 

questionnaire. Responses will be 

screened manually, then put into an 

electronic format. Other methods used 

to collect data and maximize response 

include collecting local government 

data from central state sources, 

compiling from submitted financial 

audits, comprehensive financial reports, 

and public Internet outputs. Also, the 

finance forms can be completed on the 

Internet. 

III. Data 

OMB Number: 0607–0585. 

Form Number: F–5, F–5A, F–11, F–

12, F–13, F–25, F–28, F–29, F–32, F–42. 

Type of Review: Regular.

Affected Public: State and local 

governments. 

Estimated Number of Respondents:

9,753 (annual survey), 45,961 (Census). 

Estimated Time Per Response: 2.903 

(Annual); 2.37 (Census). 

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: 28,310.5 (Annual); 108,840.5 

(Census). 

Estimated Total Annual Cost: Cost to 

respondents is estimated to be $535,918 

(Annual); 2,060,351 (Census).

(Note—Based upon the average hourly pay 

for full-time employment for the financial 

administration function within the 2002 

census of local government employment.)

Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. 

Legal Authority: Title 13, sections 161 

and 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 1, 2004. 

Madeleine Clayton, 

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer.

[FR Doc. 04–26783 Filed 12–6–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–07–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration 

Outside Assessment of DOC 

Compliance Program

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment 

request. 

SUMMARY: The Department of 

Commerce, as part of its continuing 

effort to reduce paperwork and 

respondent burdens, invites the general 

public and other Federal agencies to 

take this opportunity to comment on the 

continuing information collections, as 

required by the Paperwork Reduction