[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 198 (Tuesday, October 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53286-53287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27135]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Report of Privately-Owned Building or Zoning Permits Issued 
(Building Permits Survey)

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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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: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 15, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Linda P. Hoyle, Bureau of the Census, 
Manufacturing and Construction Division, Room 2105, FOB 4, Washington, 
DC 20233-6900, (301) 457-1321.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Bureau of the Census produces statistics used to monitor 
activity in the large and dynamic construction industry. Given the 
importance of this industry, several of the statistical series are key 
economic indicators. Two such series are (a) Housing Units Authorized 
by Building Permits and (b) Housing Starts. Both are based on data from 
samples of permit-issuing places. 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 Bureau of the Census uses Form C-404 to collect data to provide 
estimates of the number and valuation of new residential housing units 
authorized by building permits. We use the data, a component of the 
index of leading economic indicators, to estimate the number of housing 
units started, completed, and sold, if single-family, and to select 
samples for the Census Bureau's demographic surveys. Policymakers, 
planners, businessmen/women, and others use the detailed geographic 
data collected from state and local officials on new residential 
construction authorized by building permits to monitor growth and plan 
for local services, and to develop production and marketing plans. The 
Building Permits Survey is the only source of statistics on residential 
construction for states and smaller geographic areas.
    We are making the following changes to the form:
    a. No longer collect data on publicly-owned construction authorized 
by building permits because we no longer need these data.
    b. Combined two separate items, single-family houses attached and 
single-family houses detached, into one item because we no longer 
needed to collect these data separately.
    c. We deleted one question, ``Are you aware of any new permit-
issuing jurisdictions?'' because we no longer need this information.
    We will collect data for new residential nonhousekeeping buildings; 
new nonresidential buildings; additions, alterations, and conversions; 
and demolitions and razing of buildings only through a reimbursable 
agreement. If we do not get that agreement, we will collect data for 
only new privately-owned residential buildings authorized by building 
permits.

II. Method of Collection

    We collect this information by mail and electronically through 
files we download or receive on diskettes.
    Monthly, we collect this information by mail for 8,170 permit-
issuing jurisdictions and electronically for 550 jurisdictions. 
Annually, we collect this information by mail for 10,180 jurisdictions.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0094.
    Form Number: C-404.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 18,900.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 16 minutes for monthly respondents who 
report by mail, 3 minutes for monthly respondents who report 
electronically, and 25 minutes for annual respondents who report by 
mail.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 30,716.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: We estimate that the cost to the 
respondents to provide the data will be $438,636 based on an average 
hourly salary of $14.65 \1\ for state and local government employees.
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    \1\ Taken from the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of State and 
Local Government Employment.
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    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.


[[Page 53287]]


    Dated: October 8, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-27135 Filed 10-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P