[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 212 (Monday, November 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59343-59344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29005]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Construction Project Reporting Surveys (CPRS)

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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 2, 1998.

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 George A. Roff, Jr., Bureau of the Census, Room 
2225, Building 4, Washington, DC 20233 on (301) 457-1605.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau is the preeminent collector and provider of 
timely, relevant and quality data about the people and economy of the 
United States. Economic data are the Census Bureau's primary program 
commitment during nondecennial census years. The Census Bureau, under 
the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Section 182, conducts 
the following three Construction Project Reporting Surveys (CPRS); 
Private Construction Projects, State and Local Governments and 
Multifamily Residential. These surveys provide the dollar value of 
construction put in place by private companies, individuals, private 
multifamily residential buildings, and state and local government 
sectors. The C-700 form (Private Construction Projects) collects 
construction put in place data for nonresidential projects owned by 
private companies or individuals. The C-700(R) (Multifamily Residential 
Projects) form collects construction put in place data for private 
multifamily residential buildings. Form C-700(SL) (State and Local 
Government Projects) collects construction put in place data for state 
and local government projects.
    The Census Bureau uses the information from the CPRS to publish the 
value of construction put in place series. Published estimates are used 
by a variety of private business and trade associations to estimate the 
demand for building materials and to schedule production, distribution, 
and sales efforts. They also provide various governmental agencies with 
a tool to evaluate economic policy and to measure progress towards 
established goals. For example, Bureau of Economic Analysis staff use 
data to develop the construction components of gross private domestic 
investment in the gross domestic product. The Federal Reserve Board and 
the Department of Treasury use the value in place data to predict the 
gross domestic product, which is presented to the Board of Governors 
and has an impact on monetary policy.

II. Method of Collection

    The universes for these surveys are as follows:
    (1) Private nonresidential and state and local projects are 
obtained from F.W. Dodge, a division of the McGraw-Hill Information 
Systems Company, for projects valued at $50,000 or more in the United 
States, except Hawaii. Building permit notifications are used for 
sampling in permit-issuing places of Hawaii and for projects in areas 
not covered by Dodge.
    (2) Multifamily projects are sampled from the Census Bureau's 
Housing Starts Survey.
    An independent systematic sample of projects is selected each month 
according to predetermined sampling rates. Once a project is selected 
it remains in the sample until completion of the project. Preprinted 
forms are mailed monthly to respondents to fill in current month data 
and any revisions to previous months. To manage CPRS data, a database 
was created. A portion of this database is used for computer assisted 
telephone interviewing. Repondents are contacted on the day and time 
specified by them, thereby reducing their burden.

III. Data

    OMB Numbers: 0607-0153 C-700 (Private Construction Projects), 0607-
0163 C-700(R) (Multifamily Residential Projects), 0607-0171 C-700(SL) 
(State and Local Government Projects).
    Form Numbers: C-700, C-700(R), C-700(SL).
    Type of Review: Regular Review.
    Affected Public: Individuals, Businesses or Other for Profit, Non 
Profit Institutions, Small Businesses or Organizations, and State or 
Local Governments.

[[Page 59344]]

    Estimated Number of Respondents: C-700= 6,000, C-700(R)=1,440, C-
700(SL)= 6,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: .25 hrs per month.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: C-700= 18,000, C-700(R)=4,320, 
C-700(SL)=18,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the Government for this 
work is estimated to be $2.702 million.
    Respondents Obligation: Construction Project Reporting Surveys are 
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: October 28, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-29005 Filed 10-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P