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[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 144 (Tuesday, July 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40257-40258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20070]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

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

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 28, 
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 Charles Funk, Bureau of the Census, Room 1285, FB 
#3, Washington, DC 20233, Telephone (301) 457-3324.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans the continuing information collection for 
the 1998 Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES). The annual survey 
collects data on fixed assets and depreciation, sales and receipts, and 
capital expenditures for new and used structures and equipment. The 
ACES is the sole source of detailed comprehensive statistics on actual 
business spending by domestic, private, nonfarm businesses operating in 
the United States.
    The major change from the previous ACES is the collection of 
detailed capital expenditures by type of structure and type of 
equipment for the 1998 ACES from employer companies. Beginning with the 
1998 ACES, type of structures and type of equipment data are collected 
together once every five years. These data are critical to evaluate the 
comprehensiveness of capital expenditures statistics collected in years 
for which type of structures and equipment detail are not collected. 
The detailed structures data will provide a 5-year benchmark for 
estimates of new construction put in place. The detailed equipment data 
will provide a periodic measure of expenditures by type of equipment 
and assist in evaluating estimates of Producer's Durable Equipment in 
nonresidential fixed investment. Negotiations are currently taking 
place with data users on the extent of detailed type of structures and 
type of equipment data to be collected.
    Actual business spending will be collected from employer and 
nonemployer businesses. Business spending data are used to evaluate the 
quality of estimates of gross domestic product, develop monetary 
policy, analyze business asset depreciation, and improve estimates of 
capital stock for productivity analysis. Industry analysts use these 
data for market analysis, economic forecasting, identifying business 
opportunities, product development, and business planning.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will use mail out/mail back survey forms to 
collect data. Companies will be asked to respond to the survey within 
30 days of the initial mailing. Respondent companies are permitted to 
respond via facsimile machine using our toll-free number. Letters and/
or telephone calls encouraging participation will be directed to 
respondents that have not responded by the designated time.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0782.
    Form Number: ACE-1 (Sent to employer companies reporting payroll to 
the Internal Revenue Service) and ACE-2 (Sent to nonemployer 
businesses).
    Type of Review: Regular Review.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations, non-
profit institutions, small businesses or organizations, and self-
employed individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 46,000 (32,000 employer companies, 
and 14,000 nonemployer businesses).
    Estimated Time Per Response: The average for all respondents is 
3.815 hours. For companies completing form ACE-1, the range is 2 to 28 
hours, averaging 5 hours. For companies completing form ACE-2, the 
range is less than 1 hour to 2 hours, averaging 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The total annual burden for 
fiscal year 1999 is estimated to be 175,490 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The total cost to all respondents is 
estimated to be $2,323,576. This cost is calculated by multiplying the 
annual burden hours (175,490) by the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 1996 
estimate ($523 for a 39.5 hour work week) for a private industry entry 
level accountant.
    Respondents' Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 United States Code, Sections 182, 224, 
and 225.

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 40258]]

    Dated: July 23, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-20070 Filed 7-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
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