Federal Register: September 30, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 188)
DOCID: fr30se09-22 FR Doc E9-23530
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr30se09-22
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Report of Building or Zoning Permits Issued for New Privately-Owned Housing Units (Building Permits Survey)
DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before November 30, 2009.
DOCUMENT 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 10413 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).
SUMMARY:
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
I. Abstract
The Census Bureau plans to request a three year extension of a currently approved collection of the Form C404, Building Permits Survey. The Census Bureau 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 permitissuing 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 Census Bureau uses Form C404 to collect data to provide
estimates of the number and valuation of new residential housing units
authorized by building permits. The current form is titled ``Report of
New PrivatelyOwned Residential Building or Zoning Permits Issued''. We
plan to change the title to ``Report of Building or Zoning Permits
Issued for New PrivatelyOwned Housing Units'' to clarify the data
being requested. 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 singlefamily, and to select samples for the
Census Bureau's demographic surveys. The Census Bureau also uses the
detailed geographic data collected from State and local officials on
new residential construction authorized by building permits in the
development of annual population estimates which are used by government
agencies to allocate funding and other resources to local areas. Policymakers, planners, businessmen/
[[Page 50163]]
women, and others also use the detailed geographic data 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. Building permits are public records so the information is not subject to disclosure restrictions.
II. Method of Collection
The Census Bureau collects this information by mail; respondents return forms by mail or fax. Some respondents send electronic files or printouts of permit information in lieu of completing the form. We are currently developing a system to provide an option for Webbased reporting which is scheduled to be operational in 2010.
The survey universe is comprised of approximately 19,375 local
governments that issue building permits. Monthly, we collect this
information by mail for about 8,200 permitissuing jurisdictions and
via electronic files or printouts of permits for about 625
jurisdictions. Annually, we collect this information by mail for the remaining 10,550 jurisdictions.
III. Data
OMB Number: 06070094.
Form Number: C404.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: State and Local Governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 19,375.
Estimated Time per Response: 8 minutes for monthly respondents who
report by mailing or faxing the form, 3 minutes for monthly respondents
who send electronic files or printouts, and 23 minutes for annual respondents who report by mailing or faxing the form.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 17,539.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $420,745.
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: September 24, 2009.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E923530 Filed 92909; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 351009P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Erica Filipek, U.S. Census Bureau, MCD, CENHQ Room 7K181, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233, telephone (301) 7635161 (or via the Internet at Erica.Mary.Filipek@census.gov).