80_FR_17470 80 FR 17408 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2016 Government Units Survey

80 FR 17408 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2016 Government Units Survey

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 62 (April 1, 2015)

Page Range17408-17409
FR Document2015-07433

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.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17408-17409]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07433]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2016 Government 
Units Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before June 1, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at jjessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Joy P. Pierson by email at 
Joy.P.Pierson@census.gov and Elizabeth Accetta at 
Elizabeth.Accetta@census.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Title 13, Section 161 of the United States Code requires the 
Secretary of Commerce to conduct a Census of Governments every five 
years, in years ending in ``2'' and ``7''. Section 193 provides for the 
collection of preliminary and supplementary statistics as related to 
the main topic of the census. The Census of Governments publishes unit 
counts and legal descriptions as well as employment and finance data 
for all county, municipal, township, school district, and special 
district governments in the United States. Prior to conducting the 
Census of Governments it is necessary to ensure that the universe of 
all governments is as accurate and up to date as possible. The 
Government Units Survey (GUS) is conducted the year prior to the Census 
of Governments, and is used to evaluate and update the universe of all 
local and special district governments. The 2016 Government Units 
Survey (GUS) is the instrument for collecting current information to 
update the universe of all county, municipal, township, and special 
district governments for the 2017 Census of Governments. The 2016 GUS 
provides critical information needed to maintain the frame from which 
all public sector surveys are drawn. The GUS is particularly beneficial 
for identifying smaller units that have not been included in surveys in 
between census years and identifying changes to the universe of special 
district governments that experience substantial change in a five-year 
period. The GUS contributes to the quality and timely releases of the 
other components of the Census of Governments.
    The 2016 GUS will differ slightly from the former version of the 
Government Units Survey. The 2016 GUS is significantly shorter than the 
past version of the GUS. The 2016 GUS estimated time to respond is 15 
minutes, compared to the 2011 GUS which had an estimated time to 
respond of 45 minutes. The 2016 GUS is designed to diminish unnecessary 
burden to respondents, and to collect information essential to 
maintaining the government universe.
    The 2016 GUS will collect basic background information on all 
local, general purpose, and special district governments. The most 
basic information collected will include whether a government is still 
in existence. As previously noted, there are a number of governments, 
particularly special district governments, which have not been part of 
any survey or collection since the 2012 Census of Governments. It is 
necessary to determine if such governments are still in existence. The 
2016 GUS asks a follow-up question for those governments no longer in 
existence to provide, if applicable, contact information for a newly 
created or existing entity that may be providing the services or 
functions of the former government. It is necessary to verify and 
update all this information in the universe prior to the 2017 Census of 
Governments.
    The 2016 GUS asks all existing governments for contact information, 
including a mailing address and, if applicable, Web site address. This 
information is used to verify what currently exists in the universe and 
update any discrepancies. The contact information will be used when 
mailing the 2017 Census of Governments as well as for any public sector 
surveys conducted over the next five years.
    The 2016 GUS also asks questions on employment and defined-
contribution plans, defined-benefit, and post-

[[Page 17409]]

employment healthcare plans of governments. Specific, detailed 
questions on defined-benefit plans and defined-contribution plans are 
important to determine which plans are in scope for current and future 
public sector surveys the Census Bureau conducts. A Remarks section 
allows respondents to provide any additional insight that may be 
helpful to improve the universe of local and special district 
governments.

II. Method of Collection

    The 2016 Government Units Survey is a census of all counties, 
municipalities, townships, and special districts. Respondents have the 
option of responding by paper, via the Internet, by telephone, or by 
facsimile. An advance notification informing respondents of the 
impending arrival of the Government Units Survey will be mailed two 
weeks prior to mailing the questionnaire. The Government Units Survey 
questionnaire will be mailed to respondents in February 2016 followed 
by a reminder letter a month later, and a follow-up mailing in April 
2016. The 2016 Government Units Survey questionnaire will provide a Web 
site for respondents who choose to respond electronically. The Web site 
is secure and respondents will receive a unique user identification and 
password, which will be included in a letter accompanying the 
questionnaire. A toll free number will also be provided to respondents 
on the questionnaire which respondents may use to ask questions or to 
provide responses. A telephone number and instructions to respond to 
the 2016 GUS by facsimile will be provided upon request to respondents.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0930.
    Form Number(s): GUS-1.
    Type of Review: Regular (extension of a currently approved 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Public sector entities consisting of local, 
general purpose, and special district governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Approximately 77,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 19,250.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Sections 161 and 193.

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: March 27, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer, submitting for Census.
[FR Doc. 2015-07433 Filed 3-31-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P

17408 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 62 / Wednesday, April 1, 2015 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE instrument for collecting current Gonzalo Cid, Office of National Marine information to update the universe of all Sanctuaries, 1305 East West Highway, Census Bureau county, municipal, township, and Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. (Phone: special district governments for the Proposed Information Collection; 2017 Census of Governments. The 2016 301–713–7278, Fax: 301–713–0404; Comment Request; 2016 Government GUS provides critical information email: gonzalo.cid@noaa.gov). Units Survey needed to maintain the frame from SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ONMS AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, which all public sector surveys are serves as the trustee for 14 marine Commerce. drawn. The GUS is particularly protected areas encompassing more than beneficial for identifying smaller units ACTION: Notice. 170,000 square miles of ocean and Great that have not been included in surveys Lakes waters from the Hawaiian Islands SUMMARY: The Department of in between census years and identifying to the Florida Keys, and from Lake Commerce, as part of its continuing changes to the universe of special Huron to American Samoa. National effort to reduce paperwork and district governments that experience marine sanctuaries protect our Nation’s respondent burden, invites the general substantial change in a five-year period. most vital coastal and marine natural public and other Federal agencies to The GUS contributes to the quality and and cultural resources, and through take this opportunity to comment on timely releases of the other components active research, management, and proposed and/or continuing information of the Census of Governments. public engagement, sustain healthy collections, as required by the The 2016 GUS will differ slightly Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. from the former version of the environments that are the foundation for DATES: To ensure consideration, written Government Units Survey. The 2016 thriving communities and stable comments must be submitted on or GUS is significantly shorter than the economies. One of the many ways past version of the GUS. The 2016 GUS ONMS ensures public participation in before June 1, 2015. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments estimated time to respond is 15 minutes, the designation and management of compared to the 2011 GUS which had national marine sanctuaries is through to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, an estimated time to respond of 45 the formation of advisory councils. The minutes. The 2016 GUS is designed to Sanctuary System Business Advisory Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., diminish unnecessary burden to Council (Council) has been formed to respondents, and to collect information Washington, DC 20230 (or via the provide advice and recommendations to essential to maintaining the government Internet at jjessup@doc.gov). the Director regarding the relationship universe. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: of the ONMS with the business The 2016 GUS will collect basic Requests for additional information or background information on all local, community. Additional information on copies of the information collection general purpose, and special district the Council can be found at http:// instrument(s) and instructions should governments. The most basic sanctuaries.noaa.gov/management/bac/ be directed to Joy P. Pierson by email at welcome.html. information collected will include Joy.P.Pierson@census.gov and Elizabeth whether a government is still in Matters To Be Considered: The Accetta at Elizabeth.Accetta@ existence. As previously noted, there are meeting will provide an opportunity for census.gov. a number of governments, particularly council representatives to hear how SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: special district governments, which national marine sanctuaries are have not been part of any survey or connected to users, communities, I. Abstract collection since the 2012 Census of corporations, and economies and the This request is for extension of a Governments. It is necessary to avenues being pursued to enhance these currently approved information determine if such governments are still connections. Advisory council collection. in existence. The 2016 GUS asks a representatives will be asked to provide Title 13, Section 161 of the United follow-up question for those advice on how ONMS can enhance its States Code requires the Secretary of governments no longer in existence to connections, programming, and Commerce to conduct a Census of provide, if applicable, contact marketing to expand its reach beyond a Governments every five years, in years information for a newly created or subset of communities. The agenda is ending in ‘‘2’’ and ‘‘7’’. Section 193 existing entity that may be providing the subject to change. The latest version provides for the collection of services or functions of the former preliminary and supplementary government. It is necessary to verify and will be posted at http://sanctuaries. statistics as related to the main topic of update all this information in the noaa.gov/management/bac/ the census. The Census of Governments universe prior to the 2017 Census of welcome.html. publishes unit counts and legal Governments. Authority: 16 U.S.C. Sections 1431, et seq. descriptions as well as employment and The 2016 GUS asks all existing (Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog finance data for all county, municipal, governments for contact information, Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary Program) township, school district, and special including a mailing address and, if district governments in the United applicable, Web site address. This Dated: February 27, 2015. States. Prior to conducting the Census of information is used to verify what Daniel J. Basta, Governments it is necessary to ensure currently exists in the universe and mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Director, Office of National Marine that the universe of all governments is update any discrepancies. The contact Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, as accurate and up to date as possible. information will be used when mailing National Oceanic and Atmospheric The Government Units Survey (GUS) is the 2017 Census of Governments as well Administration. conducted the year prior to the Census as for any public sector surveys [FR Doc. 2015–07245 Filed 3–31–15; 8:45 am] of Governments, and is used to evaluate conducted over the next five years. BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P and update the universe of all local and The 2016 GUS also asks questions on special district governments. The 2016 employment and defined-contribution Government Units Survey (GUS) is the plans, defined-benefit, and post- VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:37 Mar 31, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM 01APN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 62 / Wednesday, April 1, 2015 / Notices 17409 employment healthcare plans of is necessary for the proper performance Administration, U.S. Department of governments. Specific, detailed of the functions of the agency, including Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution questions on defined-benefit plans and whether the information shall have Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; defined-contribution plans are practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the telephone: (202) 482–2593 or (202) 482– important to determine which plans are agency’s estimate of the burden 5260, respectively. in scope for current and future public (including hours and cost) of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: sector surveys the Census Bureau proposed collection of information; (c) conducts. A Remarks section allows ways to enhance the quality, utility, and Scope of the Investigation respondents to provide any additional clarity of the information to be The scope of this investigation covers insight that may be helpful to improve collected; and (d) ways to minimize the boltless steel shelving units the universe of local and special district burden of the collection of information prepackaged for sale, with or without governments. on respondents, including through the decks (‘‘boltless steel shelving’’). The II. Method of Collection use of automated collection techniques term ‘‘prepackaged for sale’’ means that, or other forms of information at a minimum, the steel vertical The 2016 Government Units Survey is technology. supports (i.e., uprights and posts) and a census of all counties, municipalities, Comments submitted in response to steel horizontal supports (i.e., beams, townships, and special districts. this notice will be summarized and/or braces) necessary to assemble a Respondents have the option of included in the request for OMB completed shelving unit (with or responding by paper, via the Internet, by approval of this information collection; without decks) are packaged together for telephone, or by facsimile. An advance they also will become a matter of public ultimate purchase by the end-user. The notification informing respondents of record. scope also includes add-on kits. Add-on the impending arrival of the Government Units Survey will be Dated: March 27, 2015. kits include, but are not limited to, kits mailed two weeks prior to mailing the Sarah Brabson, that allow the end-user to add an questionnaire. The Government Units NOAA PRA Clearance Officer, submitting for extension shelving unit onto an existing Survey questionnaire will be mailed to Census. boltless steel shelving unit such that the respondents in February 2016 followed [FR Doc. 2015–07433 Filed 3–31–15; 8:45 am] extension and the original unit will by a reminder letter a month later, and BILLING CODE 3510–07–P share common frame elements (e.g., two a follow-up mailing in April 2016. The posts). The term ‘‘boltless’’ refers to 2016 Government Units Survey steel shelving in which the vertical and questionnaire will provide a Web site DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE horizontal supports forming the frame for respondents who choose to respond are assembled primarily without the use electronically. The Web site is secure International Trade Administration of nuts and bolts or screws. The vertical and respondents will receive a unique [A–570–018] and horizontal support members for user identification and password, which boltless steel shelving are assembled by will be included in a letter Boltless Steel Shelving Units methods such as, but not limited to, accompanying the questionnaire. A toll Prepackaged for Sale from the fitting a rivet, punched or cut tab or free number will also be provided to People’s Republic of China: other similar connector on one support respondents on the questionnaire which Preliminary Determination of Sales at into a hole, slot or similar receptacle on respondents may use to ask questions or Less Than Fair Value another support. The supports lock to provide responses. A telephone together to form the frame for the AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, shelving unit, and provide the structural number and instructions to respond to International Trade Administration, the 2016 GUS by facsimile will be integrity of the shelving unit separate Department of Commerce. from the inclusion of any decking. The provided upon request to respondents. DATES: Effective Date: April 1, 2015. incidental use of nuts and bolts or III. Data SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce screws to add accessories, wall anchors, OMB Control Number: 0607–0930. (‘‘Department’’) preliminarily tie-bars or shelf supports does not Form Number(s): GUS–1. determines that boltless steel shelving remove the product from scope. Boltless Type of Review: Regular (extension of units prepackaged for sale from the steel shelving units may also come a currently approved information People’s Republic of China (‘‘PRC’’) are packaged as partially assembled, such as collection). being, or are likely to be, sold in the when two upright supports are welded Affected Public: Public sector entities United States at less than fair value together with front-to-back supports, or consisting of local, general purpose, and (‘‘LTFV’’), as provided in section 733 of are otherwise connected, to form an end special district governments. the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (‘‘the unit for the frame. The boltless steel Estimated Number of Respondents: Act’’). The period of investigation shelving covered by this investigation Approximately 77,000. (‘‘POI’’) is January 1, 2014, through June may be commonly described as rivet Estimated Time per Response: 15 30, 2014. The estimated margins of sales shelving, welded frame shelving, slot minutes. at LTFV are shown in the ‘‘Preliminary and tab shelving, and punched rivet Estimated Total Annual Burden Determination’’ section of this notice. (quasi-rivet) shelving as well as by other Hours: 19,250. The final determination will be issued Estimated Total Annual Cost to trade names. The term ‘‘deck’’ refers to 75 days after publication of this the shelf that sits on or fits into the Public: $0 in recordkeeping/reporting preliminary determination in the mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES costs. horizontal supports (beams or braces) to Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Federal Register. Interested parties are provide the horizontal storage surface of Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. invited to comment on this preliminary the shelving unit. Sections 161 and 193. determination. The scope includes all boltless steel FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: shelving meeting the description above, IV. Request for Comments Kabir Archuletta or Josh Startup, AD/ regardless of (1) vertical support or post Comments are invited on: (a) Whether CVD Operations, Office V, Enforcement type (including but not limited to open the proposed collection of information and Compliance, International Trade post, closed post and tubing); (2) VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:37 Mar 31, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM 01APN1


Document Created: 2015-12-18 11:03:48
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 11:03:48
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesTo ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before June 1, 2015.
ContactRequests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Joy P. Pierson by email at [email protected] and Elizabeth Accetta at [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 17408 
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