80 FR 52443 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Construction Progress Reporting Survey

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 168 (August 31, 2015)

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, Number 168 (Monday, August 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52443-52444]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21389]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Construction 
Progress Reporting 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 October 30, 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 [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Erica M. Filipek, U.S. Census Bureau, EID, CENHQ 
Room 7K057, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233-6900, telephone 
(301) 763-5161 (or via email at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request a revision of a currently 
approved collection for forms C-700, C-700(R), C-700(SL), and C-700(F). 
These forms are used to conduct the Construction Progress Reporting 
Surveys (CPRS) and collect information on the dollar value of 
construction put in place. Form C-700, Private Construction Projects, 
collects construction put in place data for nonresidential projects 
owned by private companies or individuals. Form C-700(R), Multi-family 
Residential Projects, collects construction put in place data for 
private multi-family residential buildings. Form C-700(SL), State and 
Local Government Projects, collects construction put in place data for 
state and local government projects. Form C-700(F), Federal Government 
Projects collects construction put in place for federal government 
projects.
    The Census Bureau uses the information from these surveys to 
publish the value of construction put in place for the `Construction 
Spending' monthly principal economic indicator. 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 government 
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 the 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.
    There are two changes planned to the content of these 
questionnaires. The first is the elimination of the data item

[[Page 52444]]

for square footage of the construction project. This information was 
used for editing but is no longer needed. The second change is the 
addition of a data item to collect the projected completion date to 
assist with imputation if a response is not obtained in future months.

II. Method of Collection

    An independent systematic sample of construction projects is 
selected each month according to predetermined sample 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. Respondents 
also have the option to report online using a password protected site. 
Nonrespondents are later called by a Census interviewer and are asked 
to report data over the phone. Having the information available from a 
database at the time of the interview greatly helps reduce the time 
respondents spend on the phone. Interviews are scheduled at the 
convenience of the respondent, which further reduces their burden.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0153.
    Form Number(s): C-700, C-700(R), C-700(SL), C-700(F).
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals, Businesses or Other for Profit, Not-
for-Profit Institutions, Small Businesses or Organizations, State and 
Local Governments and the Federal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: C-700 = 6,900; C-700(R) = 3,300; 
C-700(SL) = 12,200; C-700(F) = 1,600; TOTAL = 24,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 min. for the first month; and 10 
min. for the subsequent months. We estimate, on average, that projects 
remain in sample for 12 months.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 56,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 131 and 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: August 25, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-21389 Filed 8-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P