81 FR 43573 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2017 Economic Census of Island Areas

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 128 (July 5, 2016)

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 81, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43573-43575]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15786]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2017 Economic 
Census of Island Areas

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 September 6, 2016.

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 Kevin Deardorff, U.S. Census Bureau, Economy Wide 
Statistics Division, Room 8K154, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 
20233, telephone (301) 763-6033, or via the Internet at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Economic Census of Island Areas, conducted under authority of 
Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 131, is the primary 
source of facts about the structure and functioning of the U.S. 
economy, including Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, 
collectively referred to as Island Areas. The Economic Census of Island 
Areas, is the primary source of facts about each of the island areas' 
economies. Economic Census of Island Areas statistics serve to 
benchmark estimates of local net income and gross domestic product, and 
provide essential information for government (Federal and local), 
businesses, and the general public.
    The 2017 Economic Census of Island Areas will cover the following 
sectors as defined by the North American Industry Classification System 
(NAICS): Mining; Utilities; Construction; Manufacturing; Wholesale and 
Retail Trades; Transportation and Warehousing; Information; Finance and 
Insurance; Real Estate and Rental and Leasing; Professional, 
Scientific, and Technical Services; Management of Companies and 
Enterprises; Administrative and Support and Waste Management and 
Remediation Services; Educational Services; Health Care and Social 
Assistance; Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation; Accommodation and Food 
Services; and Other Services (except Public Administration). This scope 
is roughly equivalent to that of the stateside Economic Census. Due to 
concerns about the completeness of the universe for collection, the 
Economic Census of Island Areas does not collect data on Scheduled Air 
Transportation (NAICS 4811) or Business, Professional, Labor, 
Political, and Similar Organizations (NAICS 8139). The Economic Census 
of Island Areas is the

[[Page 43574]]

only source of economic data collected for the Island Areas.
    The information collected will produce statistics by kind of 
business on the number of establishments, sales, value of shipments, 
receipts, revenue, payroll, and employment. The Economic Census of 
Island Areas will also yield a variety of industry-specific statistics, 
including sales/receipts by commodity/merchandise/receipt lines, sales/
value of shipments by class of customer, and number of hotel rooms. 
While the Economic Census of Island Areas collects the same sector 
level data as the Economic Census, the data published are at a less 
detailed NAICS level with some additional exclusions.
    Data collection for the 2017 Economic Census of Island Areas will 
begin in January of 2018 and will closeout in October of 2018. In an 
effort to reduce respondent burden, processing time, and cost, the 2017 
Economic Census of Island Areas is aiming to increase data collection 
through the use of electronic reporting tools.

II. Method of Collection

    The 2017 Economic Census of Island Areas will be conducted using 
electronic reporting instrument procedures with a follow-up mailout of 
a paper questionnaire. Establishments will be selected from the Census 
Bureau's Business Register. The Census Bureau's Business Register 
provides a current and comprehensive database of U.S. business 
establishments and companies for statistical program use. An 
establishment will be included in the 2017 Economic Census of Island 
Areas if: (a) It is engaged in any of the sectors within the scope of 
the census listed above; (b) it is an active operating establishment 
with payroll; and (c) it is located in Puerto Rico, Guam, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, 
or American Samoa.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-XXXX.
    Questionnaire Number(s): Electronic Path ID(s): The questionnaires 
and paths in the electronic instrument used to collect information in 
the Islands Areas are tailored to specific industries or groups of 
industries. Puerto Rico questionnaires and electronic instruments are 
available in English as well as Spanish.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Questionnaire No. and
      electronic path ID           Island area             Trade
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2101T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Utilities,
                                                    Transportation, and
                                                    Warehousing.
2102T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Utilidades,
                                                    Transportacion y
                                                    Almacenaje.
2103T.........................  Selected U.S.      Utilities,
                                 Territories.       Transportation, and
                                                    Warehousing.
2104T.........................  American Samoa...  Utilities,
                                                    Transportation, and
                                                    Warehousing.
2301T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Construction.
2302T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Industrias de
                                                    Construccion.
2303T.........................  Selected U.S.      Construction.
                                 Territories.
2304T.........................  American Samoa...  Construction.
3101T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Manufacturing.
3102T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Manufactura.
3103T.........................  Selected U.S.      Manufacturing.
                                 Territories.
3104T.........................  American Samoa...  Manufacturing.
4201T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Wholesale Trade.
4202T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Comercio al Poy
                                                    Mayor.
4203T.........................  Selected U.S.      Wholesale Trade.
                                 Territories.
4204T.........................  American Samoa...  Wholesale Trade.
4401T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Retail Trade.
4402T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Comercio al Detal.
4403T.........................  Selected U.S.      Retail Trade.
                                 Territories.
4404T.........................  American Samoa...  Retail Trade.
5101T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Services.
5102T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Servicios.
5103T.........................  Selected U.S.      Services.
                                 Territories.
5104T.........................  American Samoa...  Services.
5201T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Finance, Insurance,
                                                    Real Estate, Rental,
                                                    and Leasing.
5202T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Finanzas y Seguros,
                                                    Bienes Raices,
                                                    Alquiler y
                                                    Arrendamiento.
5203T.........................  Selected U.S.      Finance, Insurance,
                                 Territories.       Real Estate, Rental,
                                                    and Leasing.
5204T.........................  American Samoa...  Finance, Insurance,
                                                    Real Estate, Rental,
                                                    and Leasing.
7201T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Accommodation
                                                    Services.
7202T.........................  Puerto Rico......  Servicios de
                                                    Alojamiento.
7203T.........................  Selected U.S.      Accommodation
                                 Territories.       Services.
7204T.........................  American Samoa...  Accommodation
                                                    Services.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Local governments, businesses, and other for 
profit or nonprofit institutions or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 52,970 (Puerto Rico: 45,000; Guam: 
3,400; Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: 1,400; U.S. Virgin 
Islands: 2,700; American Samoa: 470).
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 52,970 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, U.S.C., Section 131 and 191.

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

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included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: June 29, 2016.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-15786 Filed 7-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P