82 FR 14869 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 55 (March 23, 2017)

Page Range		14869-14870
FR Document		2017-05774

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 55 (Thursday, March 23, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 55 (Thursday, March 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14869-14870]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05774]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Survey of Construction, Questionnaire for the Building 
Permit Official.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0125.
    Form Number(s): SOC-QBPO.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Number of Respondents: 1,017.
    Average Hours per Response: 15 minutes.
    Burden Hours: 254.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau is requesting a revision of 
the currently approved collection for the Survey of Construction 
Questionnaire

[[Page 14870]]

for the Building Permit Official (SOC-QBPO). The information collected 
on the SOC-QBPO is necessary to carry out the sampling for the Survey 
of Housing Starts, Sales and Completions (OMB number 0607-0110), also 
known as the Survey of Construction (SOC). Government agencies and 
private companies use statistics from the SOC to monitor and evaluate 
the large and dynamic housing construction industry.
    The SOC-QBPO is an electronic questionnaire. The field 
representatives (FRs) either call or visit the respondents to enter 
their survey responses into a laptop computer using the Computer 
Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) software formatted for the SOC-
QBPO. We will continue to use the current CAPI questionnaire with 
modifications to the form for the purpose of improving the process of 
accurately classifying permitted units and to eliminate the collection 
of information deemed no longer necessary for the proper sample 
selection for the SOC. The overall length of the interview will not 
change. The sample size slightly increased due to the increase in total 
number of permit-issuing jurisdictions.
    The Census Bureau FRs use the SOC-QBPO to obtain information on the 
operating procedures of a permit office. This enables them to locate, 
classify, list, and sample building permits for residential 
construction. These permits are used as the basis for the sample 
selected for SOC. The Census Bureau also uses the information to verify 
and update the geographic coverage of permit offices.
    Failure to collect this information would make it difficult, if not 
impossible, to accurately classify and sample building permits for the 
SOC. Data for two principal economic indicators are produced from the 
SOC: New Residential Construction (housing starts and housing 
completions) and New Residential Sales. Government agencies use these 
statistics to evaluate economic policy, measure progress towards the 
national housing goal, make policy decisions, and formulate 
legislation. For example, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System uses data from this survey to evaluate the effect of interest 
rates in this interest-rate sensitive area of the economy. The Bureau 
of Economic Analysis (BEA) uses the data in developing the Gross 
Domestic Product (GDP). The private sector and other data users from 
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National 
Association of Home Builders (NAHB) use the information for estimating 
the demand for housing, building materials and the many products used 
in new housing and to schedule production, distribution, and sales 
efforts. The financial community uses the data to estimate the demand 
for short-term (construction loans) and long-term (mortgages) 
borrowing.
    Affected Public: State, local, or Tribal government.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 131 and 
182.
    This information collection request may be viewed at 
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce 
collections currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-5806.

Sheleen Dumas,
PRA Departmental Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-05774 Filed 3-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 55 / Thursday, March 23, 2017 / Notices 14869

DATES: Friday, April 7, 2017 from 12:00 Dated: March 17, 2017. mailed to the Midwestern Regional
p.m. EST to 1:00 p.m. EST. David Mussatt, Office, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights,
Public Call-in Information: Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit. 55 W. Monroe St., Suite 410, Chicago,
Conference call-in number: 1–888–601– [FR Doc. 2017–05745 Filed 3–22–17; 8:45 am] IL 60615. They may also be faxed to the
3861 and password: 636552. BILLING CODE P Commission at (312) 353–8324, or
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ivy emailed to Carolyn Allen at callen@
L. Davis, at ero@usccr.gov or by phone usccr.gov. Persons who desire
at 202–376–7533. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS additional information may contact the
Midwestern Regional Office at (312)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested Notice of Public Meeting of the 353–8311.
members of the public may listen to the Arkansas Advisory Committee To Records generated from this meeting
discussion by calling the following toll- Discuss Civil Rights Topics in the may be inspected and reproduced at the
free conference call-in number: 1–888– State Midwestern Regional Office, as they
601–3861 and password: 636552. Please
AGENCY: U.S. Commission on Civil become available, both before and after
be advised that before placing them into
Rights. the meeting. Records of the meeting will
the conference call, the conference call
ACTION: Announcement of meeting.
be available via www.facadatabase.gov
operator will ask callers to provide their
under the Commission on Civil Rights,
names, their organizational affiliations
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, Arkansas Advisory Committee link
(if any), and email addresses (so that
pursuant to the provisions of the rules (http://www.facadatabase.gov/
callers may be notified of future
and regulations of the U.S. Commission committee/meetings.aspx?cid=236).
meetings). Callers can expect to incur
on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Persons interested in the work of this
charges for calls they initiate over
Federal Advisory Committee Act that Committee are directed to the
wireless lines, and the Commission will
the Arkansas Advisory Committee Commission’s Web site, http://
not refund any incurred charges. Callers
(Committee) will hold a meeting on www.usccr.gov, or may contact the
will incur no charge for calls they
Monday, April 3, 2017, at 12:00 noon Midwestern Regional Office at the above
initiate over land-line connections to
CST for the purpose of a discussion on email or street address.
the toll-free conference call-in number.
civil rights topics affecting the state.
Members of the public are invited to Agenda
DATES: The meeting will be held on
submit written comments; the Welcome and Roll Call
Monday, April 3, 2017, at 12:00 noon.
comments must be received in the Civil Rights Topics in Arkansas
CST.
regional office approximately 30 days Future Plans and Actions
after each scheduled meeting. Written FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Barreras, DFO, at dbarreras@ Public Comment
comments may be mailed to the Eastern Adjournment
Regional Office, U.S. Commission on usccr.gov or 312–353–8311.
Civil Rights, 1331 Pennsylvania SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Members Dated: March 16, 2017.
Avenue, Suite 1150, Washington, DC of the public can listen to the David Mussatt,
20425, faxed to (202) 376–7548, or discussion. This meeting is available to Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit.
emailed to Evelyn Bohor at ero@ the public through the following toll- [FR Doc. 2017–05560 Filed 3–22–17; 8:45 am]
usccr.gov. Persons who desire free call-in number: 888–427–9415, BILLING CODE P
additional information may contact the conference ID: 6982990. Any interested
Eastern Regional Office at (202) 376– member of the public may call this
7533. number and listen to the meeting. An
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Records and documents discussed open comment period will be provided
during the meeting will be available for to allow members of the public to make Submission for OMB Review;
public viewing as they become available a statement as time allows. The Comment Request
at http://facadatabase.gov/committee/ conference call operator will ask callers
meetings.aspx?cid=281; click the to identify themselves, the organization The Department of Commerce will
‘‘Meeting Details’’ and ‘‘Documents’’ they are affiliated with (if any), and an submit to the Office of Management and
links. Records generated from this email address prior to placing callers Budget (OMB) for clearance the
meeting may also be inspected and into the conference room. Callers can following proposal for collection of
reproduced at the Eastern Regional expect to incur regular charges for calls information under the provisions of the
Office, as they become available, both they initiate over wireless lines, Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
before and after the meetings. Persons according to their wireless plan. The chapter 35).
interested in the work of this advisory Commission will not refund any Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
committee are advised to go to the incurred charges. Callers will incur no Title: Survey of Construction,
Commission’s Web site, www.usccr.gov, charge for calls they initiate over land- Questionnaire for the Building Permit
or to contact the Eastern Regional Office line connections to the toll-free Official.
at the above phone numbers, email or telephone number. Persons with hearing OMB Control Number: 0607–0125.
street address. impairments may also follow the Form Number(s): SOC–QBPO.
proceedings by first calling the Federal Type of Request: Revision of a
Agenda Relay Service at 1–800–977–8339 and currently approved collection.
Number of Respondents: 1,017.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

providing the Service with the
I. Welcome and Introductions conference call number and conference Average Hours per Response: 15
—Rollcall minutes.
Planning Meeting
ID number.
—Discuss Civil Rights Topics for Civil
Members of the public are also Burden Hours: 254.
Rights Project entitled to submit written comments; Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census
II. Other Business the comments must be received in the Bureau is requesting a revision of the
III. Open Comment regional office within 30 days following currently approved collection for the
IV. Adjournment the meeting. Written comments may be Survey of Construction Questionnaire

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14870 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 55 / Thursday, March 23, 2017 / Notices

for the Building Permit Official (SOC– products used in new housing and to Kauffman Foundation, the Minority
QBPO). The information collected on schedule production, distribution, and Business Development Agency (MBDA),
the SOC–QBPO is necessary to carry out sales efforts. The financial community and the Census Bureau for three
the sampling for the Survey of Housing uses the data to estimate the demand for reference years (2014–2016).
Starts, Sales and Completions (OMB short-term (construction loans) and This collection allows the Census
number 0607–0110), also known as the long-term (mortgages) borrowing. Bureau to collaborate on the
Survey of Construction (SOC). Affected Public: State, local, or Tribal implementation of a key National
Government agencies and private government. Academies recommendation for
companies use statistics from the SOC Frequency: Annually. improving the measurement of business
to monitor and evaluate the large and Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. dynamics in the U.S. economy, which
dynamic housing construction industry. Legal Authority: Title 13, United recommended:
The SOC–QBPO is an electronic States Code, Sections 131 and 182. ‘‘The Census Bureau Survey of
questionnaire. The field representatives This information collection request Business Owners (SBO) should be
(FRs) either call or visit the respondents may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. conducted on an annual basis. The
to enter their survey responses into a Follow the instructions to view survey should include both a
laptop computer using the Computer Department of Commerce collections longitudinal component and a flexible,
Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) currently under review by OMB. modular design that allows survey
software formatted for the SOC–QBPO. Written comments and content to change over time. In addition,
We will continue to use the current recommendations for the proposed the Census Bureau should explore the
CAPI questionnaire with modifications information collection should be sent possibility of creating a public-use
to the form for the purpose of improving within 30 days of publication of this (anonymized) SBO or a restricted access
the process of accurately classifying notice to OIRA_Submission@ version of the data file.’’
permitted units and to eliminate the omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. —Lynch, Lisa M., John Haltiwanger, and
collection of information deemed no Christopher Mackie, eds.
Sheleen Dumas,
longer necessary for the proper sample Understanding Business Dynamics:
selection for the SOC. The overall length PRA Departmental Lead, Office of the Chief
Information Officer. An Integrated Data System for
of the interview will not change. The America’s Future. National
[FR Doc. 2017–05774 Filed 3–22–17; 8:45 am]
sample size slightly increased due to the Academies Press, 2007.
increase in total number of permit- BILLING CODE 3510–07–P

issuing jurisdictions. The ASE includes all nonfarm
The Census Bureau FRs use the SOC– employer businesses filing Internal
QBPO to obtain information on the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Revenue Service (IRS) tax forms as
operating procedures of a permit office. individual proprietorships,
Submission for OMB Review; partnerships, or any type of corporation,
This enables them to locate, classify,
Comment Request and with receipts of $1,000 or more. The
list, and sample building permits for
residential construction. These permits The Department of Commerce will ASE samples approximately 290,000
are used as the basis for the sample submit to the Office of Management and employer businesses. The sample is
selected for SOC. The Census Bureau Budget (OMB) for clearance the stratified by metropolitan statistical area
also uses the information to verify and following proposal for collection of (MSA), frame, and age of business. The
update the geographic coverage of information under the provisions of the Census Bureau selects large companies
permit offices. Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. with certainty. These companies are
Failure to collect this information chapter 35). selected based on volume of sales,
would make it difficult, if not Agency: U.S. Census Bureau. payroll, or number of paid employees.
impossible, to accurately classify and Title: Annual Survey of All certainty cases are sure to be
sample building permits for the SOC. Entrepreneurs. selected and represent only themselves.
Data for two principal economic OMB Control Number: 0607–0986. The ASE has been conducted for
indicators are produced from the SOC: Form Number(s): None, electronic survey years 2014 and 2015 and will
New Residential Construction (housing collection. continue for 2016 per the agreement
starts and housing completions) and Type of Request: Revision of a between the Census Bureau and the
New Residential Sales. Government currently approved collection. survey sponsors. There are no final
agencies use these statistics to evaluate Number of Respondents: 290,000. plans to conduct the ASE beyond survey
economic policy, measure progress Average Hours per Response: 35 year 2016. However, the Census Bureau
towards the national housing goal, make minutes. is exploring options to maintain this
policy decisions, and formulate Burden Hours: 169,167. collection for future survey years.
legislation. For example, the Board of Needs and Uses: In an effort to Content for the ASE includes
Governors of the Federal Reserve improve the timely measurement of questions from the 2012 SBO (form
System uses data from this survey to business dynamics in the United States, SBO–1) with additional questions on
evaluate the effect of interest rates in the Census Bureau is conducting the sources of capital and financial barriers
this interest-rate sensitive area of the Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs (ASE). that are asked each survey year. The
economy. The Bureau of Economic The ASE provides annual data on the ASE also includes a series of new
Analysis (BEA) uses the data in characteristics of businesses and questions each survey year based on a
developing the Gross Domestic Product business owners. The ASE is a relevant business topic determined prior
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

(GDP). The private sector and other data supplement to the 5-year Survey of to data collection. Each year the new
users from Department of Housing and Business Owners (SBO). ASE estimates module of questions is submitted to the
Urban Development (HUD) and the include the number of firms, sales/ Office of Management and Budget
National Association of Home Builders receipts, annual payroll, and (OMB) for approval. The Census Bureau
(NAHB) use the information for employment by gender, ethnicity, race, is requesting approval to field the 2016
estimating the demand for housing, and veteran status. The ASE is ASE. The module selected for the 2016
building materials and the many conducted jointly by the Ewing Marion ASE focuses on business advice and

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Document Created: 2017-03-23 02:45:45
Document Modified: 2017-03-23 02:45:45

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
FR Citation		82 FR 14869