83 FR 43846 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Construction Progress Reporting Surveys

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 167 (August 28, 2018)

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 83, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43846-43847]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18623]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Construction 
Progress Reporting Surveys

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 29, 2018.

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 an extension 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 is for nonresidential projects 
owned by private companies or individuals. Form C-700(R) is for private 
multifamily residential buildings. Form C-700(SL) is for state and 
local government projects. Form C-700(F) is for federal government 
projects.
    The Census Bureau uses the information from these surveys to 
publish the value of construction put in place for the monthly 
`Construction Spending' principal economic indicator. Published 
estimates are used by a variety of private businesses 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. 
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 currently no planned content changes to the 
questionnaires. However, beginning with the September 2018 reference 
period, the Census Bureau will begin mailing redesigned survey forms. 
They were previously printed on a single legal page, and will now be in 
booklet form. Additionally, the contact information will now be 
requested on the front page of the booklet rather than on the back 
page, and the numbering scheme will reflect this rearrangement of 
questions.

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. The 
Census Bureau mails preprinted survey forms monthly to respondents to 
fill in current month data and any revisions to previous months. 
Respondents have the option to report online or mail the forms back. If 
respondents do not return the form or respond online, Census 
interviewers will contact them by phone to schedule a phone interview 
to collect the data. Interviews are scheduled at the convenience of the 
respondent. We request that respondents have their information 
available from an internal database at the time of the interview, which 
greatly reduces the time they spend on the phone during these 
interviews. After the preliminary mailing, if a respondent consistently 
reports electronically, the respondent will begin receiving email 
notifications and reminders to complete the online survey, and the 
Census Bureau will cease mailing them paper forms.

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.

[[Page 43847]]

    Estimated Number of Respondents:

C-700 = 8,500
C-700(R) = 3,900
C-700(SL) = 11,000
C-700(F) = 1,600
Total = 25,000

    Estimated Time per Response: 30 min for the first month; and 10 min 
for the subsequent months. We estimate that, on average, projects 
remain in sample for 12 months.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 58,333.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. (This is not the cost of 
respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for 
such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to 
report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services 
required specifically by the collection.)
    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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-18623 Filed 8-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P