[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 194 (Thursday, October 7, 1999)] [Notices] [Page 54619] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-26189] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Census Bureau 1999 Economic Census Pretest
Action
Proposed collection; comment request.
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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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).
Dates
Written comments must be submitted on or before December 6, 1999.
Addresses
Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5027, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at LEngelme@doc.gov).
For Further Information Contact
Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Bruce M. Goldhirsch, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2614/3, Washington, DC 20233-6100, (301-457-2626).
Supplementary Information
I. Abstract
The proposed information collection is a test of an alternative form design for collecting retail trade data in the upcoming 2002 Economic Census. Currently, we collect the retail trade statistics in the economic census using a two column 8\1/2\ x 14 inch size report form. The current design has the most important questions, total receipts, payroll, employment, and kinds of business activity on the first page of the questionnaire. The Census Bureau will test the effects of changing the report form from the two column 8\1/2\ x 14 to a single column 8\1/2\ x 11 form. The single column 8\1/2\ x 11 inch form has the advantage of being easier to fax, photocopy, download from the Internet, and has been requested by our respondents. Items we are looking for in this pretest are the possible effects on the response rate because the forms will have more pages and possible higher item nonresponse rate for the key data items that will move from page one of the questionnaire to page two. There will be four panels comprising the 1999 pretest. Each panel will use the existing 1997 data content. The first panel will be the standard two column 8\1/2\ x 14 inch form and will be a control panel. The second panel will be a two column 8\1/2\ x 11 inch form. The third panel will be a single column 8\1/2\ x 11 inch form. The fourth panel will be a single column 8\1/2\ x 14 inch form. Each panel will have 2,381 respondents. This will enable us to measure a reporting change of 5 percent or more with a 90 percent confidence level assuming a 50 percent response rate. For the pretest we have selected three retail trade forms from the 1997 census. They are the RT-5504, Gasoline Stations; RT-5801, Eating, Drinking Places; and RT-5901, Health and Personal Care Stores. Each report form will be subjected to the same four panel treatment.
II. Method of Collection
The collection for the 1999 Economic Pretest will use a mail-out/ mail-back method.
III. Data
OMB Number: Not available. Form Number: RT-5504A, RT-5504B, RT-5504C, RT-5504D, RT-5801A, RT- 5801B, RT-5801C, RT-5801D, RT-5901A, RT-5901B, RT-5901C, and RT-5901D. Type of Review: Regular. Affected Public: Single unit retail establishments. Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,524. Estimated Time Per Response: .77 hours. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,333. Estimated Total Annual Cost: We do not expect respondents to incur any costs other than that time required to complete the questionnaire. The total time cost is estimated to be $97,095. The information requested is of the type and scope normally carried in company records and no special hardware or accounting software or system is necessary to provide answers to this information collection. Therefore, respondents are not expected to incur any capital and start-up costs or system maintenance costs in responding. Further, purchasing of outside accounting or information collection services, if performed by the respondent, is part of usual and customary business practices and not specifically required for this information collection. Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory. Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 131, 193, and 224.
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: October 1, 1999. Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 99-26189 Filed 10-6-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-07-P