[Federal Register: January 23, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 14)]
[Notices]
[Page 3456-3457]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23ja06-25]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
DOC has submitted 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: 2007 Economic Census General Classification Report.
Form Number(s): NC-99023, NC-99023-L1, NC-99023-L11, NC-99023-L21,
NC-99023-L31.
Agency Approval Number: None.
Type of Request: New collection.
Burden: 33,333 hours.
Number of Respondents: 200,000.
Avg. Hours per Response: 10 minutes.
Needs and Uses: Accurate and reliable industry and geographic codes
are critical to the U.S. Census Bureau's economic statistical programs.
New businesses are assigned industry classifications by the Social
Security Administration (SSA). Over seven percent of these businesses
cannot be assigned industry codes because insufficient information is
provided on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form SS-4. Since the
2002 Economic Census, the number of unclassified businesses has grown
to over 110,000 (over 3% increase).
In order to provide detailed industry data for the 2007 Economic
Census and the Business Register, the basic sampling frame for many of
our current surveys, these unclassified businesses must be assigned
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. During the
2007 Economic Census, the NC-99023 questionnaire will be used to
collect information from unclassified single-unit establishments. In
2006, the year prior to the census, this form will be used to collect
information from: (1) Unclassified establishments due to insufficient
information provided on their SS-4 forms, and (2) partially classified
establishments.
Establishments that are currently unclassified or partially
classified could be misclassified in the economic census without a
complete NAICS code. This refile operation will determine a complete
and reliable classification in order to ensure the establishment is
tabulated in the correct detailed industry for the 2007 Economic
Census. Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides industry
codes for establishments that they have classified in their universe
but which are unclassified in the Business Register, detailed industry
classification would still be missing for the remaining units. If these
establishments are not mailed as part of the economic census, economic
data for these cases could be lost. Classification information obtained
from these establishments will also be
[[Page 3457]]
included in the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns (CBP)
publications. CBP publications provide annual data on establishment
counts, employment, and payroll for all sectors of the economy at
national, State, and county levels.
The economic census is the primary source of facts about the
structure and functioning of the Nation's economy featuring industry
and geographic detail. Economic census statistics and their derivatives
serve as part of the framework for the national accounts and provide
essential information for government, business, and the general public.
The Federal Government uses census information as an important part of
the framework for the national income and product accounts, input-
output tables, economic indexes, and other composite measures that
serve as the factual basis for economic policy-making, planning, and
program administration. Further, the census provides sampling frames
and benchmarks for current surveys of business which track short-term
economic trends, serve as economic indicators, and contribute critical
source data for current estimates of gross domestic product. State and
local governments rely on the economic census as a unique source of
small geographic area economic statistics for use in policy-making,
planning, and program administration. Finally, industry, business,
academia, and the general public use information from the economic
census for evaluating markets, preparing business plans and making
business decisions; conducting economic research, including forecasting
and modeling; and establishing benchmarks for their own sample surveys.
The failure to collect this information would result in less
reliable source data and benchmarks reflecting today's economy for the
national accounts, input-output tables, and other measures of economic
activity. This would lead to a substantial degradation in the quality
of these important statistics.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit
institutions.
Frequency: Every 5 years.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: 13 U.S.C. 131 and 224.
OMB Desk Officer: Susan Schechter, (202) 395-5103.
Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, room 6625, 14th and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at
dhynek@doc.gov).
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice
to Susan Schechter, OMB Desk Officer, either by fax (202-395-7245) or
e-mail (susan_schechter@omb.eop.gov).
Dated: January 17, 2006.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-675 Filed 1-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P