[Federal Register: May 30, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 103)]
[Notices]               
[Page 29956]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30my07-37]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: 2008 New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey.
    Form Number(s): H-100, H-105, H-108, H-100(L), H-100L(A).
    Agency Approval Number: 0607-0757.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved collection.
    Burden: 10,175 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 20,500.
    Average Hours Per Response: 27 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau requests approval to conduct 
the 2008 New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey (NYCHVS). The Census 
Bureau will conduct this survey for the New York City Department of 
Housing Preservation and Development (NYCHPD). Pursuant to the Local 
Emergency Housing Rent Control Act (Chapter 8603, Laws of New York, 
1963, as amended by Chapter 657, Laws of New York, 1967) and Sections 
26-414 and 26-415 of the Administrative Code of the City, a survey is 
required in order to determine the supply, condition, and vacancy rate 
of housing in the city. The NYCHPD must take this survey every three 
years. The Census Bureau has conducted this survey for the city since 
1962, most recently in 2002 under the authority of Title 13 U.S.C., 
section 8b.
    Census Bureau interviewers will conduct personal visit interviews 
for a sample of housing units in the City, the vast majority of which 
are rental units in multi-unit rental structures (apartment buildings). 
Single-family rental or owner-occupied units (houses), however, are not 
excluded from the sample. Census will interview residents (occupied 
units) or other knowledgeable people such as a building manager, 
superintendent, or rental or real estate agent (vacant units) to gather 
information on vacancy rates, housing costs, and the income of 
residents. About ten percent of the sample will be reinterviewed for 
quality control purposes. Census will also determine primarily by 
observation whether a separate sample of units previously lost from the 
City's housing inventory have been reconverted for residential use.
    The 2008 NYCHVS will be an up-to-date and comprehensive data source 
required by rent control laws as well as a source of data needed to 
evaluate the city's housing policies. Specifically, the city will look 
to the 2008 survey to provide accurate and reliable estimates of the 
rental and homeowner vacancy rates, to measure improvements in housing 
and neighborhood conditions, and to provide data on low-income, 
doubled-up, and crowded households at risk of becoming homeless. The 
city will use the results to develop programs and policies that aim to 
improve housing conditions.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Frequency: Every three years.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 8b.
    OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
    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 Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) 
or e-mail (bharrisk@omb.eop.gov).

    Dated: May 23, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-10333 Filed 5-29-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-07-P