[Federal Register: December 8, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 235)]
[Notices]
[Page 68329-68331]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08de03-26]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Generic Clearance for Master Address File (MAF) and Topologically
Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER) Update
Activities
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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 6,
2004.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at dhynek@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Bob Tomassoni, Bureau of the Census, SFC2, Room
1308A, Washington, DC 20233. Phone Number 301-763-2036 (or via the Internet at Robert.G.Tomassoni@Census.Gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Census Bureau presently operates a generic clearance covering
activities involving respondent burden associated with updating our
Master Address File (MAF) and Topologically Integrated Geographic
Encoding and Referencing (TIGER) system. (The MAF is the Census
Bureau's address database and TIGER is the geographic database.) We now
propose to extend that generic clearance to cover update activities we
will undertake during the next three fiscal years.
Under the terms of the generic clearance, we plan to submit a
request for OMB approval that will describe all planned activities for
the entire period; we will not submit a clearance package for each
updating activity. We will send a letter to OMB at least two weeks
before the planned start of each activity that gives more exact
details, examples of forms, and final estimates of respondent burden.
We also will file a year-end summary with OMB after the close of each
fiscal year giving results of each activity conducted. This generic
clearance enables OMB to review our overall strategy for MAF and TIGER
updating in advance, instead of reviewing each activity in isolation
shortly before the planned start. The Census Bureau used the MAF for
mailing and delivering questionnaires to households during Census 2000.
The MAF is also used as a sampling frame for our demographic current
surveys. In the past, the Census Bureau built a new address list for
each decennial census. The MAF we built for Census 2000 is meant to be
kept current, thereby, eliminating the need to build a completely new
address list for future censuses and surveys. The TIGER is a geographic
system that maps the entire country in Census Blocks with applicable
address range or living quarter location information. Linking MAF and
TIGER allows us to assign each address to the appropriate Census Block,
produce maps as needed and publish results at the appropriate level of
geographic detail. The following are descriptions of each activity we
plan to conduct under the clearance for the next three fiscal years.
1. Record Linkage Follow-Up (Address Duplication Check) Evaluation
In an effort to compile the most accurate Master Address File
(MAF), the Census Bureau is planning the Record Linkage Follow-Up
Address Duplication Check Operation to evaluate three different
unduplication methods, one duplicate address linking software currently
used by our Geography Division (GEO) and possibly two probabilistic
matching software programs used by our Planning, Research, and
Evaluation Division (PRED).
This operation will address the Census Coverage Improvement
objective, which attempts to minimize coverage errors and to gain
insight into the causes of housing unit duplication through externally
focused, probes and edits and examination of internal processing
approaches.
The Record Linkage Follow-Up Address Duplication Check will be
conducted in the field to confirm probable housing unit duplicates
identified by the unduplication criteria established for the
probabilistic record matching and linking software, and not already
reconciled from other 2004 Census Test field activities. This 2004
Census Test operation addresses the following question: ``Can we reduce
duplication at the time of the initial Master Address File (MAF)
extract and during address list updating from Address Canvassing and
from Update/Leave by using improved address record linkage methods?''
The major objective of the Record Linkage Follow-Up Address
Duplication Check operation is to determine the accuracy and future use
of address unduplication prior to census operations. Verifiers will
perform an Address Duplication Check on housing unit duplicates
identified by probabilistic linkage.
The 2004 Census Test Record Linkage Follow-Up Address Duplication
Check operation will be conducted in the NW Queens, NY test site and in
Colquitt, Tift, and Thomas counties in Georgia and will be managed out
of Local Census Offices. The operation will take place between August
16, 2004 and September 17, 2004 and will consist of a maximum workload
of 10,800 addresses.
The universe of linked addresses will come from output generated by
the Auto Match and Big Match software and from GEO providing a file
that includes the results of their duplicate confidence
[[Page 68330]]
indicator run on the MAF for the 2004 Test Sites.
The workload of linked addresses, called clusters, in the Record
Linkage Follow-Up Address Duplicate Check operation will be a merged
sample of the output from the three duplicate linking programs
mentioned above.
A sample of clusters will be included in the Address Duplicate
Check. Large clusters, clusters with different Zip Codes, and clusters
where two or more addresses are exactly the same, will be included in
the Headquarters (HQ) fieldwork. The Headquarters (HQ) fieldwork will
consist of no more than 6 people from Census HQ, traveling to the 2004
Census Test sites to review and fieldwork 300 clusters.
Verifiers will locate each address in the cluster on the ground and
enter codes based on observation first. Then they will attempt to make
contact with the respondent or qualified proxy to confirm the addresses
existence for each address shown on the cluster-listing page. Verifiers
will enter action codes based on respondent information. The verifiers
will try to locate the other addresses shown in the cluster, to verify
existence or nonexistence in an effort to confirm duplication of
addresses within the cluster. Verifiers will not edit, add, or delete
any addresses.
The estimated time per response is 2 minutes. The most burdensome
case scenario will be 10,800 addresses in no more than 5,300 address
clusters. All of the fieldwork is expected to take place in FY 2004.
2. Address Canvassing
An Address Canvassing operation will take place as part of the 2006
Census Test. The operation will take place during the spring of 2005.
The operation will be a standard address canvassing operation where
census ``listers'' will canvass specified blocks and conduct brief
interviews to verify or update address information against address
information on the Census Bureau's address lists and maps. Lister's
will enter action codes for every address based on what they found out
during the visit. Lister's will also visit addresses not listed on our
address lists and add them. They will record address information and
action codes on address listing pages.
Sites for the 2006 Census Test will be selected in 2004. Prior to
the selection, there is no available information regarding estimated
number of living quarters or respondent burden for the Address
Canvassing operation.
3. TIGER Enhancement Database (TED)
The TIGER Enhancement Database (TED) is an inventory of state,
local, tribal and commercial geographic data critical to the
modernization of the Census Bureau's MAF/TIGER database. More
specifically, the TED is an interactive Oracle database containing
metadata about the geographic data necessary for coordinate correction
and feature update in TIGER. Such metadata include, but are not limited
to: Contact information, data accuracy, currency, format, and medium.
TED is designed to be maintained and updated indefinitely to
support MAF/TIGER Enhancements Program efforts throughout the decade.
Metadata for population of the database will be collected on an ongoing
basis from state/local/tribal governments, as well as, industry
organizations and clearinghouses, and commercial suppliers.
Determining which governments and commercial sources exist and
gathering metadata about what they contain, will require contact with
individuals and business entities. Once the inventory of available
resources has been completed for all 3,232 counties, the Census Bureau
and its contractor will begin to acquire the source materials described
in the inventory. These source materials may include satellite imagery,
aerial photography, Global Positioning System (GPS) files, Geographic
Information System (GIS) files of transportation, hydrography, and
other feature layers, address lists, and other graphic and tabular data
that will provide updates to the MAF/TIGER database.
In addition to the above, there may be other operations and/or
evaluations that could be added in the next three years to help the
Census Bureau prepare for Census 2010 and evaluate the quality of work
done during various census tests. Any other operations and/or
evaluations would be similar to those above and would fall under the
clearance as MAF/TIGER updating activities.
II. Method of Collection
The primary method of data collection for most operations/
evaluations will be personal interview by Census Listers, Verifiers or
Enumerators using the operation/evaluation's listing form. In some
cases, the interview could be by telephone callback if no one was home
on the initial visit. For TED, the primary method of method of data
collection will be telephone contact. See part I for details.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0607-0809.
Form Number: The form numbers for activities have not yet been
assigned.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: Varies by operation, see chart
below for available estimates.
Estimated Time Per Response: Varies by operation, see chart below
for available estimates.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: FY04 360.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: The only cost to respondents is that
of their time to respond.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and
193.
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FY 2004 Average hours Responses per FY 2004
Activity respondents per response respondent burden hours
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Record Linkage Follow-Up Evaluation............. 10,800 .033 1 360
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Totals...................................... 10,800 .............. .............. 360
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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
[[Page 68331]]
approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter
of public record.
Dated: December 2, 2003.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-30323 Filed 12-5-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P