[Federal Register: December 7, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 234)]
[Notices]
[Page 70629-70631]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07de04-37]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
The American Community Survey
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paper work and respondent burden, invites the general public
and other federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on
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proposed 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 February 7,
2005.
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 Lawrence McGinn, U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey Office, Washington, DC 20233. Phone: (301) 763-8050.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
Given the rapid demographic changes experienced in recent years and
the strong expectation that such changes will continue and accelerate,
the once-a-decade data collection approach of a decennial census is no
longer acceptable. To meet the needs and expectations of the country,
the Census Bureau developed the American Community Survey. This survey
will collect long-form data every month and provide tabulations of
these data on a yearly basis. In the past, the long-form data were
collected only at the time of each decennial census. The American
Community Survey will allow the Census Bureau to remove the long form
from the 2010 Census, thus reducing operational risks, improving
accuracy, and providing more relevant data. After years of development
and testing, the American Community Survey is ready for full
implementation in FY 2005.
The American Community Survey will provide more timely information
for critical economic planning by governments and the private sector.
In the current information-based economy, federal, state, tribal, and
local decision makers, as well as private business and nongovernmental
organizations, need current, reliable, and comparable socioeconomic
data to chart the future. The American Community Survey will provide
up-to-date profiles of American communities every year beginning in
2006, providing policymakers, planners, and service providers in the
public and private sectors with information every year--not just every
ten years.
The American Community Survey must begin full implementation in
2005 to provide comparable data at the census tract level by summer of
2010.
The American Community Survey demonstration period began in 1996 in
four sites. In 1999, the number of sites was increased to 31 comparison
sites. The comparison with Census 2000 was designed to collect several
kinds of information necessary to understand the differences between
data from the 1999-2001 American Community Survey and data from the
2000 long form. The purpose of the comparison sites was to give a good
tract-by-tract comparison between the 1999-2001 American Community
Survey cumulated estimates and the Census 2000 long-form estimates and
to use these comparisons to identify both the causes of differences and
diagnostic variables that tend to predict a certain kind of difference.
In 2000-2004, the Census Bureau conducted supplementary surveys
using the American Community Survey methodology. Each of these surveys
had a sample of approximately 800,000 residential addresses per year.
These surveys were conducted to study the operational feasibility of
collecting long-form type data using a different methodology from the
decennial census and demonstrate the reliability and stability of state
and large area estimates over time.
For 2005-2008, the Census Bureau plans to conduct the American
Community Survey in every part of the United States and also in Puerto
Rico. In 2005, the Census Bureau will begin full implementation of the
American Community Survey by increasing the sample to a total of
approximately 250,000 residential addresses per month in the 50 states
and the District of Columbia and approximately 3,000 residential
addresses per month in Puerto Rico. Data will be collected by mail and
Census Bureau staff will follow up with households that do not respond
using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) and computer-
assisted personal interviewing (CAPI).
In addition to selecting a sample of residential addresses, the
Census Bureau plans to select a sample of group quarters (GQs) and
conduct the American Community Survey with a sample of persons within
the GQs starting in January 2006. The Census Bureau will also conduct a
reinterview operation with a small sample of households and persons in
GQs to monitor the quality of data collected during the CAPI.
II. Method of Collection
The Census Bureau will mail questionnaires to households selected
for the American Community Survey. For households that do not return a
questionnaire, Census Bureau staff will attempt to conduct interviews
via CATI. We will also conduct CAPI interviews for a subsample of
nonrespondents.
For most types of GQs, Census Bureau field representatives (FRs)
will conduct the interviews in person or, if necessary, leave
questionnaires and ask respondents to complete.
Information from GQ contacts will be collected via FR interview.
The Census Bureau staff will provide Telephone Questionnaire
Assistance (TQA) and if the respondent indicates a desire to answer by
telephone, the TQA interviewer conducts the interview.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0607-0810.
Form Number(s): ACS-1, ACS-1 (SP), ACS-1PR, ACS-1PR (SP), ACS-
1(GQ), ACS-1(GQ) PR, ACS-3(GQ), ACS-4(GQ), ACS-4(GQ) (SP), ACS-4(GQ)
PR, ACS-4(GQ) PR (SP), ACS-290, ACS-290(SP), ACS-290PR, and ACS-290PR
(SP).
Type of Review: Regular.
Affected Public: Individuals and households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: During the period of July 2005
through June 2008, we plan to contact the following number of
respondents: 9,108,000 residential addresses; 537,500 persons in GQs;
and 51,000 contacts in GQs. In addition, 106,000 residential addresses
and 14,800 persons in GQs for reinterview will be contacted.
Estimated Time Per Response: Estimates are 38 minutes per
residential address, 15 minutes per person in GQs, 25 minutes per
contact in GQs, and 10 minutes per residential address and per person
in GQs in the reinterview sample.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimate is an annual
average of 1,981,386 burden hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: Except for their time, there is no
cost to respondents.
Respondent Obligation: Mandatory.
Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193.
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
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collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collections techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for the OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: December 1, 2004.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-26781 Filed 12-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P