[Federal Register: February 15, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 30)]
[Notices]
[Page 7713-7714]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15fe05-34]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
[Docket Number 040408110-5026-02]
RIN 0607-AA42
2010 Census Redistricting Data Program Commencement of Phase 1:
State Legislative District Project
AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of program.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the commencement of Phase 1 of the 2010
Redistricting Data Program: The State Legislative District Project.
This first phase specifically provides States the opportunity to
provide their legislative districts (House and Senate) to the Bureau of
the Census (Census Bureau) for the development of data products by
legislative district. States may continue to update their legislative
district plans with any changes during the decade as they currently do
with changes to their U.S. Congressional plans.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 17, 2005. The
deadline for States to notify the Census Bureau that they wish to
participate in Phase 1: State Legislative District Project is August 1,
2005.
ADDRESSES: Please direct all written comments on this notice to the
Director, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2049, Federal Building 3,
Washington, DC 20233.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine C. McCully, Chief of the
Census Redistricting Data Office, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 3631,
Federal Building 3, Washington, DC 20233, telephone (301) 763-4039.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the provisions of Public Law 94-171
(Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 141(c)), the Director
of the Census Bureau is required to provide the ``officers or public
bodies with initial responsibility for legislative apportionment or
districting of each state * * *'' with the opportunity to specify small
geographic areas (for example, voting districts, wards, and election
precincts) for which they wish to receive decennial census population
totals for the purpose of reapportionment and redistricting.
By April 1 of the year following the decennial census, the
Secretary is required to furnish the State officials or their designees
with population counts for counties, cities, census blocks, and State-
specified congressional districts, legislative districts, and voting
districts that meet Census Bureau technical criteria.
In accordance with the provisions of Title 13, U.S.C. Section
141(c), and on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, the Director
announces the commencement of Phase 1 of the 2010 Census Redistricting
Data Program. The purpose of this notice is to provide further
information on the commencement of Phase 1 of the 2010 Census
Redistricting Data Program, Phase 1--State Legislative District
Project. Future notices will address the other phases of the 2010
Program.
The 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program was initially announced
on May 13, 2004, in the Federal Register (69 FR 26547). The Census
Bureau received and responded to two comments regarding the
Redistricting Data Program. Both comments were concerned with the
effect the census residence rules have on State legislative
redistricting. In response, the Census Bureau explained that, while we
work closely with the States to identify new construction; correct
political boundaries; and add nonstandard features for use as block
boundaries, our data tabulation programs consistently use the residence
rules established for census collection and tabulation purposes.
Beginning in the winter of 2005, the Director of the Census Bureau
will invite the Governor and the legislative leadership of the majority
and minority parties in each State to designate a liaison to work with
the Census Bureau on the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program. In a
separate letter, the Census Bureau will invite each State to
participate in Phase 1, the State Legislative District Project. This
phase will include a verification step and tabulations based on Census
2000 data. In addition, ongoing changes to Congressional district plans
will be collected, and new tabulations will be developed, as needed.
Boundaries of legislative and Congressional districts will be held as
2010 tabulation census block boundaries for those participating States.
Participation in Phase 1 is not a prerequisite for participation in
Phase 2 or 3 of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program. With the
commencement of the American Community Survey (ACS), the Census Bureau
will produce ACS data for States participating in Phase 1 on a flow
basis. For the 2010 census, the ACS will replace the long form.
The deadline for each State to respond with intent to participate
is August 1, 2005. The Census Bureau will work with each State or
organize a kickoff meeting to ensure States are
[[Page 7714]]
well-informed on the benefits of working with the Census Bureau towards
a successful 2010 census.
Executive Order 12866
This notice has been determined to be not significant under
Executive Order 12866.
Dated: February 9, 2005.
Hermann Habermann,
Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 05-2876 Filed 2-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P