Federal Register: December 7, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 234)
DOCID: FR Doc 04-26781
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCUMENT ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
The American Community Survey
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 7, 2005.
DOCUMENT 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 [[Page 70630]]
proposed or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 10413 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
SUMMARY:
Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
I. Abstract
Given the rapid demographic changes experienced in recent years and the strong expectation that such changes will continue and accelerate, the onceadecade 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 longform data every month and provide tabulations of these data on a yearly basis. In the past, the longform 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 informationbased 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 uptodate profiles of American communities every year beginning in 2006, providing policymakers, planners, and service providers in the public and private sectors with information every yearnot 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 19992001 American Community Survey and data from the 2000 long form. The purpose of the comparison sites was to give a good tractbytract comparison between the 19992001 American Community Survey cumulated estimates and the Census 2000 longform 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 20002004, 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 longform 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 20052008, 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 computerassisted 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: 06070810.
Form Number(s): ACS1, ACS1 (SP), ACS1PR, ACS1PR (SP), ACS
1(GQ), ACS1(GQ) PR, ACS3(GQ), ACS4(GQ), ACS4(GQ) (SP), ACS4(GQ)
PR, ACS4(GQ) PR (SP), ACS290, ACS290(SP), ACS290PR, and ACS290PR (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
[[Page 70631]]
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. 0426781 Filed 12604; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 351007P
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) 7638050.