[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3901-3902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2270]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


1996 Test Census

ACTION: Proposed agency information collection activity; 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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 2, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Margaret L. Woody, Department 
of Commerce, Room 5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, 
DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Edison Gore, Bureau of the Census, Room 3536, FOB 
#3, Washington, DC 20233, (301) 457-3998.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The 1996 Test Census is designed to test new and improved 
methodologies for reducing the differential in the census results among 
the various components of the population, and for containing costs 
associated with conducting a census. The Census Bureau will use the 
results of this test, in combination with other research, to decide how 
to conduct the 2000 census. The test will be conducted in two rural 
sites and one urban site with a combined housing unit total of about 
10,000. The rural sites (roughly 2,000 housing units) will encompass 
two American Indian reservations. The urban site (roughly 8,000 housing 
units) will encompass six census tracts in Chicago, Illinois.
    A primary objective for both the rural and urban components of the 
test is to refine the Integrated Coverage Measurement (ICM) program. 
Other objectives are listed below.
    Major objectives for the rural component of the test:
     Use and evaluate tribal ``administrative records,'' such 
as tribal rolls, utility records, tribal school records, and tribal 
voter registration as coverage improvement tools.
     Use improved address list development and collection 
methodology.
     Implement and evaluate a ``partnership agreement'' with 
the tribes, and expand the Tribal Liaison's role to include involvement 
in census operational activities.
     Test the use of statistical estimation techniques to 
improve the enumeration of residents on American Indian reservations 
and trust lands.
    Major objectives for the urban component of the test:
     Test the ICM program in a reengineered census setting.
     Test techniques for measuring housing unit and 
noninstitutional group quarters coverage in a census setting.
     Test use of administrative records for coverage 
improvement.
     Test improved address listing techniques.
    The 1996 Test Census will include four questionnaires--two self-
enumeration simple forms (consisting of basic population and housing 
questions), a self-enumeration Individual Census Report (used to gather 
population information from residents of group quarters), and a self-
enumeration Be Counted form (used only in the rural sites and made 
available at convenient locations for persons who did not receive a 

[[Page 3902]]
questionnaire or believe they were not counted).
    The two simple forms are identical in content, except for the 
household rostering questions. Another component of this test will be 
to evaluate two alternative approaches to household rostering. One 
roster design, called the ``rosterless'' version, does not require the 
respondent to create a traditional roster list. It includes an 
abbreviated set of instructions on who should be included and not 
included, and asks the respondent to provide the number of persons in 
the household. The second roster design, called the ``extended'' 
roster, includes a sequential set of reminders about whom to include, 
such as non-relatives as well as related persons, mobile persons who 
may have more than one residence, and persons with no usual residence.
    Enumerator-administered questionnaires also will be used in this 
test to conduct nonresponse followup operations for housing units that 
do not return their questionnaires by mail. These questionnaires will 
be addressed in a separate OMB submission.

II. Method of Collection

    We will conduct a complete census in the three test sites. In the 
rural sites, census enumerators will deliver the questionnaires to the 
households. Respondents will be asked to complete the questionnaires 
and return them by mail in the postage-paid envelopes. In the urban 
site, census questionnaires will be mailed to the housing units and 
returned in postage-paid envelopes.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not available.
    Form Number: DT-1A, DT-1B, DT-10 (Be Counted), and DT-20A 
(Individual Census Report).
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,000 Housing Units.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 9 minutes (DT-1A and DT-10), 10 
minutes (DT-1B), and 2 minutes (DT-20A).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Total = 494 hours.
    The estimated burden assumes an anticipated mail-back response rate 
of 35 percent, and a vacancy rate of 11 percent on average for the 
three sites. Although total burden normally is calculated assuming a 
100 percent response rate, the burden for this test does not include 
the time taken by field enumerators to complete the enumerator-
administered census questionnaires during nonresponse followup for the 
remaining 65 percent of households that we expect will not respond by 
mail. The burden for the enumerator forms, including the portion of the 
form that is completed for vacant units, will be reported in a separate 
OMB submission.

DT-1A = 233.6 hours [9 minutes  x  4,450 occupied housing units x 
.35(mail return rate)]; DT-1B = 260.1 hours [10 minutes  x  4,450 
occupied housing units  x  .35 (mail return rate)].

    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $1.7 Million (FY96), and $0.3 Million 
(FY97).

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 approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: January 29, 1996.
Margaret L. Woody,
Office of Management and Organization.
(FR Doc. 96-2270 Filed 2-1-96; 8:45 a.m.)
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P