[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.)
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