[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 90 (Friday, May 9, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 25587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12088]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


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 
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 July 8, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, 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 instruments(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Lawrence S. McGinn, Bureau of the Census, Room 
2A, Silver Hill Executive Plaza, Washington, DC 20233-8400, (301) 763-
8327.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The American Community Survey (ACS), implemented in November 1995, 
is a continuing full-scale operation of a continuous measurement 
system. Continuous Measurement is a reengineering of the method for 
collecting the housing and socio-economic data traditionally collected 
in the decennial census. It provides data every year instead of once in 
ten years. It blends the strength of small area estimation from the 
census with the quality and timeliness of the continuing surveys 
through a large monthly survey.
    The data from the ACS will determine the feasibility of a 
continuous measurement system that provides socioeconomic data on a 
continual basis throughout the decade for small areas and small 
subpopulations.
    The ACS is presently conducted in eight survey sites--Fulton 
County, Pennsylvania; Rockland County, New York; Brevard County, 
Florida; Multnomah County, Oregon, including the city of Portland; 
Douglas County, Nebraska; Otero County, New Mexico; Harris and Fort 
Bend Counties, Texas; and Franklin County, Ohio. The data collected in 
this survey will be within the general scope and nature of those 
inquiries covered in the decennial census every ten years.
    The continuing research through the American Community Survey of 
the feasibility of a continuous measurement system in 1998 will include 
the present survey sites and additional sites in Richland and Kershaw 
Counties, South Carolina and Broward County, Florida. No changes to the 
forms used in the ACS or our field operations are proposed.

II. Method of Collection

    In the urban areas, the Census Bureau will mail questionnaires to 
households selected for the ACS. In the rural sites where city-style 
addresses are not available, Field Representatives will deliver the 
questionnaires to the household. Participation of the selected 
households is mandatory in accordance with the provisions of Title 13. 
For those households not returning the questionnaire, we will collect 
household information by both telephone interview and personal visit.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0810.
    Form Number: ACS-1/1A, ACS-10/10A, ACS-12(L)/12A(L), ACS-13(L)/
13A(L), ACS-14(L)/14A(L), ACS-15(L), ACS-16(L), ACS-20/20A, ACS-30/30A.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 260,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 130,000 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: Except for a few minutes of their 
time, there is no cost to respondents.

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 
collections techniques or others 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: May 5, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-12088 Filed 5-8-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P