[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 239 (Friday, December 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 65416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32532]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


1998 American Community Survey--Group Quarters Screening 
Operation

ACTION: Proposed collection; 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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 10, 
1998.

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 instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to John Paletta, Bureau of the Census, Room 3715-3, 
Washington, DC 20230, (301) 457-4269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The 1998 American Community Survey (ACS) is currently underway. ACS 
data are being collected under OMB approval number 0607-0810. Data from 
the ACS will determine the feasibility of a continuous measurement 
system that provides socioeconomic data on a continual basis throughout 
the decade. The Census Bureau must provide a sample of persons residing 
in Group Quarters (GQs) the opportunity to be interviewed for the ACS. 
GQs include places such as student dorms, correctional facilities, 
hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, and military quarters. Obtaining 
information from the GQ will ensure that we include the necessary 
people residing at the GQ in the 1998 ACS.
    A GQ screening operation was conducted in conjunction with 1997 ACS 
activities. This request revises the existing GQ clearance for use in 
the 1998 ACS. Major changes include the following. In 1997 we screened 
a sample of the GQs in only one ACS test site. In 1998 we will screen a 
sample of the GQs in eight of the ACS test sites. In 1997 we tested 
three versions of the questionnaire, Form ACS-2 (GQ), 1997 ACS GQ 
Facility Questionnaire, and allocated them among the sample GQs 
according to whether the GQ was to be enumerated by personal visit 
only, a combination of personal visit and mail, or by mail only. In 
1998 we will use only one version of the questionnaire, Form ACS-2 
(GQ), 1998 ACS GQ Screening.
    We will telephone a sample of GQs in the 1998 ACS test sites. We 
will verify/update information such as GQ name, address, phone number, 
and type. We will screen to determine if the residents stay for less 
than 30 days and have another place to live. If so, the GQ will be 
classified as out-of-scope for ACS interviewing. If the GQ is in-scope, 
we will screen to determine if we can complete ACS interviews of the GQ 
residents by mail, thus saving the expense of personal visits. We will 
obtain a list of rooms and/or residents from which we can select a 
sample. All ACS interviewing will be conducted under OMB clearance 
number 0607-0810.

II. Method of Collection

    Telephone interviews will be conducted from Census Bureau's 
processing center in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0836.
    Form Number: ACS-2 (GQ).
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals, Businesses or other for-profit 
organizations, non-profit institutions and small businesses or 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 500 GQs in the 1998 ACS test 
sites.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes (.167 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 84 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The group quarters screening is part 
of the 1998 American Community Survey, the cost of which is estimated 
to be 16.6 million dollars. There is no cost to respondents, other than 
that of their time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 182.

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: December 8, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-32532 Filed 12-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P