[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8430-8431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4097]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


The American Community Survey (ACS)

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(C)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Englemeier, 
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 Cynthia Taeuber, Bureau of the Census, 
Demographic Statistical Methods Division, Washington, DC 20233. Her 
telephone number is (301) 457-2899.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The American Community Survey (ACS), which the Census Bureau 
initiated in November 1995 with the demonstration phase, 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 Census Bureau began the ACS in four sites, added new sites each 
of the last two years, and now presently conducts the ACS in ten sites.
    Starting in November 1998, the Census Bureau plans to introduce the 
comparison phase of the continuous measurement system. The Census 
Bureau plans to conduct the ACS in 37 sites, which include 46 counties 
or county equivalents, across the country. This three-year period of 
data collection will allow the Census Bureau to make direct comparisons 
between the ACS and the Census 2000 long form. In November 1998, the 
Census Bureau also plans to add eight additional sites (ten counties or 
county equivalents) to balance the workload among the regional offices, 
and to give field staff experience in preparation for an

[[Page 8431]]

expanded ACS starting in November 1999. The 45 sites provide a broad 
mix of geographic and demographic areas, ranging from counties with 
large, central cities to sparsely populated rural areas.
    In addition to selecting a sample of residential addresses, the 
Census Bureau will select a sample of group quarters and conduct the 
ACS with a sample of persons within the group quarters. The Census 
Bureau is also developing and will implement procedures for a 
reinterview operation to monitor the quality of data collected during 
Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing.
    This phase of the American Community Survey is designed primarily 
to collect information necessary to understand differences between 
estimates derived from the ACS and the Census 2000 long form. This 
phase will help the Census Bureau and the Federal government better 
understand the costs and benefits of a continuous measurement system.
    The content of the ACS will be basically the same as the content in 
the Census 2000 long form. There are some differences to reflect the 
fact that ACS will be in place every month.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will mail questionnaires to households selected 
for the ACS. For households that do not return questionnaires, Census 
Bureau staff will attempt to conduct interviews via Computer Assisted 
Telephone Interviewing and Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0810.
    Form Number: ACS-1, ACS-10, ACS-12(L), ACS-13(L), ACS-14(L), ACS-
16(L), ACS-20, ACS-30.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 425,000 households, 30,000 persons 
in group quarters, 5,000 households in reinterview.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 38 minutes per household, 15 minutes 
per person in group quarters, 10 minutes per household in the 
reinterview sample.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 277,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: Except for a few minutes of their 
time, there is no cost to respondents.
    Respondent Obligation: Mandatory.
    Authority: Title 13, United States 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 collections techniques or others forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: February 11, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-4097 Filed 2-18-98; 8:45 am]
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