[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 112 (Thursday, June 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31960-31961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15604]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
Boundary and Annexation Survey
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 August 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 Nancy Goodman, Geography Division, Bureau of the
Census, WP 1, Room 326, Washington, DC 20233, or call (301) 457-1099.
[[Page 31961]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Census Bureau conducts the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)
to collect and maintain information about the inventory, the legal
boundaries, and the legal actions affecting the boundaries for counties
and equivalent areas, incorporated municipalities, minor civil
divisions, and federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native
areas. In addition, the BAS requests a review and update of the road
and other map information within each government and address
information along the governmental boundary. This information provides
the Census Bureau with an accurate identification of geographic areas
for the decennial and economic censuses, other statistical programs of
the Census Bureau, and legislative programs of the Federal Government.
Respondents are county or equivalent area, minor civil division,
incorporated municipality, American Indian, and Alaska Native
officials.
The survey universe and mailing materials vary depending upon the
needs of the Census Bureau in fulfilling its censuses and surveys. In
the years ending in 8, 9, and 0, the survey includes all governmental
counties and equivalent areas, incorporated municipalities, all
governmental minor civil divisions, and federally recognized American
Indian and Alaska Native areas. Each governmental entity surveyed
receives a full set of maps covering its jurisdiction and one or more
forms. These three years coincide with the Census Bureau preparation
for the decennial census.
In the years ending with 2 and 7, the survey includes all
governmental counties and their statistical equivalents, minor civil
divisions in Connecticut and Rhode Island, with a population of 10,000
or greater, in the remaining Northeastern states, Michigan, Minnesota,
and Wisconsin, minor civil divisions and those incorporated
municipalities with a population of 2,500 or greater.
The remaining years of the decade-years ending in 1, 3, 4, 5, and
6--the survey includes all governmental counties and their statistical
equivalents, minor civil divisions in Connecticut and Rhode Island and
selected areas of Massachusetts, and the population threshold for
incorporated municipalities is increased to 5,000.
To ensure the correct allocation of population and housing units
for Census 2000, the Census Bureau will request information on the
relationship of addresses to the legal boundary. The survey asks the
respondent to review and/or update the address that exists on either
side of their legal boundaries where the boundaries intersect streets.
This information assists the Census Bureau in correctly tabulating the
data for each governmental unit.
Through the BAS, the Census Bureau asks the respondent to review
the forms and maps and to certify their correctness. They are asked to
update the maps to reflect current boundaries, supply legal boundary
change data, provide changes in the inventory of governments and also
are instructed to add or change map information-street network, address
information-as applicable.
No other federal agency collects these data nor is there a standard
collection of this information at the state level. The Census Bureau's
BAS is a unique survey providing a standard result for use by Federal,
state, local, and tribal governments and by commercial, private, and
public concerns.
II. Method of Collection
Each respondent is mailed a BAS package, which includes the
following items:
1. An introductory letter from the Director of the Census Bureau.
2. The appropriate BAS Survey Form(s):
BAS-1 and BAS-1A--Incorporated Municipalities
BAS 2 and BAS-2A--Counties, Parishes, Boroughs, Census Areas
BAS-3 and BAS-3A--Minor Civil Divisions
BAS-4--Newly Incorporated Municipalities or Newly Activated
Municipalities
BAS-5 and BAS-5A--American Indian or Alaska Native Areas
3. A BAS Guide for Annotating the Maps.
4. Special inserts, if applicable, for the entity.
5. A set of maps, showing the current boundaries.
6. A return envelope.
The respondent is asked to verify the legal boundaries and update
the maps, showing the feature, address, and legal boundary changes.
They are then asked to certify the maps and verify the forms and return
the information to the Census Bureau.
The Census Bureau inserts the geographic, address, and feature
changes into the TIGER system--the Census Bureau's geographic data base
and associated data files.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0607-0151.
Form Numbers: BAS-1, BAS-1A, BAS-2, BAS-2A, BAS-3, BAS-3A, BAS-4,
BAS-5, and BAS-5A.
Our letters and inserts are being developed to reflect our request
for address updates. A final list of inserts and letters will be
included in the package submitted to the OMB for final approval.
Type of Review: Regular.
Affected Public: Local and Tribal Governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 39,347.
Estimated Time Per Response: 3 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 118,041.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $1,682,084. We based our estimate on
the information from the Annual Survey of State and Local Government
Employment. Using employment and payroll in the category ``financial
administration,'' the main cost for local government employees is
$14.25 per hour. The cost multiplied by the estimated burden hours
yields the estimated annual cost borne by local governments.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Section 6 under Title 13.
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 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: June 8, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-15604 Filed 6-10-98; 8:45 am]
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