[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30961-30962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14592]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


The American Community Survey (ACS); Proposed Information 
Collection

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 August 9, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Englemeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5033, 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, which the Census Bureau initiated 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. By selecting a new sample of 
addresses every month, the American Community Survey provides data 
every year instead of once in ten years. It blends the strength of 
small-area estimation from the decennial census with the quality and 
timeliness of continuing surveys through its large monthly survey.

[[Page 30962]]

    The Census Bureau began the American Community Survey in four 
sites, added new sites each of the last three years, and presently 
conducts the American Community Survey in 31 sites. The expansion to 31 
sites in November 1998 began the comparison phase of the continuous 
measurement system.
    This comparison phase of the American Community Survey is designed 
primarily to collect information necessary to understand differences 
between estimates derived from the American Community Survey 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, and make possible eliminating the long 
form in Census 2010. The content of the American Community Survey 
during the comparison phase is basically the same as the content of the 
Census 2000 long form. There are some differences to reflect the fact 
that the American Community Survey is conducted every month.
    In November 1999, the Census Bureau plans to continue the 
comparison phase in the 31 sites, and to begin a three-year comparison 
phase on a national level as part of the decennial program. For this 
comparison, the Census Bureau is conducting the American Community 
Survey in counties with a broad mix of geographic and demographic 
characteristics.
    In addition to selecting a sample of residential addresses, the 
Census Bureau will select a sample of group quarters (GQs) and conduct 
the American Community Survey with a sample of persons within the GQs. 
(To prevent duplication with Census 2000, the Census Bureau will not 
conduct American Community Survey interviews in group quarters during 
2000.) The Census Bureau will also conduct a reinterview operation with 
a small sample of households to monitor the quality of data collected 
during Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI).

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will mail questionnaires to households selected 
for the American Community Survey. For households that do not return 
questionnaires, Census Bureau staff will attempt to conduct interviews 
via Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) and CAPI.
    For some GQs, we will mail questionnaires to respondents. For other 
types of GQs, Field Representatives will either help respondents 
complete questionnaires or leave questionnaires and ask respondents to 
return them by mail.
    Census Bureau staff will conduct reinterviews using CAPI.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0810.
    Form Number: ACS-1, ACS-1(GQ), ACS-3(GQ), ACS-290.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: During the period of November 1999 
through October 2002, we plan to contact the following number of 
respondents: 2,554,850 households; 112,000 persons in group quarters; 
and 25,000 households in reinterview.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Estimates are 38 minutes per 
household, 15 minutes per person in group quarters, and 10 minutes per 
household in the reinterview sample.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimate is an annual 
average of 560,000 burden hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: Except for 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: June 4, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-14592 Filed 6-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P