[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2186-2187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1033]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


The American Community Survey; Proposed Collection; Comment 
Request

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 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 March 18, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via 
the Internet at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Lawrence McGinn, U.S. Census Bureau, Demographic 
Surveys Division, Washington, DC 20233. Phone: (301) 457-8050.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Given the rapid demographic changes experienced in recent years and 
the strong expectation that such changes will continue and accelerate, 
the once-a-decade data collection approach of a decennial census is no 
longer acceptable. To meet the needs and expectations of the country, 
the Census Bureau developed the American Community Survey. This survey 
will collect long-form data every month and provide tabulations of 
these data on a yearly basis. In the past, the long-form data were 
collected only at the time of each decennial census. The American 
Community Survey will allow the Census Bureau to remove the long form 
from the 2010 Census, thus reducing operational risks, improving 
accuracy, and providing more relevant data. After years of development 
and testing, the American Community Survey is ready for full 
implementation in FY 2003.
    The American Community Survey will provide more timely information 
for critical economic planning by governments and the private sector. 
In the current information-based economy, federal, state, tribal, and 
local decisionmakers, as well as private business and nongovernmental 
organizations, need current, reliable, and comparable socioeconomic 
data to chart the future. The American Community Survey will provide 
up-to-date profiles of American communities every year beginning in 
2004, providing policymakers, planners, and service providers in the 
public and private sectors with information every year--not just every 
ten years.
    The American Community Survey must begin full implementation in 
2003 to provide comparable data at the census tract level by July 2008. 
These data are needed by federal agencies and others to provide 
assurance of long-form type data availability before eliminating the 
long form from the 2010 Census.
    The American Community Survey demonstration period began in 1996 in 
four sites. In 1999, the number of sites was increased to 31 comparison 
sites. The comparison with Census 2000 was designed to collect several 
kinds of information necessary to understand the differences between 
data from the 1999-2002 American Community Survey and

[[Page 2187]]

data from the 2000 long form. The purpose of the comparison sites was 
to give a good tract-by-tract comparison between the 1999-2002 American 
Community Survey cumulated estimates and the Census 2000 long-form 
estimates and to use these comparisons to identify both the causes of 
differences and diagnostic variables that tend to predict a certain 
kind of difference.
    In 2000-2002, the Census Bureau conducted the Census 2000 
Supplementary Survey, the 2001 Supplementary Survey, and the 2002 
Supplementary Survey using the American Community Survey methodology. 
Each of these surveys had a sample of approximately 700,000 residential 
addresses per year. These surveys were conducted to study the 
operational feasibility of collecting long-form type data in a 
different methodology from the decennial census, demonstrate the 
reliability and stability of state and large area estimates over time, 
and demonstrate the usability of multiyear estimates.
    For 2003-2005, the Census Bureau plans to conduct the American 
Community Survey in every part of the United States and also in Puerto 
Rico. In November 2002, the Census Bureau will begin full 
implementation of the American Community Survey by increasing the 
sample to a total of 250,000 residential addresses per month in the 50 
states and the District of Columbia and 3,000 residential addresses per 
month in Puerto Rico. Data will be collected by mail and Census Bureau 
staff will follow up with households that do not respond using 
computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) and computer-assisted 
personal interviewing (CAPI).
    In addition to selecting a sample of residential addresses, the 
Census Bureau plans to select a sample of group quarters (GQs) and 
conduct the American Community Survey with a sample of persons within 
the GQs starting in January 2004. The Census Bureau will also conduct a 
reinterview operation with a small sample of households to monitor the 
quality of data collected during the 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 a 
questionnaire, Census Bureau staff will attempt to conduct interviews 
via CATI. We will also conduct CAPI interviews for a subsample of 
nonrespondents.
    For most types of GQs, Census Bureau field representatives (FRs) 
will either help respondents complete questionnaires or leave 
questionnaires and ask respondents to return them by mail. For a few 
GQs, the FRs will attempt to conduct interviews by telephone.
    The Census Bureau staff will provide Telephone Questionnaire 
Assistance (TQA).
    The Census Bureau staff will conduct reinterviews using CAPI.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0810.
    Form Number(s): ACS-1, ACS-1 (GQ), ACS-3 (GQ), ACS-4(GQ), ACS-290.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: During the period of November 2002 
through October 2005, we plan to contact 9,105,000 households, 40,000 
persons in group quarters, and 81,000 households for 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: 1,930,000 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 other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for the OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: January 10, 2002.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-1033 Filed 1-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P