[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59364-59365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26017]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    DOC has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance the following proposal for collection of information under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: 2004 Census Test.
    Form Number(s): DB-1: questionnaire; DB-5, DB-6A, DB-6B, DB-6C, DB-
8: envelopes; DB-31(P): privacy notice; DB-16(L), DB-16(L)(UL), DB-
17(L): cover letters; DB-5(L): advance letter; DB-9: reminder post 
card; DB-1(F): respondent flashcard booklet.
    Agency Approval Number: None.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Burden: 33,530 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 200,000.
    Avg Hours Per Response: 10 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau requests authorization from 
the Office of Management and Budget to conduct the 2004 Census Test. 
The goal of the 2004 Census Test is to obtain information needed to 
inform decisions about adopting, refining, or rejecting potential new 
methods, content, and wording for the 2010 Census. The 2004 Census Test 
will evaluate the effectiveness of:

[[Page 59365]]

    Mobile Computing Devices for Field Work--Methods for implementing 
an MCD system during the Nonresponse Followup (NRFU) operation. We are 
developing an MCD system that incorporates Spanish and English language 
capabilities, that can receive workload information and transmit census 
data, and that includes maps. We plan to assess the impact of the 
system on field infrastructure and data processing.
    Coverage Improvement--New methods for improving coverage, including 
procedures to address overall coverage of the Nation's population and 
housing and procedures to address duplication issues. The 2004 Census 
Test Questionnaire will include two new questions (numbers 2 and 10) 
designed to ensure that each individual is counted once and only once 
and in the right place, revised residence rule instructions to help 
respondents understand who to include on census forms, and space to add 
information for four characteristics for persons seven through twelve 
(age, sex, date of birth, and relationship).
    Changes to Questionnaire Content--Collect data on respondent 
reaction to the revised race and Hispanic Origin questions, including 
the removal of the ``Some Other Race'' (``SOR'') option and the 
inclusion of examples for both questions. In addition, we are planning 
to record and behavior-code some of the NRFU interviews in order to 
gain additional insight into respondent reaction to the race and 
Hispanic Origin questions.
    Methods to Identify Special Places/Group Quarters--As part of its 
research and development work for the 2010 census, the 2004 Census Test 
also will test improved definitions and methods for distinguishing 
between group quarters and housing units during census operations, in 
order to update the MAF in a comprehensive, integrated manner. The 
Group Quarters Validation (GQV) operation is covered by a separate OMB 
submission.
    The 2004 Census Test, which is part of an extended test cycle 
leading up to the next decennial census, will be conducted in two 
sites--Northwest Queens Borough, NY, and three rural counties in 
Southwest Georgia (Colquitt, Tift, and Thomas). The test will use two 
modes for data collection (paper and MCD). Approximately 175,000 
housing units in the test sites will receive a census questionnaire by 
mail (mailout/mailback universe, i.e. housing units that have city-
style addresses such as 806 Main Street). Additionally, enumerators 
will deliver a questionnaire to approximately 25,000 housing units that 
have non city-style addresses such as Rt. 7, Box 433 (update/leave 
universe). All respondents (those living in both the mailout/mailback 
and update/leave areas) will be asked to complete the forms and mail 
them back using the postage-paid envelopes provided.
    Prior to the beginning of NRFU, a second questionnaire will be sent 
to each housing unit in the mailout/mailback universe in both sites 
that has not already returned the initial questionnaire. During the 
NRFU portion of the test, enumerators equipped with MCDs will visit 
and/or call non-respondents and attempt to collect the information.
    The 2004 Census Test will include an array of data collection, data 
capture, and data processing operations along with the associated 
support activities necessary for obtaining the data required for 
evaluation. Although we will conduct a quality assurance operation 
during NRFU, we will not conduct the re-interview portion of the Race 
and Hispanic Origin Retinterview due to its operational complexity and 
resource requirements. We will conduct a short re-interview for 
quality-control purposes with approximately 5,800 households in the 
NRFU universe to verify that a NRFU enumerator visited the address and 
collected the appropriate address and household information.
    Enumerator Taping Assistants (ETAs) also will tape and behavior-
code an area sample of NRFU interviews (Northwest Queens Site, only) as 
enumerators are conducting the interviews. Data collected as a result 
of these interviews will be used in conjunction with missing data 
rates, NRFU response distributions, and the 2003 National Census Test 
results to evaluate respondent reactions to the new race and Hispanic 
Origin questions.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Frequency: One-time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 141 and 193.
    OMB Desk Officer: Susan Schechter, (202) 395-5103.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Susan Schechter, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202) 395-7245 or e-
mail ([email protected]).

    Dated: October 8, 2003.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-26017 Filed 10-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P