[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 93 (Thursday, May 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26547-26548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10844]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 040408110-4110-01]
RIN 0607-AA42


Establishment of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of program.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces and seeks comments on the establishment 
of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program. Required by law, the 
program provides States the opportunity to specify the small geographic 
areas that they wish to receive 2010 decennial census population totals 
for the purpose of reapportionment and redistricting.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 12, 2004. The 
deadline for States to notify the Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) 
that they wish to participate in Phase 1, the State Legislative 
District Project, is August 1, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Please direct all written comments on this notice to the 
Director, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2049, Federal Building 3, 
Washington, DC 20233.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine C. McCully, Chief of the 
Census Redistricting Data Office, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 3631, 
Federal Building 3, Washington, DC 20233, telephone (301) 763-4039.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the provisions of Title 13, Section 
141(c), of the United States Code (U.S.C.), the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) is required to provide the ``officers or public bodies 
having initial responsibility for the legislative apportionment or 
districting of each state * * *'' with the opportunity to specify 
geographic areas (e.g., voting districts) for which they wish to 
receive decennial census population counts for the purpose of 
reapportionment or redistricting.
    By April 1 of the year following the decennial census, the 
Secretary is required to furnish the State officials or their designees 
with population counts for counties, cities, census blocks, and State-
specified congressional districts, legislative districts, and voting 
districts that meet Census Bureau technical criteria.
    In accordance with the provisions of 13 U.S.C. 141(c), the Director 
of the Census Bureau, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, announces 
the establishment of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program 
(Program) and commences Phase 1, the State Legislative District 
Project, of the Program. An invitation to the officers or public bodies 
having initial responsibility for legislative reapportionment and 
redistricting will be issued this fall through the Census Redistricting 
Data Office. The deadline for States to notify the Census Bureau that 
they wish to participate in Phase 1, the State Legislative District 
Project, is August 1, 2005.
    As seen in the 1990 and 2000 censuses, the 2010 Census 
Redistricting Data Program will be partitioned into several phases. 
State participation in Phase 1 and 2 of the Census 2010 Redistricting 
Data Program under 13 U.S.C. 141 is voluntary.

Phase 1: State Legislative District Project (SLDP)

    Beginning in the Fall of 2004, the Census Bureau will correspond 
with the legislative leadership of each state to establish a Census 
2010 Redistricting Data Program liaison. The Census Bureau will also 
formally announce, through a subsequent Federal Register notice, the 
commencement of Phase 1. Beginning in the winter of 2005, States that 
choose to participate in Phase 1 will begin to receive guidelines for 
providing State legislative districts for their States. This phase will 
include a verification step and will end with tabulations based on 
Census 2000 data. Ongoing changes to Congressional district plans will 
be collected, and new tabulations will be developed, as needed. 
Boundaries of legislative and Congressional districts will be 2010 
tabulation census block boundaries for those participating States. 
Participation in Phase 1 is not a prerequisite for participation in 
Phase 2 or 3 of the Census 2010 Redistricting Data Program.

Phase 2: Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project

    Beginning in the fall of 2007, States that choose to participate in 
Phase 2 will receive on a flow basis, geographic products (maps and/or 
computer files) for their use in submitting to the Census Bureau the 
voting districts and suggestions for the Census 2010 tabulation census 
block inventory. A verification phase is offered to those participating 
States. If States choose not to participate in Phase 2, the Census 
Bureau cannot ensure that the decennial census 2010 tabulation 
geography will support the redistricting needs of each State. In mid-
2007 the Census Bureau will announce the technical and other criteria 
for participating in Phase 2, the

[[Page 26548]]

Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project.

Phase 3: Delivery of the Decennial Census 2010 Redistricting Data

    By April 1, 2011, the Director of the Census Bureau will, in 
accordance with 13 U.S.C. 141(c), furnish the Governor and State 
legislative leaders, both the majority and minority, with 2010 census 
population counts for standard census tabulation areas (e.g., State, 
Congressional district, American Indian area, county, city, town, 
census tract, census block group, and census block) regardless of a 
State's participation in Phase 1 or 2. The Director of the Census 
Bureau also will provide 2010 population counts for those States 
participating in Phase 1 and/or 2, for State legislative districts. For 
those States participating in Phase 2, the Director of the Census 
Bureau will provide 2010 census population counts for standard census 
tabulation areas and voting districts no later than April 1, 2011.

Phase 4: Collection of Post-Census 2010 Redistricting Plans

    Beginning in 2011, the Census Bureau will obtain from each State 
the newly drawn legislative and Congressional district plans and 
prepare the appropriate data sets based on the new districts.

Phase 5: Evaluation of Census 2010 Redistricting Data Program and 
Recommendations for Census 2020 Redistricting Data Program

    As the final phase of the Census 2010 Redistricting Data Program, 
the Census Bureau will work with the States to conduct a thorough 
review of the program. The intent of this review, and the final report 
that will be produced as a result, is to provide guidance to the 
Secretary of Commerce and the Census Bureau Director in planning for 
the Census 2020 Redistricting Data Program. Please address questions 
concerning any aspect of the Census 2010 Redistricting Data Program to 
the person identified in the contact section of this notice.

Executive Order 12866

    This rule has been determined to be significant under Executive 
Order 12866.

    Dated: May 7, 2004.
Charles Louis Kincannon,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 04-10844 Filed 5-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P