[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70629-70631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26781]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


The American Community Survey

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 70630]]

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 February 7, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 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, American 
Community Survey Office, Washington, DC 20233. Phone: (301) 763-8050.

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 2005.
    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 decision makers, 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 
2006, 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 
2005 to provide comparable data at the census tract level by summer of 
2010.
    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 1999-2001 American Community Survey and data from the 
2000 long form. The purpose of the comparison sites was to give a good 
tract-by-tract comparison between the 1999-2001 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 2000-2004, the Census Bureau conducted supplementary surveys 
using the American Community Survey methodology. Each of these surveys 
had a sample of approximately 800,000 residential addresses per year. 
These surveys were conducted to study the operational feasibility of 
collecting long-form type data using a different methodology from the 
decennial census and demonstrate the reliability and stability of state 
and large area estimates over time.
    For 2005-2008, the Census Bureau plans to conduct the American 
Community Survey in every part of the United States and also in Puerto 
Rico. In 2005, the Census Bureau will begin full implementation of the 
American Community Survey by increasing the sample to a total of 
approximately 250,000 residential addresses per month in the 50 states 
and the District of Columbia and approximately 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 2006. The Census Bureau will also conduct a 
reinterview operation with a small sample of households and persons in 
GQs 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 conduct the interviews in person or, if necessary, leave 
questionnaires and ask respondents to complete.
    Information from GQ contacts will be collected via FR interview.
    The Census Bureau staff will provide Telephone Questionnaire 
Assistance (TQA) and if the respondent indicates a desire to answer by 
telephone, the TQA interviewer conducts the interview.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0810.
    Form Number(s): ACS-1, ACS-1 (SP), ACS-1PR, ACS-1PR (SP), ACS-
1(GQ), ACS-1(GQ) PR, ACS-3(GQ), ACS-4(GQ), ACS-4(GQ) (SP), ACS-4(GQ) 
PR, ACS-4(GQ) PR (SP), ACS-290, ACS-290(SP), ACS-290PR, and ACS-290PR 
(SP).
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: During the period of July 2005 
through June 2008, we plan to contact the following number of 
respondents: 9,108,000 residential addresses; 537,500 persons in GQs; 
and 51,000 contacts in GQs. In addition, 106,000 residential addresses 
and 14,800 persons in GQs for reinterview will be contacted.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Estimates are 38 minutes per 
residential address, 15 minutes per person in GQs, 25 minutes per 
contact in GQs, and 10 minutes per residential address and per person 
in GQs in the reinterview sample.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimate is an annual 
average of 1,981,386 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, Sections 141 and 193.

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

[[Page 70631]]

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/or included in the request for the OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 1, 2004.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-26781 Filed 12-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P