[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7713-7714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2876]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 040408110-5026-02]
RIN 0607-AA42


2010 Census Redistricting Data Program Commencement of Phase 1: 
State Legislative District Project

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of program.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the commencement of Phase 1 of the 2010 
Redistricting Data Program: The State Legislative District Project. 
This first phase specifically provides States the opportunity to 
provide their legislative districts (House and Senate) to the Bureau of 
the Census (Census Bureau) for the development of data products by 
legislative district. States may continue to update their legislative 
district plans with any changes during the decade as they currently do 
with changes to their U.S. Congressional plans.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 17, 2005. The 
deadline for States to notify the Census Bureau that they wish to 
participate in Phase 1: 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 Public Law 94-171 
(Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 141(c)), the Director 
of the Census Bureau is required to provide the ``officers or public 
bodies with initial responsibility for legislative apportionment or 
districting of each state * * *'' with the opportunity to specify small 
geographic areas (for example, voting districts, wards, and election 
precincts) for which they wish to receive decennial census population 
totals for the purpose of reapportionment and 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 Title 13, U.S.C. Section 
141(c), and on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, the Director 
announces the commencement of Phase 1 of the 2010 Census Redistricting 
Data Program. The purpose of this notice is to provide further 
information on the commencement of Phase 1 of the 2010 Census 
Redistricting Data Program, Phase 1--State Legislative District 
Project. Future notices will address the other phases of the 2010 
Program.
    The 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program was initially announced 
on May 13, 2004, in the Federal Register (69 FR 26547). The Census 
Bureau received and responded to two comments regarding the 
Redistricting Data Program. Both comments were concerned with the 
effect the census residence rules have on State legislative 
redistricting. In response, the Census Bureau explained that, while we 
work closely with the States to identify new construction; correct 
political boundaries; and add nonstandard features for use as block 
boundaries, our data tabulation programs consistently use the residence 
rules established for census collection and tabulation purposes.
    Beginning in the winter of 2005, the Director of the Census Bureau 
will invite the Governor and the legislative leadership of the majority 
and minority parties in each State to designate a liaison to work with 
the Census Bureau on the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program. In a 
separate letter, the Census Bureau will invite each State to 
participate in Phase 1, the State Legislative District Project. This 
phase will include a verification step and tabulations based on Census 
2000 data. In addition, 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 held as 
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 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program. With the 
commencement of the American Community Survey (ACS), the Census Bureau 
will produce ACS data for States participating in Phase 1 on a flow 
basis. For the 2010 census, the ACS will replace the long form.
    The deadline for each State to respond with intent to participate 
is August 1, 2005. The Census Bureau will work with each State or 
organize a kickoff meeting to ensure States are

[[Page 7714]]

well-informed on the benefits of working with the Census Bureau towards 
a successful 2010 census.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice has been determined to be not significant under 
Executive Order 12866.

    Dated: February 9, 2005.
Hermann Habermann,
Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 05-2876 Filed 2-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P