[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 181 (Monday, September 20, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57254-57257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23373]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 100726309-0311-02]


American Community Survey 5-Year Data Product Plans

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Final Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) currently releases 
American Community Survey (ACS) data products in the form of 1-year 
estimates and 3-year estimates. Most recently, the 2008 ACS 1-year 
estimates were released in September 2009, and the 2006-2008 ACS 3-year 
estimates were released in October 2009. By this notice, the Census 
Bureau announces plans for the release of ACS 5-year data products 
covering the period of 2005-2009. The release of the ACS 5-year 
estimates will achieve a goal of the ACS to provide small-area data 
similar to the data published after Census 2000, based on the long-form 
sample. This notice provides general information on the Census Bureau's 
modifications to its current line of ACS data products to accommodate 
the 5-year estimates.

DATES: The Census Bureau plans to release 2005-2009 ACS data in

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December 2010. The plan for the 2005-2009 ACS data products will be 
implemented on September 20, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Please send any correspondence about the Census Bureau's 
American Community Survey 5-year estimates or data product plans to 
Sharon M. Stern, Assistant Division Chief, American Community Survey 
Office, Room 3H463, Mail Stop 7500, Washington, DC 20233-7500.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the Census 
Bureau's American Community Survey, contact Sharon M. Stern, Assistant 
Division Chief, American Community Survey Office, on (301) 763-5638, by 
e-mail at [email protected], or by mail at Room 3H463, Mail 
Stop 7500, Washington, DC 20233-7500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Purpose of the ACS 5-year Data Products

    The ACS is part of the 2010 Decennial Census Program and provides 
annually updated, detailed demographic, socioeconomic, and housing 
information for communities across the United States and Puerto Rico. 
One goal of the ACS is to provide small-area data similar to the data 
published after Census 2000, based on the long-form sample data. This 
goal will be met with the release of the 2005-2009 ACS 5-year 
estimates.
    On March 6, 2009, the Census Bureau published a Federal Register 
notice (74 FR 9785) that proposed releasing the 5-year estimates using 
the same set of ACS data products that were produced for the ACS 3-year 
data estimates, and included proposed geographic summary levels for the 
5-year data products.
    Descriptions of the suite of ACS data products follow:
    Detailed tables include the most detailed ACS data and cross-
tabulations of ACS variables.
    Download files provide the detailed table estimates in comma-
delimited, ASCII-formatted files that are in the standard Census 
``Summary File'' format.
    Data profiles provide separate fact sheets on social, economic, 
housing, and demographic characteristics.
    Narrative profiles provide clear, concise, textual descriptions of 
the data included in the data profiles.
    Subject tables include detailed ACS data, organized by subject such 
as employment, education, and income.
    Selected population profiles provide social, economic, and housing 
characteristics for a large number of groups based on race, Hispanic 
origin, country of birth, and ancestry.
    Geographic comparison tables allow the comparison of ACS data for a 
given time period across a variety of geographic areas.
    Thematic maps provide graphic displays of the data available from 
the geographic comparison tables, which compare ACS data for different 
areas in a given time period.
    Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Files provide access to ACS 
microdata for data users to create summaries that are not available as 
ACS summary products.
    In the March 6, 2009 Federal Register notice, the Census Bureau 
sought input and feedback on the suite of data products for the ACS 5-
year estimates and in particular, expressed interest in data users' 
specific feedback on the following four dimensions:
    1. Block Group Level Geography--The Census Bureau proposed 
releasing block group data only as downloadable Summary Files through 
the American FactFinder Download Center. The American Factfinder is the 
electronic system for access and dissemination of Census Bureau data on 
the Internet. Tables can be accessed through the American Community 
Survey Data Sets page on American FactFinder or downloaded in file 
format from the American FactFinder Download Center.
    2. Types of Data Products--The Census Bureau proposed releasing 5-
year estimates in detailed tables, summary files, subject tables, data 
profiles, narrative profiles, selected population profiles, thematic 
maps, geographic comparison tables, and PUMS files. Narrative profiles 
and selected population profiles were not proposed for particular 
geographic summary levels, such as block groups.
    3. Restrictions Required for Disclosure Avoidance or Statistical 
Reliability--As done with all data released by the Census Bureau, the 
proposal included restrictions on the release of 5-year estimates that 
were based on disclosure avoidance requirements.
    4. Frequency of Data Release--The Census Bureau proposed that ACS 
5-year estimates be released annually.

II. Summary of Comments Received and the Response of the Census Bureau

    The Census Bureau received comments from 26 organizations and 
individuals regarding the four above-mentioned categories, in response 
to the March 6, 2009 Federal Register notice. Some commenters addressed 
more than one category in their comments. All comments have been 
summarized and organized according to subject matter. The subject 
matter categories are: (1) The option of alternative dissemination 
methods for data at the block group geography level, (2) the types of 
data products to be included in the 5-year data products, (3) the 
limitations on the availability of the 5-year estimates due to 
restrictions required for disclosure avoidance and statistical 
reliability, and (4) the proposed annual release for the ACS 5-year 
data products. Comments were provided by a variety of Federal and State 
agencies and organizations, non-profit policy research and analysis 
organizations, non-governmental organizations, and a private sector 
company. Federal, State, local, and private sector organizations from 
agencies representing the transportation community provided 17 of the 
total 26 comments received. All comments received are posted on the 
Census Bureau's ACS Web site, http://www.census.gov/acs. A summary of 
the comments and the Census Bureau's response is below.

1. Block Group Level Geography

    The Census Bureau received six comments in response to the question 
of using downloadable Summary Files rather than releasing tables on 
American FactFinder for block group data. All six comments were in 
favor of ACS producing block group level data and releasing the block 
group data tables separately from the standard ACS tables currently 
found on American Factfinder. Two comments strongly recommended not 
releasing block group data tables on American Factfinder. Specifically 
they wanted the block group data released with cautions and 
instructions for combining data for block group areas into larger 
geographic areas ``to achieve greater reliability.''
    In considering this proposal, the Census Bureau reviewed the 
complexity of using the block group data with the sheer volume of the 
estimates to be produced for approximately 210,000 block group 
geographies and agreed that releasing tables on American Factfinder was 
not the preferred approach. As a result of public comments and staff 
review, the Census Bureau will release to the public through the 
American Factfinder Download Center the block group estimates only as 
files that can be accessed by more sophisticated users.

2. Types of Data Products

    The Census Bureau received thirteen comments in response to the 
proposed data products for the ACS 5-year estimates. The comments were 
all in support of the data products proposed; one group interested in 
data on American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) populations requested 
specific AIAN data products. The Census Bureau

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agrees with the comment and plans to produce data specifically for 
American Indians and Alaska Natives with the release of the 2006-2010 
ACS American Indian and Alaska Native Summary File. One comment from 
the transportation community requested expanded transportation data, 
and six comments were concerned about how confidentiality protections 
might limit the availability of detailed transportation data at very 
low levels of geography. These confidentiality protections focus on 
tables that have many cells but few sample cases. To address the 
concerns expressed in the comments, the Census Bureau has for several 
years been working with the transportation community to develop ACS 
data products that provide a balance between the low geographic levels 
required by the work of the transportation community and 
confidentiality protections required by the Census Bureau's collection 
authority, Title 13. For example, the ACS 1-, 3- and 5-year standard 
data products now contain 59 new transportation tables that were not a 
part of the Census 2000 standard data products; some of these ACS 
transportation tables had formerly only been provided through custom 
tabulation requests paid for by the transportation community (in Census 
2000 and earlier censuses). The Census Bureau is also providing some 
tables with low geographic levels of transportation data sooner and 
more frequently in the ACS data products than they have from past 
Censuses. Finally, the Census Bureau continues to work in collaboration 
with the transportation community to determine the best set of products 
to provide more data for very small geographic areas without violating 
confidentiality protections. One comment from a private sector firm 
offered suggestions for organizing ACS data for download to enhance 
analysis. The Census Bureau agrees with this comment and is developing 
improvements for data products available for download.
    To arrive at a final plan for the data products to be released for 
the 2005-2009 ACS, the Census Bureau considered all comments and also 
undertook a comprehensive staff review of the many ACS data products 
released for the 3-year estimates. The objective of this review was to 
determine if those products were appropriate for very small counties, 
towns, and incorporated places, as well as for specific government data 
uses and public use. The final plan for the ACS 5-year data products 
will provide a very large percentage of the data that were previously 
found in Census Summary Files 1 and 3. Some tables previously provided 
only upon request for a custom tabulation will be made available 
routinely to the public in the standard ACS data products. 
Additionally, tables not present in Census 2000 data products have been 
added to this set of available ACS tables. When comparing the plan for 
the 2005-2009 ACS to what was released in Census 2000, most of the new 
tables reflect new content, but some tables were added because they 
were determined by subject matter experts to be desirable by data 
users.
    Census Bureau staff also reviewed the practical matter of providing 
public access to the large volume of data being produced by releasing 
5-year estimates for such a large number of geographic areas. Staff 
reviewed the available data products and tables and determined that a 
reduced set of tables will be released on American FactFinder with the 
remainder to be available to the public through downloadable Summary 
Files from the American FactFinder Download Center.
    The Census Bureau plans to deliver to the public the tables for the 
5-year estimates on American FactFinder in a single release. The 
release of the Summary Files (including all data at the block group 
level) and the PUMS files will follow soon after the initial release of 
tables on American FactFinder. The plan for future releases of the ACS 
5-year data products may be subject to change as Census Bureau staff 
improves the data products and receives input and feedback from data 
users.

3. Restrictions Required for Disclosure Avoidance or Statistical 
Reliability

    The March 6, 2009 Federal Register notice directed readers to a 
file containing supplementary information located on the Census 
Bureau's Web site (http://www.census.gov/acs). The table describing 
disclosure avoidance protections was in the file that provided this 
supplementary information, and these protections were listed by number. 
The Census Bureau received 20 comments in response to the proposed 
disclosure avoidance. Three comments supported the Census Bureau's 
plans for disclosure avoidance. Some commenters, mostly from the 
transportation data community, had comments or suggestions concerning 
disclosure avoidance. Disclosure avoidance number seven from the March 
6, 2009 Federal Register notice stated

    For the residence and workplace tables where means of 
transportation (mode) is crossed with one or more other variables, 
there must be at least three unweighted workers in sample for each 
transportation mode in a given place for the table to be released. 
Otherwise the data must be collapsed or suppressed and complementary 
suppression must be applied. There is no threshold on univariate 
tables.

    Commenters expressed objections to disclosure avoidance number 
seven, stating that its implementation would negatively impact data 
needed for planning requirements, particularly for very small 
geographic levels including traffic analysis zones and block-groups.
    In response to these concerns, Census Bureau staff reviewed the 
published disclosure avoidance and determined that number seven, which 
impacts residence and workplace tables where means of transportation 
(mode) is crossed with one or more other variables, does not apply to 
the standard ACS data products, but rather it applies only to some 
custom tabulations that the Census Bureau produces upon request. 
However, because of general Census Bureau Disclosure Review Board 
restrictions pertaining to non-residential geographies, some of the 
tables of interest to transportation data users will still be limited 
or suppressed. The Census Bureau is aware of the needs that the 
transportation community has for these data and has expanded the number 
of transportation tables in the ACS standard annual data products to 
include ones that were not provided in Census 2000 standard 
tabulations. In addition, the Census Bureau continues to work closely 
with staff from the Department of Transportation to produce custom 
tabulations that will fit the needs of transportation data users and 
that also uphold the Census Bureau's duty to protect the 
confidentiality of ACS respondents.
    Additionally, another commenter was concerned that disclosure 
avoidance number six would suppress data for small reservations and 
many Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas. Disclosure avoidance 
number six from the March 6, 2009 Federal Register notice stated:

    For workplace tables, there must be at least 50 unweighted or 
300 weighted workers in sample over the 5-year period in a given 
workplace for the table to be released.

    Census Bureau staff recognizes the difficult balance in producing 
tables for small populations and ensuring that confidentiality is 
protected. Disclosure avoidance number six, originally developed for 
Census 2000 data, had a restriction of workplace tables to areas with 
50 unweighted or 300 weighted workers. The 300 weighted workers 
restriction was based on the 50

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unweighted workers and the Census 2000 average long form weight of six. 
The Disclosure Review Board, upon closer review for the ACS 5-year data 
products, decided that the key restriction to protect confidentiality 
for the ACS was the 50 unweighted workers, so the reference to a 
weighted number of workers has been dropped. Census Bureau staff also 
expanded the language on disclosure avoidance number six to clarify 
that in addition to workplace tables, the requirement for at least 50 
unweighted workers in sample over the 5-year period applies to all non-
residential geographies including residence 1 year ago and place-of-
birth tables.

4. Frequency of Data Release

    The Census Bureau received five comments on the proposed annual 
release of the ACS 5-year estimates. All five comments were in favor of 
the annual release.

III. ACS 5-year Data Products Plans

    The Census Bureau is releasing its plans for the ACS 5-year data 
products via the Web. The plan provides a list of the tables and 
geographies expected to be included in the ACS 5-year products and will 
be updated periodically with new and expanded information. This 
information can be accessed at: http://www.census.gov/acs.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with, a collection of information subject to requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), unless that collection of 
information displays a current, valid Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) control number. In accordance with the PRA, 44 United States 
Code, Chapter 35, the OMB approved the ACS under OMB Control Number 
0607-0810. We will furnish report forms to organizations included in 
the survey, and additional copies will be available upon written 
request to the Director, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-0001.

    Dated: September 13, 2010.
Robert M. Groves,
Director, U.S. Census Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2010-23373 Filed 9-17-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P