[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36765-36766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15780]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 150609512-5512-01]


2020 Census Redistricting Data Program Commencement of Phase 1: 
The Block Boundary Suggestion 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 2020 
Census Redistricting Data Program: The Block Boundary Suggestion 
Project. This first phase specifically provides States the opportunity 
to provide the Census Bureau with their suggestions for the 2020 Census 
tabulation block inventory. Suggestions are made by designating the 
desirability of linear features for use as 2020 Census tabulation block 
boundaries. In addition, States have the opportunity to give the Census 
Bureau legal boundary updates. These actions allow States to construct 
some of the small area geography they need for legislative 
redistricting. State participation in Phase 1 of the Redistricting Data 
Program is voluntary.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 27, 2015. The 
deadline for States to notify the Census Bureau that they wish to 
participate in Phase 1: The Block Boundary Suggestion Project is 
December 15, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Please address all comments to James Whitehorne, Chief 
(acting) of the Census Redistricting Data Office, U.S. Census Bureau, 
Room 2H469, Washington, DC 20233

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Whitehorne, Chief (acting) of 
the Census Redistricting Data Office, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2H469, 
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

[[Page 36766]]

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 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.
    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 2020 Census Redistricting 
Data Program. The purpose of this notice is to provide further 
information on the commencement of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data 
Program, Phase 1--The Block Boundary Suggestion Project. Future Federal 
Register notices will address the other phases of the 2020 Program.
    The 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program was initially announced 
on July 15, 2014, in the Federal Register (79 FR 41258). The Census 
Bureau received and responded to three comments regarding the 
Redistricting Data Program. All three comments were concerned with the 
effect that 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. The 
responses indicated that we are currently reviewing our residence rules 
in preparation for the 2020 Census.
    As seen in the 1990, 2000, and 2010 censuses, the 2020 Census 
Redistricting Data Program is partitioned into several phases. State 
participation in Phase 1 and 2 of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data 
Program under 13 U.S.C. 141 is voluntary.
    Beginning in late summer of 2015, the Director of the Census Bureau 
will invite each state to participate in Phase 1, the Block Boundary 
Suggestion Project through their previously designated liaison. This 
phase will include a verification step prior to release of the Phase 3 
data. For each State responding that they wish to participate by 
December 15, 2015 the Census Bureau will provide data from the MAF/
TIGER System, optional Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS) 
tools, and the procedures necessary for each State to begin work on 
Phase 1. States are not required to use the GUPS; however, they are 
required to provide their Phase 1 submission to the Census Bureau 
electronically in Census Bureau specified formats. During the 
submission period, the Census Bureau will provide training in the use 
of the GUPS and assist the states in understanding the procedures 
necessary for processing files for their submission. The States will 
have the opportunity to verify the inclusion of their suggested 
tabulation block boundary features in the Census Bureau's database as 
part of Phase 1.
    The Census Bureau will continue to communicate with each State to 
ensure that they are well informed about the benefits of working with 
the Census Bureau towards a successful 2020 Census. In addition, the 
Redistricting Data Office will continue to work with each State to 
ensure they are prepared to participate in all phases of the 
Redistricting Data Program. Every State, regardless of their 
participation in Phase 1, will receive the official redistricting data 
sets, as required by Public Law 94-171 in Phase 3 of the Redistricting 
Data Program.

    Dated: June 18, 2015.
John H. Thompson,
 Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2015-15780 Filed 6-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P