[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 177 (Monday, September 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 55085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22952]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.
    Title: Geographic Partnership Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0795.
    Form Number(s): Not applicable.
    Type of Request: Regular Submission.
    Number of Respondents: 9,900.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2015: 1,900.
FY 2016: 4,000.
FY 2017: 4,000.
    Average Hours per Response: 13.5.
    Burden Hours: 133,650.
FY 2015: 25,650.
FY 2016: 54,000.
FY 2017: 54,000.
    Needs and Uses: The mission of GEO within the U.S. Census Bureau is 
to plan, coordinate, and administer all geographic and cartographic 
activities needed to facilitate Census Bureau statistical programs 
throughout the United States and its territories. GEO manages programs 
to continuously update geographic data including addresses, spatial 
features, boundaries, and geographic entities in the Master Address 
File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/
TIGER) System. GEO also conducts research into geographic concepts, 
methods, and standards needed to facilitate Census Bureau data 
collection and dissemination programs. Geographic Partnership Programs 
(GPPs) encourages participants, following Census Bureau guidelines, to 
review, update, and suggest modifications to geographic data to 
maintain MAF/TIGER and to ensure the accurate reporting of data from 
censuses and surveys. Because state, local, and tribal governments have 
geographic data and current knowledge about where growth and change are 
occurring in their jurisdictions, their input into the overall 
development of a continually maintained address list for censuses and 
surveys makes a vital contribution. The Census Bureau recognizes that 
state, local, and tribal governments have authoritative geographic data 
for their jurisdictions. The benefits to local governments in sharing 
that information as part of the Census Bureaus GPPs are realized with 
quality data for more accurate results of censuses and surveys. This 
notice is for a generic clearance that will cover a number of 
activities required for updating MAF/TIGER with participant-provided 
address and other geographic information, or obtain address and spatial 
data for research and evaluation purposes. The information collected in 
these programs in cooperation with state, local, and tribal governments 
and other partners is essential to the mission of the Census Bureau and 
directly contributes to the successful outcome of censuses and surveys 
conducted by the Census Bureau. The generic clearance allows the Census 
Bureau to focus its resources on actual operational planning, 
development of procedures, and implementation of programs to update and 
improve the geographic data maintained in MAF/TIGER.

Geographic Support System Initiative (GSS-I)

    The GSS-I is an integrated program designed to improve geographic 
data and enhance the quality assessment and measurement for MAF/TIGER. 
The GSS-I builds on the accomplishments of the last decade's MAF/TIGER 
Enhancement Program (MTEP), which redesigned MAF/TGER, improved the 
positional accuracy of TIGER spatial features, and emphasized quality 
measurement. The Census Bureau plans on a continual update process for 
MAF/TIGER throughout the decade to support current surveys, including 
the American Community Survey (ACS). Major participants are the Census 
Bureau with state, local, and tribal governments. The Census Bureau 
will contact state, local, and tribal governments to obtain files 
containing their geographic data to explore data exchange 
opportunities, and share best practices on maintaining quality 
geographic data. Governments can provide a file of their geographic 
data or provide data through a web-based application sponsored by the 
Census Bureau. Governments can choose the format and medium to provide 
their data directly to the Census Bureau, or may elect to standardize 
their data using Community TIGER.
    Affected Public: State, local, and tribal governments.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Sections 16, 141, and 193.
    This information collection request may be viewed at 
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce 
collections currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-5806.

    Dated: September 8, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-22952 Filed 9-11-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P