Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: June 9, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 110)]

[Notices]

[Page 30961-30962]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr09jn99-36]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau

The American Community Survey (ACS); Proposed Information Collection

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 proposed and/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 August 9, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Englemeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5033, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Cynthia Taeuber, Bureau of the Census, Demographic Statistical Methods Division, Washington, DC 20233. Her telephone number is (301) 457-2899.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Abstract

   The American Community Survey, which the Census Bureau initiated in November 1995, is a continuing full-scale operation of a continuous measurement system. Continuous measurement is a reengineering of the method for collecting the housing and socio-economic data traditionally collected in the decennial census. By selecting a new sample of addresses every month, the American Community Survey provides data every year instead of once in ten years. It blends the strength of small-area estimation from the decennial census with the quality and timeliness of continuing surveys through its large monthly survey.

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   The Census Bureau began the American Community Survey in four sites, added new sites each of the last three years, and presently conducts the American Community Survey in 31 sites. The expansion to 31 sites in November 1998 began the comparison phase of the continuous measurement system.

   This comparison phase of the American Community Survey is designed primarily to collect information necessary to understand differences between estimates derived from the American Community Survey and the Census 2000 long form. This phase will help the Census Bureau and the Federal Government better understand the costs and benefits of a continuous measurement system, and make possible eliminating the long form in Census 2010. The content of the American Community Survey during the comparison phase is basically the same as the content of the Census 2000 long form. There are some differences to reflect the fact that the American Community Survey is conducted every month.

   In November 1999, the Census Bureau plans to continue the comparison phase in the 31 sites, and to begin a three-year comparison phase on a national level as part of the decennial program. For this comparison, the Census Bureau is conducting the American Community Survey in counties with a broad mix of geographic and demographic characteristics.

   In addition to selecting a sample of residential addresses, the Census Bureau will select a sample of group quarters (GQs) and conduct the American Community Survey with a sample of persons within the GQs. (To prevent duplication with Census 2000, the Census Bureau will not conduct American Community Survey interviews in group quarters during 2000.) The Census Bureau will also conduct a reinterview operation with a small sample of households to monitor the quality of data collected during Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI).

2. Method of Collection

   The Census Bureau will mail questionnaires to households selected for the American Community Survey. For households that do not return questionnaires, Census Bureau staff will attempt to conduct interviews via Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) and CAPI.

   For some GQs, we will mail questionnaires to respondents. For other types of GQs, Field Representatives will either help respondents complete questionnaires or leave questionnaires and ask respondents to return them by mail.

   Census Bureau staff will conduct reinterviews using CAPI.

3. Data

   OMB Number: 0607-0810.

   Form Number: ACS-1, ACS-1(GQ), ACS-3(GQ), ACS-290.

   Type of Review: Regular.

   Affected Public: Individuals and households.

   Estimated Number of Respondents: During the period of November 1999 through October 2002, we plan to contact the following number of respondents: 2,554,850 households; 112,000 persons in group quarters; and 25,000 households in reinterview.

   Estimated Time Per Response: Estimates are 38 minutes per household, 15 minutes per person in group quarters, and 10 minutes per household in the reinterview sample.

   Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimate is an annual average of 560,000 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, Section 182.

4. 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 collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collections techniques or others forms of information technology.

   Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

   Dated: June 4, 1999. Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

   [FR Doc. 99-14592Filed6-8-99; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 3510-07-P