Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: February 11, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 28)]

[Notices]

[Page 6889-6890]

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

[DOCID:fr11fe98-26]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

Census 2000 Dress Rehearsal Integrated Coverage Measurement (ICM)/Post Enumeration Survey (PES) Person Followup Interview

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork 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 April 13, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5327, 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 Magdalena Ramos, Staff Group Leader for ICM Operations, Bureau of the Census, Room 2126, Washington, DC 20233, (301)457-4295.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Abstract

   The Bureau of the Census developed the Integrated Coverage Measurement (ICM) approach for measuring coverage of housing units and population counts during the decennial census. In the Census 2000 Dress Rehearsal, we will be conducting a rehearsal of both the ICM and Post Enumeration Survey (PES) methodologies which can be alternatively used to measure the coverage of the census for housing units and people. The ICM/PES is a survey of sample block clusters within the Dress Rehearsal sites. The Census 2000 Dress Rehearsal sites include an urban site (Sacramento, California), a non-urban site (Columbia, South Carolina, and surrounding area), and one American Indian Reservation (Menominee

   [[Page 6890]]

   Reservation, Wisconsin which includes Menominee County).

   The PES methodology will be tested only in the Columbia, South Carolina (and surrounding area) site, while ICM will be tested in the other two sites. The two main differences between the ICM and the PES approaches are: (1) The ICM methodology combines the initial count estimates with ICM coverage results to produce the ``one number'' census estimates, while the PES produces evaluation coverage estimates separately; (2) The time-frame. The time frame differences result because the PES is a test of the nonsampling census methods. Because of this, the Nonresponse Follow-up (NRFU) operation of the initial census phase for the South Carolina site will be expanded two weeks beyond that of the other two sites where ICM operation will be tested. As a result, the South Carolina PES activites that occur after the census initial phase NRFU activities will start two weeks later than similar ICM activities in the other two sites.

   The first activities of the ICM/PES consisted of the Independent Listing and the Housing Unit Follow-up operations. During the Independent Listing, the Bureau of the Census will obtain a complete inventory of all housing unit addresses in the ICM sample blocks within the Census 2000 Dress Rehearsal sites just before the beginning of the dress rehearsal. The resulting address listing will be used in the ICM Person interview activities from where a roster of people in the ICM/ PES addresses will be created.

   As soon as census enumeration is complete, the ICM/PES Person Interview will be conducted using a Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) instrument, on a laptop computer. During this operation, the Bureau of the Census will target ICM/PES sample cases for either telephone or personal visit interviews.

   After the person interview, person matching is conducted. The people enumerated in the ICM sample are matched to the people enumerated in the census for the same addresses. Unresolved cases will then be reconciled in the field during the ICM Person Follow-up interview. An automated CAPI instrument will be used for data collection. The automated instrument will code each person in the follow-up as a matched resident/non-resident or a nonmatched resident/ non-resident of the block cluster on census day. The completed follow- up interview files will be reviewed and used to resolve a person's residence status and match status. This information will then be used in the census 2000 dress rehearsal coverage estimates and the ``one number'' census estimates.

   The materials for the approval of the independent listing, HU and Person Interview operations have been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget separately and approval for the listing operations was already granted.

2. Method of Collection

   This operation will be conducted using person-to-person interviewing and a CATI instrument administered on a laptop computer.

3. Data

   OMB Number: Not available.

   Form Number: CAPI Person Follow-up Interview (no form number).

   Type of Review: Regular.

   Affected Public: Individuals or households.

   Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,520 Housing units.

   Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.

   Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,130 hours (8,520 x 15 minutes).

   Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to respondents except for their time to respond.

   Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

   Legal Authority: Title 13, U.S. Code, Sections 141, 193, and 221.

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 collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

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

   Dated: February 6, 1998. Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and Organization.

   [FR Doc. 98-3480Filed2-10-98; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 3510-07-P