80 FR 18600 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Geographic Partnership Programs

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
U.S. Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 66 (April 7, 2015)

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)).

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18600-18601]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07888]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Geographic 
Partnership Programs

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before June 8, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and 
instructions to Laura Waggoner, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 
20233 (or via the Internet at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The mission of the Geography Division (GEO) within the 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 System (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 
jurisdiction. The benefits to local governments in sharing that 
information as part of the Census Bureau's GPPs are realized with 
quality data for more accurate results of censuses and surveys.

II. Method of Collection

    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.
    The Census Bureau will develop guidelines and procedures for state, 
local, and tribal government submissions of address data and geographic 
boundaries, and will outline the mutual roles and responsibilities of 
each party within each GPP. The GPP listed below, is not exhaustive of 
all activities that may be performed under this generic clearance. The 
Census Bureau will follow the approved procedure when submitting any 
additional activities not specifically listed here.

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

[[Page 18601]]

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.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0795.
    Form Number: Not available at this time.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State, local, and tribal governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents (Fiscal Year (FY) 2015):
GEO Contact with Local Governments: 1,000.
GEO Acquisition of Local Geographic Data and Content Clarification: 
500.
Community TIGER Contact with Local Governments: 200.
Community TIGER Updates: 200.
    Estimated Number of Respondents (FY 2016 & FY 2017):
GEO Contact with Local Governments: 2,000.
GEO Acquisition of Local Geographic Data and Content Clarification: 
1,000.
Community TIGER Contact with Local Governments: 500.
Community TIGER Updates: 500.
    Estimated Time per Response (all FYs):
GEO Contact with Local Governments: 2 hours.
GEO Acquisition of Local Geographic Data and Content Clarification: 10 
hours.
Community TIGER Contact with Local Governments: 2 hours.
Community TIGER Updates: 40 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours (FY 2015):
GEO Contact with Local Governments: 2,000.
GEO Acquisition of Local Geographic Data and Content Clarification: 
5,000.
Community TIGER Contact with Local Governments: 400.
Community TIGER Updates: 8,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours (FY 2016 & FY 2017):
GEO Contact with Local Governments: 4,000.
GEO Acquisition of Local Geographic Data and Content Clarification: 
10,000.
Community TIGER Contact with Local Governments: 1,000.
Community TIGER Updates: 20,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Sections 16, 141, and 193.

IV. 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: April 2, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-07888 Filed 4-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE CODE 3510-07-P