80 FR 40993 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Redistricting Data Program

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 134 (July 14, 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 134 (Tuesday, July 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40993-40995]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17073]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Redistricting 
Data Program

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, submit written comments, on or before 
September 14, 2015. The deadline for states to notify the Census Bureau 
that they wish to participate in Phase 1, the Block Boundary Suggestion 
Project (BBSP), is December 15, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 James Whitehorne, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill 
Road, 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 that continuously update features, boundaries, addresses, 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.
    The Census Bureau is requesting a new collection to cover the five 
phases of the Redistricting Data Program (RDP) that was originally part 
of the Geographic Partnership Programs (GPPs) generic clearance. The 
Census Bureau requests a three-year clearance and a project specific 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number for RDP. GEO, in 
coordination with OMB is creating a separate clearance for this 
critical program. A project specific clearance allows the Census Bureau 
to provide RDP specific materials, burden hours, and procedures. The 
need to only provide RDP materials ensures the program phases are 
uninterrupted by other program clearances unrelated to RDP. The RDP 
specific clearance provides flexibility in the timing, allowing the 
program to establish the schedule for RDP clearance needs and renewal.
    Under the provisions of Title 13, Section 141(c) of the United 
States Code (U.S.C.), the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) is required 
to provide the ``officers or public bodies having initial 
responsibility for the legislative apportionment or districting of each 
state . . .'' with the opportunity to specify geographic areas (e.g., 
voting districts) for which they wish to receive Decennial Census 
population counts for the purpose of reapportionment or redistricting.
    By April 1 of the year following the Decennial Census, the 
Secretary is required to furnish the state officials or their designees 
with population counts for American Indian areas (AIAs), counties, 
cities, census blocks, and

[[Page 40994]]

state-specified congressional, legislative, and voting districts.
    The Census Bureau has issued an invitation to the officers or 
public bodies having initial responsibility for legislative 
reapportionment and redistricting, through the Census Redistricting 
Data Office (RDO), inviting states to identify a non-partisan liaison 
that will work directly with the Census Bureau on the 2020 Census RDP.
    Since the 1990 Census, participation in both the Census RDP Block 
Boundary Suggestion Project (BBSP) and Voting District Project (VTDP), 
2020 Census RDP Phases 1 and 2 under Title 13, U.S.C., is voluntary on 
the part of each state. However, if states choose not to participate in 
Phase 1 and Phase 2, the Census Bureau cannot ensure that the 2020 
Decennial Census tabulation geography will support the redistricting 
needs of their state.

II. Method of Collection

    The RDP invites respondent participation in the following phases of 
the program:

Phase 1: BBSP

    The purpose of the BBSP is to afford states the opportunity to 
identify non-standard features often used as electoral boundaries (such 
as a power line or stream, rather than a street centerline, which might 
divide voters into two districts) as Census block boundaries. The BBSP 
option affords the state liaison the opportunity to provide suggestions 
for 2020 Census tabulation block boundaries resulting in more 
meaningful block data for the state. Liaisons are able to work with 
local officials including county election officers and others to ensure 
local geography is represented in the 2020 Census tabulation block 
inventory. In addition, the liaison, on behalf of the state, will make 
suggestions for features not desirable as census tabulation blocks. By 
identifying undesirable features, the liaison may assist the Census 
Bureau in reducing the overall number of census tabulation blocks from 
the 2010 inventory. Beginning in late fall of 2015, states that choose 
to participate in Phase 1 will begin receiving guidelines and training 
for providing their suggestions for the 2020 Census tabulation blocks 
as well as their suggestions for exclusion of line segments for 
consideration in the final 2020 Census tabulation block inventory. For 
the first time, states will have the opportunity to review legal 
limits, such as county and incorporated place boundaries, as reported 
through the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS). The Census Bureau 
conducts the BAS annually to update information about the legal 
boundaries and names of all governmental units. The alignment of the 
BAS with the BBSP will facilitate the cooperation between state and 
local government. A verification phase will occur in early 2017.

Phase 2: VTDP

    The VTDP will provide the state liaison, on behalf of the state, to 
submit the voting districts (a generic term used to represent areas 
that administer elections such as precincts, election districts, wards, 
etc.) to the Census Bureau for representation in the 2020 Census Public 
Law 94-171 products (data and geographic products). Beginning in late 
2017, states that choose to participate in VTDP will receive on a flow 
basis, geographic products that allow them the opportunity to update 
the Voting Districts (VTDs) for inclusion in the 2020 Census tabulation 
geography. State liaisons will continue to align their effort with 
updates from state and local government officials participating in the 
BAS. The VTD/BAS update and alignment will continue through spring of 
2018. A verification phase will occur in early 2019 for states that 
participated in VTDP.

Phase 3: Delivery of the 2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data

    By April 1, 2021, the Director of the Census Bureau will, in 
accordance with Title 13, U.S.C., furnish the Governor and state 
legislative leaders, both the majority and minority, with 2020 Census 
population counts for standard census tabulation areas (e.g., state, 
Congressional district, state legislative district, AIA, county, city, 
town, census tract, census block group, and census block) regardless of 
a state's participation in Phase 1 or 2. The Director of the Census 
Bureau will provide 2020 Census population counts for those states 
participating in Phase 2, for both the standard tabulation areas and 
for VTDs. For each state, this delivery will occur prior to general 
release and no later than April 1, 2021.

Phase 4: Collection of Post-Census Redistricting Data Plans

    2010 Census:
    As begun in 2011, the Census Bureau will solicit from each state 
the newly drawn legislative and Congressional district plans and 
prepares appropriate data sets based on the new districts. This effort 
will occur every two years in advance of the 2020 Census in order to 
update these boundaries with new or changed plans. A verification phase 
will occur with each update.
    2020 Census:
    Beginning in 2021, the Census Bureau will solicit from each state 
the newly drawn legislative and Congressional district plans and 
prepares appropriate data sets based on the new districts. This effort 
will occur every two years in advance of the 2030 Census in order to 
update these boundaries with new or changed plans. A verification phase 
will occur with each update.

Phase 5: Review of the 2020 Census RDP and Recommendations for the 2030 
Census RDP

    As the final phase of the 2020 Census RDP, the Census Bureau will 
work with the states to conduct a thorough review of the RDP. The 
intent of this review, and the final report that results, is to provide 
guidance to the Secretary and the Census Bureau Director in planning 
the 2030 Census RDP.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-XXXX.
    Form Number: Not available at this time.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: All fifty states, the District of Columbia, and 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    Maximum Number of Respondents for all Phases: 52.
    Estimated Time per Response Phase 1:
    BBSP Annotation: 124 hours.
    BBSP Verification: 62 hours.
    Estimated Time per Response Phase 2:
    VTDP Delineation: 248 hours.
    VTDP Verification: 124 hours.
    Estimated Time per Response Phase 4:
    115th Congressional Districts (CDs) & State Legislative Districts 
(SLDs) Collection: 2 hours.
    115th CDs & SLDs Verification: 2 hours.
    116th CDs & SLDs Collection: 2 hours.
    116th CDs & SLDs Verification: 2 hours.
    Estimated Burden Hours Phase 1:
    BBSP Annotation: 6,448 hours.
    BBSP Verification: 3,224 hours.
    Total Burden Hours: 9,672 hours.
    Estimated Burden Hours Phase 2:
    VTDP Delineation: 12,896 hours.
    VTDP Verification: 6,448 hours.
    Total Burden Hours: 19,344 hours.
    Estimated Burden Hours Phase 4:
    115th CDs & SLDs Collection: 104 hours.
    115th CDs & SLDs Verification: 104 hours.
    116th CDs & SLDs Collection: 104 hours.
    116th CDs & SLDs Verification: 104 hours.

[[Page 40995]]

    Total Burden Hours: 416 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 29,432 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Census Bureau 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.
    Summarization of comments submitted in response to this notice will 
be included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection. Comments will also become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-17073 Filed 7-13-15; 8:45 am]
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