82 FR 37839 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Participant Statistical Areas Program

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
U.S. Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 155 (August 14, 2017)

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.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 155 (Monday, August 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37839-37841]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17033]


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Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 155 / Monday, August 14, 2017 / 
Notices

[[Page 37839]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Participant 
Statistical Areas 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.

DATES: To ensure consideration, submit written comments, on or before 
October 13, 2017.

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 Robin A. Pennington, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver 
Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233 (or via the internet at 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Following Census Bureau guidelines, the Participant Statistical 
Areas Program (PSAP) allows participants to review and suggest 
modifications to the boundaries for block groups, census tracts, census 
county divisions (CCDs), and census designated places (CDPs). 
Additionally, tribal government designees can review or propose changes 
for tribal statistical areas, which include: Tribal block groups 
(TBGs), tribal census tracts (TCTs), CDPs, tribal designated 
statistical areas (TDSAs), state designated tribal statistical areas 
(SDTSAs), state reservations,\1\ Alaska Native village statistical 
areas (ANVSAs), Oklahoma tribal statistical areas (OTSA), and OTSA 
tribal subdivisions. Participants, usually geographers or planners, are 
representatives from tribal, state, county, or local governments, and 
planning agencies. The Census Bureau contacts participants from the 
2010 PSAP and invites tribal, state, county, or local governments, and 
planning agencies to the 2020 PSAP. The statistical boundaries 
delineated in PSAP reflect localized knowledge, meet Census Bureau-
established criteria and guidelines, and are intended to better meet 
data user needs. These standard or tribal statistical geographies are 
reviewed and refined once every ten years in advance of each decennial 
census.
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    \1\ State reservations are not statistical areas, but they are 
included in PSAP for administrative reasons.
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    The PSAP geographies represent statistical units for the tabulation 
and dissemination of small area data from the decennial census, the 
American Community Survey (ACS), and other Census Bureau programs and 
surveys. While legal boundaries, such as cities and counties, allow the 
Census Bureau to publish data by those areas, local governments often 
need data for planning by smaller units, such as neighborhoods. PSAP is 
a unique program initiated and executed by the Census Bureau to allow 
local and regional governments to break larger geographic areas into 
smaller units so that they can receive 2020 Census and ACS data by 
these smaller units and better plan local services. PSAP occurs between 
March 2018 and October 2020 and has three primary components:
    1. PSAP Internal Review.
    2. PSAP Delineation.
    3. PSAP Verification.
    The primary participants are tribal governments, regional planning 
agencies, and councils of governments. Individual counties and 
incorporated places may participate in the program if they have the 
resources or better local knowledge of their geography. State agencies 
may also act on behalf of non-tribal, local governments that lack the 
resources to participate in the program.

1--PSAP Internal Review

    From March 2018 through May 2018, Census Bureau staff will contact 
2010 Census PSAP participants to solicit participation in the 2020 
Census PSAP. During this time, Census Bureau staff will also research 
and identify contacts where the Census Bureau has no 2010 Census PSAP 
participant contact information. Census Bureau staff will encourage 
designated 2020 Census PSAP contacts to reach out to tribal, state, 
county and local contacts, as well as planning organizations to ensure 
additional stakeholders have the opportunity to be involved in the 2020 
Census PSAP.
    In July 2018, all tribal, state, county, or local governments, and 
planning agencies receive an official invitation package by mail. The 
participant receives a Contact Update Form that they fill out and 
return to the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau then sends reminder 
packages to governments that do not respond in the time period 
mentioned on the Contact Update Form. Census Bureau staff perform an 
internal review of PSAP entities prior to the distribution of materials 
to the partners. This internal review ensures each of the statistical 
areas meets the criteria as defined. Partners will have an option to 
start with statistical areas from 2010 or the Census Bureau proposed 
areas for 2020.

2--Program Delineation

    In December 2018, the Census Bureau notifies program participants 
of the start of the delineation phase. The Census Bureau conducts 
delineation of the 2020 PSAP boundaries using the web-based Geographic 
Update Partnership Software (GUPS), a customized geographic information 
system (GIS) based on an open-source platform. Participants can either 
download the materials and software online from the Census Bureau's Web 
site or have them shipped on DVDs. Tribal participants have the 
additional option to use Census Bureau-provided paper maps for the 
delineation. Participants have a maximum of 120 days from the date of 
receipt of materials to complete and submit statistical geography 
updates to the Census Bureau. The delineation phase occurs between 
December 2018

[[Page 37840]]

and July 2019. Then, in July 2019, the Census Bureau sends follow-up 
letters to inform participants when the verification phase will start.

3--Program Verification

    The verification phase allows participants to review the proposed 
edits from Census Bureau geographers. The Census Bureau sends a prepaid 
postcard to participants asking them to verify, accept, or reject the 
final version of the proposed plan, which is available online or by 
paper maps for tribal participants. Participants have 90 calendar days 
to review updates. Census Bureau staff contacts non-respondents through 
a follow-up mail-out and follow-up telephone calls. Once the Census 
Bureau receives the postcard with the participants' approval or 
acceptance of the final verification plan, the Census Bureau finalizes 
the 2020 statistical boundaries. This phase occurs between December 
2019 and April 2020.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau offers two methods of collection for the 2020 
Census PSAP: GUPS submission (electronic) and paper map submission. The 
Census Bureau uses several formats to collect information and updates 
for statistical boundaries during the internal review, delineation, and 
verification phases. The Census Bureau collects updated contact 
information from participants who choose to participate in the program 
online, by email, and by telephone. The Census Bureau-provided 
software, GUPS, is the only method of response for state and local 
governments. Some tribal participants only have the option to use the 
paper map submission (TDSAs, ANVSAs, STDSAs, OTSAs, and OTSA tribal 
subdivisions).

GUPS Submission

    The Census Bureau developed GUPS to provide (1) a free digital 
update option to those participants lacking an existing GIS and (2) 
standardized tools and functions enabling participants to navigate 
quickly and accurately through the update process. In addition, the 
standardized GUPS submissions enable Census Bureau staff to review, 
process, and incorporate submissions quickly and accurately into its 
database. Participants can download GUPS materials via the Web site or 
request DVDs of the materials via mail.
    Participants use GUPS to review their updated standard or tribal 
statistical geographies already delineated by the Census Bureau. The 
Census Bureau designs two types of packages: One for GUPS participants 
who are delineating or reviewing standard statistical geographies, and 
one for tribal statistical geography review.
    A. The 2020 Census PSAP package for standard statistical 
geographies contains:
    (1) Cover letter from the Director of the Census Bureau.
    (2) 2020 Census Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) 
Information Guide.
    (3) 2020 Census Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) 
Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS) Respondent Guide.
    (4) Quick reference guides for county and local governments. A one-
page document providing criteria for each statistical geography 
eligible for updates as part of PSAP:
    (a) Overview.
    (b) Block groups.
    (c) Census tracts.
    (d) Census county divisions (CCDs).
    (e) Census designated places (CDPs).
    (5) GUPS Quick Start Online Download.
    (6) GUPS Quick Start DVD Download.
    (7) DVD for GUPS and DVD for Spatial Data.
    (8) Postage-paid envelope to submit boundary changes.
    (9) Delineation and verification prepaid postage postcards.
    B. The typical PSAP package for tribal statistical geographies 
contains:
    (1) Cover letter from the Director of the Census Bureau.
    (2) 2020 Census Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) Tribal 
Information Guide.
    (3) 2020 Census Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) 
Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS) Tribal Respondent Guide.
    (4) Quick reference guides for tribal governments. A one-page 
document providing criteria for each statistical geography eligible for 
updates as part of PSAP:
    (a) Overview.
    (b) Census designated places (CDPs).
    (c) Census county divisions (CCDs).
    (d) Tribal block groups (TBGs).
    (e) Tribal census tracts (TCTs).
    (f) Tribal designated statistical areas (TDSAs).
    (g) State designated tribal statistical areas (SDTSAs).
    (h) Alaska Native village statistical areas (ANVSAs).
    (i) Oklahoma tribal statistical areas (OTSAs).
    (j) OTSA tribal subdivisions.
    (5) GUPS Quick Start Online Download.
    (6) GUPS Quick Start DVD Download.
    (7) DVD for GUPS and DVD for Spatial Data.
    (8) Postage-paid envelope to submit boundary changes.
    (9) Delineation and verification prepaid postage postcards.

Paper Map Submission Only

    Submission using paper maps is the only option offered to tribal 
governments and state tribal liaisons whose spatial data are not 
available in GUPS. The participant receives a large paper map and draws 
the boundary updates on the maps using pencils provided in the package. 
The participant uses the postage-paid envelope to submit the annotated 
map to the Census Bureau and then Census Bureau digitizes the map. The 
typical PSAP paper map submission package contains:
    (1) Cover letter from the Director of the Census Bureau.
    (2) 2020 Census Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) Tribal 
Paper Respondent Guide.
    (3) Quick reference guides for tribal governments. A one-page 
document providing criteria for each statistical geography eligible for 
updates as part of PSAP:
    (a) Overview.
    (b) Census designated places (CDPs).
    (c) Census county divisions (CCDs).
    (d) Tribal block groups (TBGs).
    (e) Tribal census tracts (TCTs).
    (f) Tribal designated statistical areas (TDSAs).
    (g) State designated tribal statistical areas (SDTSAs).
    (h) Alaska Natives village statistical areas (ANVSAs).
    (i) Oklahoma tribal statistical areas (OTSAs).
    (j) OTSA tribal subdivisions.
    (4) Set of maps of their statistical geographic entities.
    (5) Supplies for updating paper maps.
    (6) Postage-paid envelope to submit boundary changes.
    (7) Delineation and verification prepaid postage postcards.

III. Data

OMB Control Number

    Form Number: 20PSAP-F-500--State Recognized Tribes Update Form. 
20PSAP-F-510--Contact Update Form. 20PSAP-F-511--Product Preference 
Form. 20PSAP-F-520--State Tribal Liaison Contact Update Form. 20PSAP-F-
530--Federally Recognized Tribe Contact Update Form. 20PSAP-F-540--
Federally Recognized Tribe Product Preference Form.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: All Federally or state recognized Indian tribes 
and Alaska Natives in the United States, states,

[[Page 37841]]

counties, local governments, and planning agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,801.
    Estimated Time per Response: Between 7 and 606 hours, estimated 
average 40 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 152,040.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $4,523,190.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Section 6.

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,
PRA Department Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-17033 Filed 8-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P