82_FR_58615 82 FR 58378 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; The American Community Survey

82 FR 58378 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; The American Community Survey

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 237 (December 12, 2017)

Page Range58378-58381
FR Document2017-26726

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 Issue 237 (Tuesday, December 12, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58378-58381]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26726]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; The American 
Community Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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, written comments must be submitted on 
or before February 12, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Please 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]). You may also submit comments, 
identified by Docket number USBC-2017-0005, to the Federal e-Rulemaking 
Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments received are part of 
the public record. No comments will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov for public viewing until after the comment period 
has closed. Comments will generally be posted without change. All 
Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information. You may submit attachments to electronic 
comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file 
formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Robin A. Pennington, Rm. 2H465, U.S. Census 
Bureau, Decennial Census Management Division, Washington, DC 20233 or 
via email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 58379]]

I. Abstract

    Since the founding of the nation, the U.S. Census has mediated 
between the demands of a growing country for information about its 
economy and people, and the people's privacy and respondent burden. 
Beginning with the 1810 Census, Congress added questions to support a 
range of public concerns and uses, and over the course of a century 
questions were added about agriculture, industry, and commerce, as well 
as occupation, ancestry, marital status, disabilities, and other 
topics. In 1940, the U.S. Census Bureau introduced the long form and, 
since then, the more detailed questions were only asked of a sample of 
the public.
    The American Community Survey (ACS), launched in 2005, is the 
current embodiment of the long form of the census and is asked each 
year of a sample of the U.S. population in order to provide current 
data needed more often than once every ten years.
    The content of the proposed 2019 ACS questionnaire and data 
collection instruments for both Housing Unit and Group Quarters 
operations reflects changes to content and instructions that were 
proposed as a result of the 2016 ACS Content Test. The Census Bureau 
periodically conducts tests of new and improved survey content to 
ensure the ACS is meeting the data needs of its stakeholders. The 
primary objective of content tests is to test whether changes to 
question wording, response categories, and definitions of underlying 
constructs improve the quality of data collected.
    The ACS is one of the Department of Commerce's most valuable data 
products, used extensively by businesses, non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs), local governments, and many federal agencies. In 
conducting this survey, the Census Bureau's top priority is respecting 
the time and privacy of the people providing information while 
preserving the survey's value to the public. The 2019 survey content 
changes cover several topics:

Telephone Service

    The rise of cellphone and smartphone usage, and other complex and 
varied telephone services and equipment, has changed how people view 
and use telephones in a household. Research also suggests that some 
respondents, or in some cases interviewers, may not fully understand 
the current wording of the survey question on Telephone Service, the 
additional instructions that accompany the question, or what the 
question is intending to capture. To make the intent of the Telephone 
Service question easier to understand by respondents and interviewers, 
the question was made a stand-alone question and additional 
instructions are provided on the types of telephones and equipment 
respondents should include when answering the question. Currently, 
telephone service is asked as part of a broader question on housing 
characteristics.

Health Insurance

    A question on health insurance premiums and subsidies will be 
introduced to the ACS immediately following the current question on 
health insurance coverage. The question on premiums and subsidies asks 
if a person pays a health insurance premium, and if so, if he or she 
received a subsidy to help pay the premium. This question will provide 
more accurate information about coverage categories than available from 
the existing ACS question on current coverage alone. These data will 
enhance the ability of HHS and the states to administer Medicaid, CHIP, 
and the exchanges, and monitor private insurance coverage.

Journey to Work

    Changes to the Commute Mode question were motivated by changes in 
public transportation infrastructure across the United States, 
particularly the increased prevalence of light rail systems and the 
need to update and clarify the terminology used to refer to commute 
modes that appear as categories on the ACS. To improve the Commute Mode 
question, some of the public transportation modes were modified. The 
category ``Streetcar or trolley car'' was changed to ``Light rail, 
street car, or trolley,'' ``Subway or elevated'' was changed to 
``Subway or Elevated Rail,'' and ``Railroad'' was changed to ``Long-
distance train or commuter rail.'' These three rail-related categories 
were also slightly reordered so that ``Subway or elevated rail,'' the 
most prevalent rail mode, is listed first. The phrase ``trolley bus'' 
was dropped and the phrase ``work at home'' was changed to ``work from 
home.'' The subheading of instructions was simplified to read ``Mark 
ONE box for the method of transportation used for most of the 
distance.'' The Time of Departure question has historically raised 
concerns about privacy because of the reference to the time a person 
leaves home. To phrase the question in a less intrusive way, the 
question was changed to ask what time the person's trip to work began 
and to remove the word ``home.''

Weeks Worked

    The changes to the question on the number of weeks worked were made 
to allow the Census Bureau to provide high-quality, continuous measures 
for the number of weeks worked, such as means, medians, and aggregates. 
In addition, the changes enable additional specificity for weeks 
worked, particularly with hours worked, income, and occupation. Part A 
of the question regarding the time period of interest was rephrased 
from working ``50 or more weeks'' to ``EVERY week'' and additional 
information is provided in the second sentence. The original 
instruction of ``Count paid time off as work'' was changed to ``Count 
paid vacation, paid sick leave, and military service as work.'' For 
part B of the question, the response option was changed to a write-in 
response, the reference period (``the PAST 12 MONTHS'') is repeated, 
and new guidance clarifies what to count as work.

Class of Worker

    Changes to the Class of Worker question improve overall question 
clarity, refine the definition of unpaid family workers, explicitly 
define a category for Active Duty military, improve question wording 
and categories, and improve the layout of the question. Response 
categories were grouped under three general headings. ``Active Duty'' 
was added as one of the response categories in the government section, 
and the ``Active Duty'' checkbox was dropped from the Employer Name 
question. Question and response category wording were revised for 
clarity. To signal that all six employment characteristics questions 
refer to the same job (including industry and occupation), the series 
was renumbered from separate questions to a single series with sub-
questions. Lastly, the instructional text and heading for the series 
immediately preceding the Class of Worker question was simplified.

Industry and Occupation

    Ongoing research of the Industry and Occupation question write-in 
responses has demonstrated that the questions were unclear and 
confusing to respondents, who were unable to answer at all or answer 
with sufficient clarity to provide useful data. To increase clarity and 
improve occupational specificity, these questions were revised to 
include new and consistent examples, in terms of content and length, 
and include modified question wording. The number of

[[Page 58380]]

characters for write-in responses about ``Job Duties'' was expanded 
from 60 to 100 characters.

Retirement Income

    Over the last 40 years, defined contribution retirement plans have 
become increasingly common while defined benefit plans (such as 
pensions) have become less so. Federal surveys have lagged in 
addressing these newer forms of retirement income and subsequently 
underreport retirement income. The Retirement, Survivor, and Disability 
Income question was changed to improve income reporting, increase item 
response rates, reduce reporting errors, and update questions on 
retirement income and the income generated from retirement accounts and 
all other assets in order to better measure retirement income data. The 
question was expanded to ask about ``retirement income, pensions, 
survivor or disability income.'' In addition, the instructions that 
accompany the question were expanded to note that income from ``a 
previous employer or union, or any regular withdrawals or distributions 
from IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or other accounts specifically 
designed for retirement'' should be included.

Relationship

    For several years, the Census Bureau has been testing revised 
Relationship questions to improve the estimates of coupled households. 
The 1990 Census first introduced ``Unmarried Partner'' as a response 
category to the Relationship to Householder question. The 2000 and 2010 
Censuses built upon this work, changing the processing of responses to 
the Relationship question to more accurately represent same-sex 
couples. The Census Bureau discovered a statistical error in the 2010 
Census data that resulted from opposite-sex couples mismarking their 
sex. This error has the potential to inflate the estimates of same-sex, 
married-couple households from the 2010 Census. The Census Bureau 
released a set of modified state-level, same-sex household estimates 
from the 2010 Census because of this error, and also began new research 
efforts to improve the Relationship question.
    The Relationship question has been revised to improve measurement 
of same-sex couples. The existing ``Husband or wife'' and ``Unmarried 
partner'' response categories were each split into two versions: 
``Opposite-sex husband/wife/spouse,'' ``Opposite-sex unmarried 
partner,'' ``Same-sex husband/wife/spouse,'' and ``Same-sex unmarried 
partner.'' Additionally, the two unmarried partner categories were 
moved from near the end of the list of response options to near the 
beginning, immediately after the ``Husband/wife/spouse'' options. An 
automated relationship/sex consistency check will be included in 
electronic instruments to provide respondents an opportunity to change 
their sex or relationship responses when there is an inconsistency in 
the reported sex of an individual and whether their relationship was 
reported as ``Opposite-sex'' or ``Same-sex'' husband/wife/spouse or 
unmarried partner. This check reduces the inconsistency in responses 
for a given household and improves the quality of the relationship 
data. The category ``Roomer or boarder'' has been dropped from the 
Relationship question.

Race and Hispanic Origin

    The 2016 ACS Content Test served as an operational test of the race 
and ethnicity questions that were previously tested on the 2015 
National Content Test (NCT). While recommendations about the race and 
ethnicity questions adopted for the 2020 Census and production ACS will 
be based on the results of the census tests and decisions made in 
consultation with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the 2016 
ACS Content Test provided an opportunity to test data collection modes 
and examine other data not available in the 2015 NCT. The 2016 ACS 
Content Test evaluated interviewer-administered collection modes, 
assessed the race and ethnicity questions against demographic and 
socioeconomic data, and separately compared the race and ethnicity 
results to data from the ancestry question. In 2020 or later, the ACS 
will adopt the final version of the race and Hispanic origin questions 
that are implemented for the 2020 Census.

II. Method of Collection

    In August 2012, the OMB in conjunction with the Census Bureau 
established a Subcommittee of the Interagency Council on Statistical 
Policy (ICSP) to address ACS matters. The ICSP Subcommittee on the ACS 
exists to advise the Chief Statistician at OMB and the Director of the 
Census Bureau on how the ACS can best fulfill its role in the portfolio 
of Federal household surveys and provide the most useful information 
with the least amount of burden. It may also advise Census Bureau 
technical staff on issues they request the subcommittee to examine or 
that otherwise arise in discussions. The ICSP Subcommittee on the ACS 
reviewed the proposed 2019 ACS content changes and recommended their 
approval to the OMB and the Census Bureau. For the 2016 ACS Content 
Test, initial versions of the new and revised questions were proposed 
by federal agencies participating in the OMB Interagency Committee for 
the ACS. The initial proposals contained a justification for each 
change and described any previous testing of the question wording, the 
expected impact of revisions to the time series and the single-year as 
well as five-year estimates, and the estimated net impact on respondent 
burden for the proposed revision. For proposed new questions, the 
justification also described the need for the new data, whether federal 
law or regulation required the data for small areas or small population 
groups, if other data sources were currently available to provide the 
information (and why any alternate sources were insufficient), how 
policy needs or emerging data needs would be addressed through the new 
question, an explanation of why the data were needed with the 
geographic precision and frequency provided by the ACS, and whether 
other testing or production surveys had evaluated the use of the 
proposed questions.
    The Census Bureau and the OMB, as well as the ICSP Subcommittee, 
reviewed these proposals for the ACS. The OMB determined which 
proposals moved forward into cognitive testing. After OMB approval of 
the proposals, topical subcommittees were formed from the OMB 
Interagency Committee on the ACS, which included all interested federal 
agencies that use the data from the proposed questions. These 
subcommittees further refined the specific proposed wording in 
preparation for cognitive testing.
    The Census Bureau contracted with Westat, an internationally 
recognized organization with expertise in statistical research and 
survey methods, to conduct three rounds of cognitive testing. The 
results of the first two rounds of cognitive testing informed decisions 
on specific revisions to the proposed content for the stateside 2016 
ACS Content Test. The proposed changes, identified through cognitive 
testing for each question topic, were reviewed by the Census Bureau, 
the corresponding topical subcommittee, and the ICSP Subcommittee for 
the ACS. The OMB then provided final overall approval of the proposed 
wording for field testing.
    The public is invited to comment on all questions on the ACS; 
however, the Census Bureau is particularly interested in comments on 
the wording changes to the nine ACS questions listed above, which are 
proposed to be changed based

[[Page 58381]]

on the results of the 2016 ACS Content Test. Concurrently, Federal 
agencies that are the principal sponsors of these nine questions are 
invited to respond either directly to the Census Bureau or through this 
notice.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0810.
    Form Number(s): ACS-1(2019).
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Federal and legislative agencies, individuals, 
households, and businesses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 40 minutes for the average household 
questionnaire.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The Census Bureau plans to 
contact the following number of respondents each year: 3,540,000 
households; 200,000 persons in group quarters; 20,000 contacts in group 
quarters; 43,000 households for reinterview; and 1,500 group quarters 
contacts for reinterview. The estimate is an annual average of 
2,337,900 burden hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Sections 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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-26726 Filed 12-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P



                                               58378

                                               Notices                                                                                                       Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                             Vol. 82, No. 237

                                                                                                                                                             Tuesday, December 12, 2017



                                               This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    potential persons who are to respond to               DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                               contains documents other than rules or                  the collection of information that such
                                               proposed rules that are applicable to the               persons are not required to respond to                Census Bureau
                                               public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
                                                                                                       the collection of information unless it
                                               committee meetings, agency decisions and                                                                      Proposed Information Collection;
                                               rulings, delegations of authority, filing of            displays a currently valid OMB control
                                                                                                                                                             Comment Request; The American
                                               petitions and applications and agency                   number.
                                                                                                                                                             Community Survey
                                               statements of organization and functions are
                                               examples of documents appearing in this
                                                                                                       Food Safety and Inspection Service
                                                                                                                                                             AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau,
                                               section.                                                  Title: Salmonella Initiative Program.               Commerce.
                                                                                                         OMB Control Number: 0583–0154.                      ACTION: Notice.
                                               DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                                 Summary of Collection: The Food
                                                                                                                                                             SUMMARY:    The Department of
                                                                                                       Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has
                                               Submission for OMB Review;                                                                                    Commerce, as part of its continuing
                                                                                                       been delegated the authority to exercise              effort to reduce paperwork and
                                               Comment Request
                                                                                                       the functions of the Secretary as                     respondent burden, invites the general
                                               December 7, 2017.                                       provided in the Federal Meat Inspection               public and other Federal agencies to
                                                 The Department of Agriculture has                     Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the               take this opportunity to comment on
                                               submitted the following information                     Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA)                proposed and/or continuing information
                                               collection requirement(s) to OMB for                    (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.). These statutes               collections, as required by the
                                               review and clearance under the                          mandate that FSIS protect the public by               Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
                                               Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,                        ensuring that meat and poultry products
                                               Public Law 104–13. Comments are                                                                               DATES: To ensure consideration, written
                                                                                                       are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and
                                               requested regarding (1) whether the                                                                           comments must be submitted on or
                                                                                                       properly labeled and packaged. The                    before February 12, 2018.
                                               collection of information is necessary                  Salmonella initiative Program (SIP)
                                               for the proper performance of the                       offers incentives to meat and poultry                 ADDRESSES: Please direct all written
                                               functions of the agency, including                      slaughter establishments to control                   comments to Jennifer Jessup,
                                               whether the information will have                                                                             Departmental Paperwork Clearance
                                                                                                       Salmonella in their operations. SIP
                                               practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the                                                                    Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
                                                                                                       benefits public health because it
                                               agency’s estimate of burden including                                                                         6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue
                                               the validity of the methodology and                     encourages establishments to test for
                                                                                                                                                             NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
                                               assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance                   microbial pathogens, which is a key
                                                                                                                                                             internet at PRAcomments@doc.gov).
                                               the quality, utility and clarity of the                 feature of effective process control.                 You may also submit comments,
                                               information to be collected; and (4)                      Need and Use of the Information:                    identified by Docket number USBC–
                                               ways to minimize the burden of the                      Under SIP, establishments will share                  2017–0005, to the Federal e-Rulemaking
                                               collection of information on those who                  their data with the Food Safety and                   Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. All
                                               are to respond, including through the                   Inspection Service (FSIS); this will help             comments received are part of the
                                               use of appropriate automated,                           the Agency in formulating its policy.                 public record. No comments will be
                                               electronic, mechanical, or other                        Establishments that want to enter SIP                 posted to http://www.regulations.gov for
                                               technological collection techniques or                  must send a protocol to FSIS informing                public viewing until after the comment
                                               other forms of information technology.                  the Agency about their plans for                      period has closed. Comments will
                                                 Comments regarding this information                                                                         generally be posted without change. All
                                                                                                       implementing SIP in their
                                               collection received by January 11, 2018                                                                       Personally Identifiable Information (for
                                                                                                       establishment, including data
                                               will be considered. Written comments                                                                          example, name and address) voluntarily
                                                                                                       collection, objectives and methods of
                                               should be addressed to: Desk Officer for                                                                      submitted by the commenter may be
                                               Agriculture, Office of Information and                  evaluating the new technology for
                                                                                                       which they are receiving the regulator                publicly accessible. Do not submit
                                               Regulatory Affairs, Office of                                                                                 Confidential Business Information or
                                               Management and Budget (OMB), New                        waiver.
                                                                                                                                                             otherwise sensitive or protected
                                               Executive Office Building, 725 17th                       Description of Respondents: Business                information. You may submit
                                               Street NW, Washington, DC 20502.                        or other for-profit.                                  attachments to electronic comments in
                                               Commenters are encouraged to submit                       Number of Respondents: 50.                          Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or
                                               their comments to OMB via email to:                                                                           Adobe PDF file formats only.
                                               OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or                            Frequency of Responses:
                                                                                                       Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                               fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental
                                               Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail                        Total Burden Hours: 8,256.                          Requests for additional information or
                                               Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250–                                                                              copies of the information collection
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                               7602. Copies of the submission(s) may                   Ruth Brown,                                           instrument(s) and instructions should
                                               be obtained by calling (202) 720–8958.                  Departmental Information Collection                   be directed to Robin A. Pennington, Rm.
                                                 An agency may not conduct or                          Clearance Officer.                                    2H465, U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial
                                               sponsor a collection of information                     [FR Doc. 2017–26706 Filed 12–11–17; 8:45 am]          Census Management Division,
                                               unless the collection of information                    BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
                                                                                                                                                             Washington, DC 20233 or via email to
                                               displays a currently valid OMB control                                                                        Robin.A.Pennington@census.gov.
                                               number and the agency informs                                                                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:



                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:03 Dec 11, 2017   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00001   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM   12DEN1


                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 12, 2017 / Notices                                          58379

                                               I. Abstract                                             make the intent of the Telephone                      Weeks Worked
                                                 Since the founding of the nation, the                 Service question easier to understand by                 The changes to the question on the
                                               U.S. Census has mediated between the                    respondents and interviewers, the                     number of weeks worked were made to
                                               demands of a growing country for                        question was made a stand-alone                       allow the Census Bureau to provide
                                               information about its economy and                       question and additional instructions are              high-quality, continuous measures for
                                               people, and the people’s privacy and                    provided on the types of telephones and               the number of weeks worked, such as
                                               respondent burden. Beginning with the                   equipment respondents should include                  means, medians, and aggregates. In
                                               1810 Census, Congress added questions                   when answering the question.                          addition, the changes enable additional
                                               to support a range of public concerns                   Currently, telephone service is asked as              specificity for weeks worked,
                                               and uses, and over the course of a                      part of a broader question on housing                 particularly with hours worked, income,
                                               century questions were added about                      characteristics.                                      and occupation. Part A of the question
                                               agriculture, industry, and commerce, as                 Health Insurance                                      regarding the time period of interest was
                                               well as occupation, ancestry, marital                                                                         rephrased from working ‘‘50 or more
                                               status, disabilities, and other topics. In                 A question on health insurance                     weeks’’ to ‘‘EVERY week’’ and
                                               1940, the U.S. Census Bureau                            premiums and subsidies will be                        additional information is provided in
                                               introduced the long form and, since                     introduced to the ACS immediately                     the second sentence. The original
                                               then, the more detailed questions were                  following the current question on health              instruction of ‘‘Count paid time off as
                                               only asked of a sample of the public.                   insurance coverage. The question on                   work’’ was changed to ‘‘Count paid
                                                 The American Community Survey                         premiums and subsidies asks if a person               vacation, paid sick leave, and military
                                               (ACS), launched in 2005, is the current                 pays a health insurance premium, and                  service as work.’’ For part B of the
                                               embodiment of the long form of the                      if so, if he or she received a subsidy to             question, the response option was
                                               census and is asked each year of a                      help pay the premium. This question                   changed to a write-in response, the
                                               sample of the U.S. population in order                  will provide more accurate information                reference period (‘‘the PAST 12
                                               to provide current data needed more                     about coverage categories than available              MONTHS’’) is repeated, and new
                                               often than once every ten years.                        from the existing ACS question on                     guidance clarifies what to count as
                                                 The content of the proposed 2019                      current coverage alone. These data will               work.
                                               ACS questionnaire and data collection                   enhance the ability of HHS and the
                                                                                                       states to administer Medicaid, CHIP,                  Class of Worker
                                               instruments for both Housing Unit and
                                               Group Quarters operations reflects                      and the exchanges, and monitor private                   Changes to the Class of Worker
                                               changes to content and instructions that                insurance coverage.                                   question improve overall question
                                               were proposed as a result of the 2016                   Journey to Work                                       clarity, refine the definition of unpaid
                                               ACS Content Test. The Census Bureau                                                                           family workers, explicitly define a
                                               periodically conducts tests of new and                     Changes to the Commute Mode                        category for Active Duty military,
                                               improved survey content to ensure the                   question were motivated by changes in                 improve question wording and
                                               ACS is meeting the data needs of its                    public transportation infrastructure                  categories, and improve the layout of
                                               stakeholders. The primary objective of                  across the United States, particularly the            the question. Response categories were
                                               content tests is to test whether changes                increased prevalence of light rail                    grouped under three general headings.
                                               to question wording, response                           systems and the need to update and                    ‘‘Active Duty’’ was added as one of the
                                               categories, and definitions of underlying               clarify the terminology used to refer to              response categories in the government
                                               constructs improve the quality of data                  commute modes that appear as                          section, and the ‘‘Active Duty’’
                                               collected.                                              categories on the ACS. To improve the                 checkbox was dropped from the
                                                 The ACS is one of the Department of                   Commute Mode question, some of the                    Employer Name question. Question and
                                               Commerce’s most valuable data                           public transportation modes were                      response category wording were revised
                                               products, used extensively by                           modified. The category ‘‘Streetcar or                 for clarity. To signal that all six
                                               businesses, non-governmental                            trolley car’’ was changed to ‘‘Light rail,            employment characteristics questions
                                               organizations (NGOs), local                             street car, or trolley,’’ ‘‘Subway or                 refer to the same job (including industry
                                               governments, and many federal                           elevated’’ was changed to ‘‘Subway or                 and occupation), the series was
                                               agencies. In conducting this survey, the                Elevated Rail,’’ and ‘‘Railroad’’ was                 renumbered from separate questions to
                                               Census Bureau’s top priority is                         changed to ‘‘Long-distance train or                   a single series with sub-questions.
                                               respecting the time and privacy of the                  commuter rail.’’ These three rail-related             Lastly, the instructional text and
                                               people providing information while                      categories were also slightly reordered               heading for the series immediately
                                               preserving the survey’s value to the                    so that ‘‘Subway or elevated rail,’’ the              preceding the Class of Worker question
                                               public. The 2019 survey content                         most prevalent rail mode, is listed first.            was simplified.
                                               changes cover several topics:                           The phrase ‘‘trolley bus’’ was dropped
                                                                                                       and the phrase ‘‘work at home’’ was                   Industry and Occupation
                                               Telephone Service                                       changed to ‘‘work from home.’’ The                      Ongoing research of the Industry and
                                                  The rise of cellphone and smartphone                 subheading of instructions was                        Occupation question write-in responses
                                               usage, and other complex and varied                     simplified to read ‘‘Mark ONE box for                 has demonstrated that the questions
                                               telephone services and equipment, has                   the method of transportation used for                 were unclear and confusing to
                                               changed how people view and use                         most of the distance.’’ The Time of                   respondents, who were unable to
                                               telephones in a household. Research                     Departure question has historically                   answer at all or answer with sufficient
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                               also suggests that some respondents, or                 raised concerns about privacy because                 clarity to provide useful data. To
                                               in some cases interviewers, may not                     of the reference to the time a person                 increase clarity and improve
                                               fully understand the current wording of                 leaves home. To phrase the question in                occupational specificity, these questions
                                               the survey question on Telephone                        a less intrusive way, the question was                were revised to include new and
                                               Service, the additional instructions that               changed to ask what time the person’s                 consistent examples, in terms of content
                                               accompany the question, or what the                     trip to work began and to remove the                  and length, and include modified
                                               question is intending to capture. To                    word ‘‘home.’’                                        question wording. The number of


                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:03 Dec 11, 2017   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00002   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM   12DEN1


                                               58380                      Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 12, 2017 / Notices

                                               characters for write-in responses about                 two unmarried partner categories were                 approval to the OMB and the Census
                                               ‘‘Job Duties’’ was expanded from 60 to                  moved from near the end of the list of                Bureau. For the 2016 ACS Content Test,
                                               100 characters.                                         response options to near the beginning,               initial versions of the new and revised
                                                                                                       immediately after the ‘‘Husband/wife/                 questions were proposed by federal
                                               Retirement Income
                                                                                                       spouse’’ options. An automated                        agencies participating in the OMB
                                                  Over the last 40 years, defined                      relationship/sex consistency check will               Interagency Committee for the ACS. The
                                               contribution retirement plans have                      be included in electronic instruments to              initial proposals contained a
                                               become increasingly common while                        provide respondents an opportunity to                 justification for each change and
                                               defined benefit plans (such as pensions)                change their sex or relationship                      described any previous testing of the
                                               have become less so. Federal surveys                    responses when there is an                            question wording, the expected impact
                                               have lagged in addressing these newer                   inconsistency in the reported sex of an               of revisions to the time series and the
                                               forms of retirement income and                          individual and whether their                          single-year as well as five-year
                                               subsequently underreport retirement                     relationship was reported as ‘‘Opposite-              estimates, and the estimated net impact
                                               income. The Retirement, Survivor, and                   sex’’ or ‘‘Same-sex’’ husband/wife/                   on respondent burden for the proposed
                                               Disability Income question was changed                  spouse or unmarried partner. This check               revision. For proposed new questions,
                                               to improve income reporting, increase                   reduces the inconsistency in responses                the justification also described the need
                                               item response rates, reduce reporting                   for a given household and improves the                for the new data, whether federal law or
                                               errors, and update questions on                         quality of the relationship data. The                 regulation required the data for small
                                               retirement income and the income                        category ‘‘Roomer or boarder’’ has been               areas or small population groups, if
                                               generated from retirement accounts and                  dropped from the Relationship question.               other data sources were currently
                                               all other assets in order to better                                                                           available to provide the information
                                               measure retirement income data. The                     Race and Hispanic Origin
                                                                                                                                                             (and why any alternate sources were
                                               question was expanded to ask about                         The 2016 ACS Content Test served as                insufficient), how policy needs or
                                               ‘‘retirement income, pensions, survivor                 an operational test of the race and                   emerging data needs would be
                                               or disability income.’’ In addition, the                ethnicity questions that were previously              addressed through the new question, an
                                               instructions that accompany the                         tested on the 2015 National Content                   explanation of why the data were
                                               question were expanded to note that                     Test (NCT). While recommendations                     needed with the geographic precision
                                               income from ‘‘a previous employer or                    about the race and ethnicity questions                and frequency provided by the ACS,
                                               union, or any regular withdrawals or                    adopted for the 2020 Census and                       and whether other testing or production
                                               distributions from IRA, Roth IRA,                       production ACS will be based on the                   surveys had evaluated the use of the
                                               401(k), 403(b) or other accounts                        results of the census tests and decisions             proposed questions.
                                               specifically designed for retirement’’                  made in consultation with the Office of                  The Census Bureau and the OMB, as
                                               should be included.                                     Management and Budget (OMB), the                      well as the ICSP Subcommittee,
                                                                                                       2016 ACS Content Test provided an                     reviewed these proposals for the ACS.
                                               Relationship
                                                                                                       opportunity to test data collection                   The OMB determined which proposals
                                                  For several years, the Census Bureau                 modes and examine other data not                      moved forward into cognitive testing.
                                               has been testing revised Relationship                   available in the 2015 NCT. The 2016                   After OMB approval of the proposals,
                                               questions to improve the estimates of                   ACS Content Test evaluated                            topical subcommittees were formed
                                               coupled households. The 1990 Census                     interviewer-administered collection                   from the OMB Interagency Committee
                                               first introduced ‘‘Unmarried Partner’’ as               modes, assessed the race and ethnicity                on the ACS, which included all
                                               a response category to the Relationship                 questions against demographic and                     interested federal agencies that use the
                                               to Householder question. The 2000 and                   socioeconomic data, and separately                    data from the proposed questions. These
                                               2010 Censuses built upon this work,                     compared the race and ethnicity results               subcommittees further refined the
                                               changing the processing of responses to                 to data from the ancestry question. In                specific proposed wording in
                                               the Relationship question to more                       2020 or later, the ACS will adopt the                 preparation for cognitive testing.
                                               accurately represent same-sex couples.                  final version of the race and Hispanic                   The Census Bureau contracted with
                                               The Census Bureau discovered a                          origin questions that are implemented                 Westat, an internationally recognized
                                               statistical error in the 2010 Census data               for the 2020 Census.                                  organization with expertise in statistical
                                               that resulted from opposite-sex couples                                                                       research and survey methods, to
                                               mismarking their sex. This error has the                II. Method of Collection
                                                                                                                                                             conduct three rounds of cognitive
                                               potential to inflate the estimates of                      In August 2012, the OMB in                         testing. The results of the first two
                                               same-sex, married-couple households                     conjunction with the Census Bureau                    rounds of cognitive testing informed
                                               from the 2010 Census. The Census                        established a Subcommittee of the                     decisions on specific revisions to the
                                               Bureau released a set of modified state-                Interagency Council on Statistical Policy             proposed content for the stateside 2016
                                               level, same-sex household estimates                     (ICSP) to address ACS matters. The ICSP               ACS Content Test. The proposed
                                               from the 2010 Census because of this                    Subcommittee on the ACS exists to                     changes, identified through cognitive
                                               error, and also began new research                      advise the Chief Statistician at OMB and              testing for each question topic, were
                                               efforts to improve the Relationship                     the Director of the Census Bureau on                  reviewed by the Census Bureau, the
                                               question.                                               how the ACS can best fulfill its role in              corresponding topical subcommittee,
                                                  The Relationship question has been                   the portfolio of Federal household                    and the ICSP Subcommittee for the
                                               revised to improve measurement of                       surveys and provide the most useful                   ACS. The OMB then provided final
                                               same-sex couples. The existing                          information with the least amount of                  overall approval of the proposed
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                               ‘‘Husband or wife’’ and ‘‘Unmarried                     burden. It may also advise Census                     wording for field testing.
                                               partner’’ response categories were each                 Bureau technical staff on issues they                    The public is invited to comment on
                                               split into two versions: ‘‘Opposite-sex                 request the subcommittee to examine or                all questions on the ACS; however, the
                                               husband/wife/spouse,’’ ‘‘Opposite-sex                   that otherwise arise in discussions. The              Census Bureau is particularly interested
                                               unmarried partner,’’ ‘‘Same-sex                         ICSP Subcommittee on the ACS                          in comments on the wording changes to
                                               husband/wife/spouse,’’ and ‘‘Same-sex                   reviewed the proposed 2019 ACS                        the nine ACS questions listed above,
                                               unmarried partner.’’ Additionally, the                  content changes and recommended their                 which are proposed to be changed based


                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:03 Dec 11, 2017   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00003   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM   12DEN1


                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 12, 2017 / Notices                                                58381

                                               on the results of the 2016 ACS Content                  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE                                 www.regulations.gov. Follow the
                                               Test. Concurrently, Federal agencies                                                                          instructions for submitting comments.
                                               that are the principal sponsors of these                Defense Acquisition Regulations                          Instructions: All submissions received
                                               nine questions are invited to respond                   System                                                must include the agency name, docket
                                               either directly to the Census Bureau or                 [Docket Number DARS–2016–0024; OMB
                                                                                                                                                             number, and title for the Federal
                                               through this notice.                                    Control Number 0704–0332]                             Register document. The general policy
                                                                                                                                                             for comments and other public
                                               III. Data                                               Submission for OMB Review;                            submissions from members of the public
                                                                                                       Comment Request                                       is to make these submissions available
                                                 OMB Control Number: 0607–0810.
                                                                                                                                                             for public viewing on the internet at
                                                 Form Number(s): ACS–1(2019).                          ACTION:   Notice.                                     http://www.regulations.gov as they are
                                                 Type of Review: Regular submission.                                                                         received without change, including any
                                                                                                       SUMMARY:    The Department of Defense                 personal identifiers or contact
                                                 Affected Public: Federal and                          has submitted to OMB, for clearance,                  information provided. To confirm
                                               legislative agencies, individuals,                      the following proposal for collection of              receipt of your comment(s), please
                                               households, and businesses.                             information under the provisions of the               check http://www.regulations.gov
                                                 Estimated Time per Response: 40                       Paperwork Reduction Act.                              approximately two to three days after
                                               minutes for the average household                       DATES: Consideration will be given to all             submission to verify posting (except
                                               questionnaire.                                          comments received by January 11, 2018.                allow 30 days for posting of comments
                                                 Estimated Total Annual Burden                         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            submitted by mail).
                                               Hours: The Census Bureau plans to                         Title, Associated Form, and OMB                        DoD Clearance Officer: Mr. Frederick
                                               contact the following number of                         Number: Defense Federal Acquisition                   C. Licari. Written requests for copies of
                                               respondents each year: 3,540,000                        Regulation Supplement (DFARS)                         the information collection proposal
                                               households; 200,000 persons in group                    Appendix I, DoD Pilot Mentor-Protege                  should be sent to Mr. Licari at:
                                                                                                       Program; OMB Control Number 0704–                     Information Collections Program, WHS/
                                               quarters; 20,000 contacts in group
                                                                                                       0332.                                                 ESD Office of Information Management,
                                               quarters; 43,000 households for
                                                                                                         Type of Request: Reinstatement with                 4800 Mark Center Drive, 3rd Floor, East
                                               reinterview; and 1,500 group quarters
                                                                                                       change.                                               Tower, Suite 03F09, Alexandria, VA
                                               contacts for reinterview. The estimate is                 Number of Respondents: 122.
                                               an annual average of 2,337,900 burden                                                                         22350–3100.
                                                                                                         Responses per Respondent:
                                               hours.                                                  Approximately 2.                                      Jennifer L. Hawes,
                                                 Estimated Total Annual Cost to                          Annual Responses: 240.                              Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations
                                               Public: $0.                                               Average Burden per Response: 1 hour.                System.
                                                                                                         Annual Response Burden Hours: 240.                  [FR Doc. 2017–26715 Filed 12–11–17; 8:45 am]
                                                 Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
                                                                                                         Reporting Frequency: Two times per                  BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
                                                 Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Sections             year for mentor firms; one time per year
                                               141 and 193.                                            for protege firms.
                                                                                                         Needs and Uses: DoD needs this                      DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
                                               IV. Request for Comments
                                                                                                       information to ensure that participants
                                                                                                       in the Mentor-Protege Program (‘‘the                  Department of the Army; Corps of
                                                  Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
                                                                                                       Program’’) are fulfilling their obligations           Engineers
                                               the proposed collection of information
                                               is necessary for the proper performance                 under the mentor-protege agreements
                                                                                                                                                             Availability of Elizabeth River and
                                               of the functions of the agency, including               and that the Government is receiving
                                                                                                                                                             Southern Branch Navigation
                                               whether the information shall have                      value for the benefits it provides
                                                                                                                                                             Improvements Draft General
                                               practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the              through the Program. DoD uses the
                                                                                                                                                             Reevaluation Report/Environmental
                                               agency’s estimate of the burden                         information as source data for reports to
                                                                                                                                                             Assessment
                                               (including hours and cost) of the                       Congress required by section 811(d) of
                                               proposed collection of information; (c)                 the National Defense Authorization Act                AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.
                                               ways to enhance the quality, utility, and               for Fiscal Year 2000 (Pub. L. 106–65).                Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
                                               clarity of the information to be                        Participation in the Program is                       ACTION: Notice of availability.
                                               collected; and (d) ways to minimize the                 voluntary.
                                                                                                         Affected Public: Businesses and other               SUMMARY:   The U.S. Army Corps of
                                               burden of the collection of information                                                                       Engineers (USACE) in association with
                                                                                                       for-profit entities and not-for-profit
                                               on respondents, including through the                                                                         the nonfederal sponsor, the Virginia
                                                                                                       institutions.
                                               use of automated collection techniques                                                                        Port Authority, an agent of the
                                                                                                         Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
                                               or other forms of information                                                                                 Commonwealth of Virginia, announces
                                                                                                       obtain or retain benefits.
                                               technology.                                               OMB Desk Officer: Ms. Jasmeet                       the availability of the Elizabeth River
                                                  Comments submitted in response to                    Seehra.                                               and Southern Branch Navigation
                                               this notice will be summarized and/or                     Written comments and                                Improvements Draft General
                                               included in the request for OMB                         recommendations on the proposed                       Reevaluation Report/Environmental
                                               approval of this information collection;                information collection should be sent to              Assessment (GRR/EA) for public review
                                               they also will become a matter of public                Ms. Seehra at the Office of Management                and comment. The purpose of this Draft
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                               record.                                                 and Budget, Desk Officer for DoD, Room                GRR/EA is to evaluate alternatives that
                                                                                                       10236, New Executive Office Building,                 have the potential to improve the
                                               Sheleen Dumas,                                                                                                current and future operational efficiency
                                                                                                       Washington, DC 20503.
                                               Departmental PRA Lead, Office of the Chief                You may also submit comments,                       of commercial vessels currently using
                                               Information Officer.                                    identified by docket number and title,                the Norfolk Harbor federal channel in
                                               [FR Doc. 2017–26726 Filed 12–11–17; 8:45 am]            by the following method: Federal                      the Elizabeth River. Channel deepening
                                               BILLING CODE 3510–07–P                                  eRulemaking Portal: http://                           alternatives were evaluated as well as


                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:03 Dec 11, 2017   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00004   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM   12DEN1



Document Created: 2018-10-25 10:49:32
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 10:49:32
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesTo ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before February 12, 2018.
ContactRequests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Robin A. Pennington, Rm. 2H465, U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census Management Division, Washington, DC 20233 or via email to [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 58378 

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR