83 FR 12561 - Notice of Correction to Federal Register Notice for Pilot of USPS Postal Carriers as Census Enumerators During 2018 End-to-End Census Test
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
U.S. Census Bureau Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 56 (March 22, 2018)
U.S. Census Bureau
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 56 (March 22, 2018)
| Page Range | 12561-12561 | |
| FR Document | 2018-05874 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2018)] [Notices] [Page 12561] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-05874] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE U.S. Census Bureau Notice of Correction to Federal Register Notice for Pilot of USPS Postal Carriers as Census Enumerators During 2018 End-to-End Census Test AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce. ACTION: Notice of correction. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On September 20, 2017, the Census Bureau published a notice, Federal Register Document 2017-20036 (Federal Register Volume 82, Number 181, Pages 43934-43935), proposing to conduct a proof of concept study on the use of the United States Postal Service (USPS) Postal Carriers as Census Enumerators in conjunction with the 2018 End-to-End Census Test--Peak Operations. This notice corrects Federal Register Document 2017-20036 to cancel this collection after the Federal Register Notice was published for public comment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Census Bureau cancelled the proof of concept study after determining during discussions with USPS that postal carriers had certain disclosure obligations that made it impossible for them to comply with the strict legal confidentiality requirements under Title 13 governing Census data. The Census Bureau received a total of twelve sets of comments on the initial Federal Register Notice posting, none of which were dispositive. Two sets of comments requested more information or materials about who would be performing enumeration in special situations, including deployed military and others living outside the country at the time of enumeration. The Census Bureau has special operations and procedures for enumeration of people in these situations, and the proposal for use of USPS Postal Carriers as Census Enumerators did not extend to special operations. Three sets of comments generally expressed support for conducting the pilot. One commenter noted that mail carriers know their area of delivery and the people who live there, also expressing a general concern for the safety of those performing enumeration activities. Another commenter suggested that part-time carriers would be better as enumerators than full-time carriers due to schedule flexibility and hourly wages, as well as knowledge of more than one carrier route. The third commenter thought the idea was potentially good, but that care would be required in a nationwide implementation and that results from the pilot test would be important. Seven sets of comments expressed concerns about using Postal Carriers to conduct enumeration activities. These comments generally noted that Postal Carriers already work full-time jobs, that Postal Carriers' familiarity with addresses does not necessarily translate into knowledge of the people living at those addresses, and that using Postal Carriers instead of Census employees would not be economically expedient. The latter comment also referenced a Government Accountability Office report that studied the use of Postal Carriers to conduct enumeration activities. Other commenters stated that Postal Carriers and Enumerators require different skill sets to perform in their respective positions and that using Postal Carriers for enumeration could endanger the public perception of Postal Carriers. Yet other comments stated that the test site was not representative of the communities that typically do not self-respond, that the relationship between Postal Carriers and their customers could affect the quality and completeness of data collected, and that enumerating a housing unit could alter the long-term relationship between Postal Carriers and the residents of that housing unit. Sheleen Dumas, Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2018-05874 Filed 3-21-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 56 / Thursday, March 22, 2018 / Notices 12561
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Dated: March 6, 2018. activities. Another commenter suggested
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 Chris French, that part-time carriers would be better as
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest enumerators than full-time carriers due
Eastern Standard Time, Monday System. to schedule flexibility and hourly
through Friday. [FR Doc. 2018–05773 Filed 3–21–18; 8:45 am] wages, as well as knowledge of more
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BILLING CODE 3411–15–P than one carrier route. The third
purpose of the meeting is to: commenter thought the idea was
Review the following fee proposals: potentially good, but that care would be
a. Regional fee consistency approach; DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE required in a nationwide
b. Monongahela National Forest fee implementation and that results from
proposals which include the Hopkins U.S. Census Bureau the pilot test would be important.
Cabin; Seven sets of comments expressed
c. Wayne National Forest fee Notice of Correction to Federal concerns about using Postal Carriers to
proposals reducing trail permit fees for Register Notice for Pilot of USPS conduct enumeration activities. These
off-highway vehicle (OHV) users and Postal Carriers as Census comments generally noted that Postal
eliminating fees for horse and mountain Enumerators During 2018 End-to-End Carriers already work full-time jobs, that
bike users; Census Test Postal Carriers’ familiarity with
d. Hiawatha National Forest fee addresses does not necessarily translate
AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau,
proposals for Grand Island; into knowledge of the people living at
Commerce.
e. Chequamegon-Nicolet National those addresses, and that using Postal
ACTION: Notice of correction. Carriers instead of Census employees
Forest fee proposals including new fees
at day use sites and one cabin rental, SUMMARY: On September 20, 2017, the would not be economically expedient.
and fee increases for overnight sites; and Census Bureau published a notice, The latter comment also referenced a
f. Green Mountain Finger Lakes Federal Register Document 2017–20036 Government Accountability Office
National Forest fee proposals including (Federal Register Volume 82, Number report that studied the use of Postal
new fee at Silver Lake Campgrounds, 181, Pages 43934–43935), proposing to Carriers to conduct enumeration
Texas Falls Day Use Area Pavilion, conduct a proof of concept study on the activities. Other commenters stated that
Grout Pond Campground, Backbone use of the United States Postal Service Postal Carriers and Enumerators require
Horse Camp and Potomac Group Camp (USPS) Postal Carriers as Census different skill sets to perform in their
and Pavilion and fee increases at Enumerators in conjunction with the respective positions and that using
Chittenden Brook, Moosalamoo 2018 End-to-End Census Test—Peak Postal Carriers for enumeration could
Campground, Hapgood Pond Operations. This notice corrects Federal endanger the public perception of Postal
Campground, Hapgood Pond Day Use, Register Document 2017–20036 to Carriers. Yet other comments stated that
Hapgood Pond Group Picnic sites, and cancel this collection after the Federal the test site was not representative of
Blueberry Patch Recreation Area. Register Notice was published for the communities that typically do not
Details on all fee proposals can be public comment. self-respond, that the relationship
found by visiting the website in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
between Postal Carriers and their
SUMMARY section. Census Bureau cancelled the proof of customers could affect the quality and
The meeting is open to the public. concept study after determining during completeness of data collected, and that
The agenda will include time for people discussions with USPS that postal enumerating a housing unit could alter
to make oral statements of three carriers had certain disclosure the long-term relationship between
minutes. Individuals wishing to make obligations that made it impossible for Postal Carriers and the residents of that
an oral statement should request in them to comply with the strict legal housing unit.
writing by April 9, 2018, to be confidentiality requirements under Title Sheleen Dumas,
scheduled on the agenda. Anyone who 13 governing Census data. Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the
would like to bring related matters to The Census Bureau received a total of Chief Information Officer.
the attention of the Recreation RAC may twelve sets of comments on the initial [FR Doc. 2018–05874 Filed 3–21–18; 8:45 am]
file written statements with the Federal Register Notice posting, none of BILLING CODE 3510–07–P
Committee’s staff before or after the which were dispositive. Two sets of
meeting. Written comments and time comments requested more information
requests for time to make oral comments or materials about who would be DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
must be sent to Joanna Wilson, Eastern performing enumeration in special
Region Recreation RAC Coordinator, situations, including deployed military U.S. Census Bureau
855 South Skylake Drive, Woodland and others living outside the country at
Hills, Utah 84653; or by email to the time of enumeration. The Census Proposed Information Collection;
jwilson08@fs.fed.us. Bureau has special operations and Comment Request; Service Annual
Meeting Accommodations: If you are procedures for enumeration of people in Survey
a person requiring reasonable these situations, and the proposal for AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau,
accommodation, please make requests use of USPS Postal Carriers as Census Commerce.
in advance for sign language Enumerators did not extend to special ACTION: Notice.
interpreting, assistive listening devices, operations.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
or other reasonable accommodation for Three sets of comments generally SUMMARY: The Department of
access to the facility or proceedings by expressed support for conducting the Commerce, as part of its continuing
contacting the person listed in the pilot. One commenter noted that mail effort to reduce paperwork and
section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION carriers know their area of delivery and respondent burden, invites the general
CONTACT. All reasonable the people who live there, also public and other Federal agencies to
accommodation requests are managed expressing a general concern for the take this opportunity to comment on
on a case-by case basis. safety of those performing enumeration proposed and/or continuing information
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Document Created: 2018-03-22 01:25:22
Document Modified: 2018-03-22 01:25:22
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of correction. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 12561 |
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