83 FR 35457 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Age Search Service-Forms BC-600, Application for Search of Census Records; BC-649(L), Not Found Letter; and BC-658(L), Insufficient Information Letter

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 144 (July 26, 2018)

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 83, Number 144 (Thursday, July 26, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35457-35458]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15974]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Age Search 
Service--Forms BC-600, Application for Search of Census Records; BC-
649(L), Not Found Letter; and BC-658(L), Insufficient Information 
Letter

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, written comments must be submitted on 
or before September 24, 2018.

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]). You may also submit comments, identified by 
Docket Number USBC-2018-0012, 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

[[Page 35458]]

be directed to Debbie Johnson, Chief, Fiscal Services Office, National 
Processing Center. Ms. Johnson can be reached by telephone on 812-218-
3053 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau proposes an extension of the Age Search Service 
Program. The Age Search is a service provided by the U.S. Census Bureau 
for persons who need official transcripts of personal data as proof of 
age for pensions, retirement plans, Medicare, and Social Security. The 
transcripts are also used as proof of citizenship to obtain passports 
or to provide evidence of family relationship for rights of 
inheritance. The Age Search forms are used by the public in order to 
provide the Census Bureau with the necessary information to conduct a 
search of historical population decennial census records in order to 
provide the requested transcript. The Age Search service is self-
supporting and is funded by the fees collected from the individuals 
requesting the service.

II. Method of Collection

    The Form BC-600, Application for Search of Census Records, is a 
paper public-use form that is submitted by applicants requesting 
information from the decennial census records. This application form is 
available online in PDF format for individuals to download and 
complete. Applicants must enclose the appropriate fee by check or money 
order with the completed and signed Form BC-600 or BC-600(SP) and 
return by mail to the U.S. Census Bureau, Post Office Box 1545, 
Jeffersonville, Indiana 47131.
    The Form BC-649(L), which is called a Not Found Letter, advises the 
applicant that the search for information from the census records was 
unsuccessful. The BC-658(L) is sent to the applicant when insufficient 
information has been received on which to base a search of the census 
records. These two forms request additional information from the 
applicant to aid in the search of census records.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0117.
    Form Numbers: BC-600, BC-600(SP), BC-649(L), and BC-658(L).
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,885 total respondents.

BC-600 2,426 respondents.
BC-649(L) 449 respondents.
BC-658(L) 10 respondents.

    Estimated Time per Response:

BC-600 12 minutes.
BC-649(L) 6 minutes.
BC-658(L) 6 minutes.

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 531 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $167,394. The Age Search processing 
fee is $65.00 per case. An additional charge of $20 per case for 
expedited requests requiring results within one day is also available. 
It is expected that 485 individuals will request the expedited service.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., section 8.

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 Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-15974 Filed 7-25-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P