[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 112 (Thursday, June 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31960-31961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15604]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Boundary and Annexation Survey

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 10, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Nancy Goodman, Geography Division, Bureau of the 
Census, WP 1, Room 326, Washington, DC 20233, or call (301) 457-1099.


[[Page 31961]]



SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau conducts the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) 
to collect and maintain information about the inventory, the legal 
boundaries, and the legal actions affecting the boundaries for counties 
and equivalent areas, incorporated municipalities, minor civil 
divisions, and federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native 
areas. In addition, the BAS requests a review and update of the road 
and other map information within each government and address 
information along the governmental boundary. This information provides 
the Census Bureau with an accurate identification of geographic areas 
for the decennial and economic censuses, other statistical programs of 
the Census Bureau, and legislative programs of the Federal Government. 
Respondents are county or equivalent area, minor civil division, 
incorporated municipality, American Indian, and Alaska Native 
officials.
    The survey universe and mailing materials vary depending upon the 
needs of the Census Bureau in fulfilling its censuses and surveys. In 
the years ending in 8, 9, and 0, the survey includes all governmental 
counties and equivalent areas, incorporated municipalities, all 
governmental minor civil divisions, and federally recognized American 
Indian and Alaska Native areas. Each governmental entity surveyed 
receives a full set of maps covering its jurisdiction and one or more 
forms. These three years coincide with the Census Bureau preparation 
for the decennial census.
    In the years ending with 2 and 7, the survey includes all 
governmental counties and their statistical equivalents, minor civil 
divisions in Connecticut and Rhode Island, with a population of 10,000 
or greater, in the remaining Northeastern states, Michigan, Minnesota, 
and Wisconsin, minor civil divisions and those incorporated 
municipalities with a population of 2,500 or greater.
    The remaining years of the decade-years ending in 1, 3, 4, 5, and 
6--the survey includes all governmental counties and their statistical 
equivalents, minor civil divisions in Connecticut and Rhode Island and 
selected areas of Massachusetts, and the population threshold for 
incorporated municipalities is increased to 5,000.
    To ensure the correct allocation of population and housing units 
for Census 2000, the Census Bureau will request information on the 
relationship of addresses to the legal boundary. The survey asks the 
respondent to review and/or update the address that exists on either 
side of their legal boundaries where the boundaries intersect streets. 
This information assists the Census Bureau in correctly tabulating the 
data for each governmental unit.
    Through the BAS, the Census Bureau asks the respondent to review 
the forms and maps and to certify their correctness. They are asked to 
update the maps to reflect current boundaries, supply legal boundary 
change data, provide changes in the inventory of governments and also 
are instructed to add or change map information-street network, address 
information-as applicable.
    No other federal agency collects these data nor is there a standard 
collection of this information at the state level. The Census Bureau's 
BAS is a unique survey providing a standard result for use by Federal, 
state, local, and tribal governments and by commercial, private, and 
public concerns.

II. Method of Collection

    Each respondent is mailed a BAS package, which includes the 
following items:
    1. An introductory letter from the Director of the Census Bureau.
    2. The appropriate BAS Survey Form(s):

BAS-1 and BAS-1A--Incorporated Municipalities
BAS 2 and BAS-2A--Counties, Parishes, Boroughs, Census Areas
BAS-3 and BAS-3A--Minor Civil Divisions
BAS-4--Newly Incorporated Municipalities or Newly Activated 
Municipalities
BAS-5 and BAS-5A--American Indian or Alaska Native Areas

    3. A BAS Guide for Annotating the Maps.
    4. Special inserts, if applicable, for the entity.
    5. A set of maps, showing the current boundaries.
    6. A return envelope.
    The respondent is asked to verify the legal boundaries and update 
the maps, showing the feature, address, and legal boundary changes. 
They are then asked to certify the maps and verify the forms and return 
the information to the Census Bureau.
    The Census Bureau inserts the geographic, address, and feature 
changes into the TIGER system--the Census Bureau's geographic data base 
and associated data files.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0151.
    Form Numbers: BAS-1, BAS-1A, BAS-2, BAS-2A, BAS-3, BAS-3A, BAS-4, 
BAS-5, and BAS-5A.
    Our letters and inserts are being developed to reflect our request 
for address updates. A final list of inserts and letters will be 
included in the package submitted to the OMB for final approval.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Local and Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 39,347.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 118,041.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $1,682,084. We based our estimate on 
the information from the Annual Survey of State and Local Government 
Employment. Using employment and payroll in the category ``financial 
administration,'' the main cost for local government employees is 
$14.25 per hour. The cost multiplied by the estimated burden hours 
yields the estimated annual cost borne by local governments.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Section 6 under Title 13.

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 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.

    Dated: June 8, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-15604 Filed 6-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P