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Federal Register/Vol. 73, No. 51/Friday, March 14, 2008/Notices

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Federal Register/Vol. 73, No. 51/Friday, March 14, 2008/Notices Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 51 / Friday, March 14, 2008 / Notices 13829 Deletion which would be likely to significantly group criteria for the 2010 Census Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification frustrate implementation of a proposed remain unchanged from those used in agency action. (5 U.S.C. 552b.(c)(9)(B)) conjunction with the 2000 Decennial I certify that the following action will not have a significant impact on a substantial In addition, part of the discussion will Census, except as follows. First, the number of small entities. The major factors relate solely to the internal personnel same population and housing unit considered for this certification were: and organizational issues of the BBG or thresholds, a minimum of 600 people or 1. If approved, the action should not result the International Broadcasting Bureau. 240 housing units and a maximum of in additional reporting, recordkeeping or (5 U.S.C. 552b.(c)(2) and (6)). 3,000 people or 1,200 housing units, other compliance requirements for small CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: will apply to all types of populated entities. Persons interested in obtaining more block groups, including block groups 2. If approved, the action may result in delineated within American Indian authorizing small entities to furnish the information should contact Timi service to the Government. Nickerson Kenealy at (202) 203–4545. reservations and off-reservation trust lands, the Island Areas, and 3. There are no known regulatory Dated: March 11, 2008. encompassing group quarters, military alternatives which would accomplish the Timi Nickerson Kenealy, objectives of the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act (41 installations, and institutions. Second, U.S.C. 46–48c) in connection with the service Acting Legal Counsel. housing unit counts may be used proposed for deletion from the Procurement [FR Doc. 08–1031 Filed 3–11–08; 4:36 pm] instead of population counts in the List. BILLING CODE 8610–01–M delineation of block groups. Third, the Comments on this certification are invited. delineation of special land use tracts Commenters should identify the statement(s) underlying the certification on which they will be permitted, and encouraged, for are providing additional information. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE areas with special land uses (e.g., airports, military reservations, public End of Certification Bureau of the Census forests, public parks, and special places/ The following service is proposed for [Docket Number 070126022–8027–02] group quarters) with an official name. deletion from the Procurement List: Finally, a geographic framework of Services Census Block Group Program for the tribal block groups, separate from the Service Type/Location: Janitorial/Custodial, 2010 Decennial Census—Final Criteria standard block groups defined within counties, will be defined within U.S. Federal Building, Courthouse and AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, federally recognized American Indian Post Office, 301 West Main Street, Commerce. Benton, IL. reservations and/or off-reservation trust NPA: Franklin-Williamson Human Services, ACTION: Notice of final criteria and lands, subject to other population, Inc., West Frankfort, IL, program implementation. housing, and boundary criteria Contracting Activity: General Services contained in this document. Administration, SUMMARY: Block groups are statistical geographic divisions of a census tract, Upon publication of the final criteria Kimberly M. Zeich, defined for the tabulation and contained in this Notice, the Census Director, Program Operations. presentation of decennial census data. Bureau will offer governments, [FR Doc. E8–5155 Filed 3–13–08; 8:45 am] Block groups also will be used to organizations, and interested data users an opportunity to review and, if BILLING CODE 6353–01–P tabulate and present period estimates from the American Community Survey necessary, suggest updates to the (ACS) 1 after 2010. Block groups provide boundaries and attributes of the block groups in their geographic area under BROADCASTING BOARD OF the geographic framework within which the Participant Statistical Areas Program GOVERNORS the Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) defines census blocks. Each (PSAP). In addition to block groups, the Sunshine Act Meeting; (Canceled) block group comprises a reasonably PSAP also encompasses the review and compact and contiguous cluster of update of census tracts, census DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, March 12, census blocks; up to nine block groups designated places, and census county 2008 3 p.m.–3:45 p.m. can be contained within a single census divisions (in selected states). PLACE: Cohen Building, Room 3321, tract. DATES: This notice’s final criteria will be 330 Independence Ave., SW., This Notice announces the Census effective on March 14, 2008. Washington, DC 20237. Bureau’s final criteria for the Census FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The CLOSED MEETING: The members of the Block Group Program for the 2010 Geographic Standards and Criteria Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) Decennial Census. In addition, this Branch, Geography Division, U.S. will meet in closed session to review Notice contains a summary of comments Census Bureau, via e-mail at and discuss a number of issues relating received to proposed criteria published [email protected] or telephone at to U.S. Government-funded non- in the April 6, 2007 Federal Register (72 (301) 763–3056. military international broadcasting. FR 17337), as well as the Census SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: They will address internal procedural, Bureau’s response to these comments. In budgetary, and personnel issues, as well response to comments received, the I. History of Block Groups as sensitive foreign policy issues Census Bureau has modified its The Census Bureau first delineated relating to potential options in the U.S. proposed criteria for the Census Block block groups as statistical geographic international broadcasting field. This Group Program for the 2010 Decennial divisions of census tracts for the 1970 meeting is closed because if open it Census. Most provisions of the block Census, comprising contiguous likely would either disclose matters that combinations of census blocks for data would be properly classified to be kept 1 The ACS is conducted in the United States and presentation purposes. At that time, secret in the interest of foreign policy in Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, the survey is called census block groups only existed in the Puerto Rico Community Survey. For ease of under the appropriate executive order (5 discussion, throughout this document the term ACS urbanized areas in which census blocks U.S.C. 552b.(c)(1)) or would disclose is used to represent both the survey that is were defined. Block groups were information the premature disclosure of conducted in the United States and in Puerto Rico. defined without regard to political and VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:17 Mar 13, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\14MRN1.SGM 14MRN1 rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 13830 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 51 / Friday, March 14, 2008 / Notices administrative boundaries, with an quarters, military installations, and reliability, the Census Bureau will not average population of 1,000, and to be institutions; (4) allowing the delineation change the minimum population approximately equal in area. of block groups for large water bodies threshold for block groups. The As use of census block, block group, with areas of approximately 100 square minimum block group threshold will and census tract data increased among miles or more, and special land uses remain at 600 people (240 housing data users, the Census Bureau expanded (e.g., large airports or public parks) with units) for the 2010 Census. Participants these programs to cover additional an official name; and (5) allowing for reviewing and delineating block groups geographic areas while redefining the geographic frameworks of tribal block for the 2010 Census and data users population threshold criteria to more groups (separate from the standard utilizing the sample-based data for block adequately suit data users’ needs. The block groups defined within counties groups must be aware of the sample data 1990 Census was the first in which and standard census tracts) to be reliability issues for geographies with census blocks and block groups were defined within federally recognized low populations and the appropriate defined throughout the entirety of the American Indian reservations and/or uses for sample data for low population United States, Puerto Rico, and the off-reservation trust lands. geographies. The Census Bureau will Island Areas. For Census 2000, as with The Census Bureau received letters provide additional information about census tracts, the Census Bureau (each containing comments on several sample data reliability and appropriate increased the number of geographic issues) from 33 organizations and uses of sample data for geographic areas areas whose boundaries could be used individuals on the proposed minimum with low populations in the PSAP as block group boundaries, and allowed population and housing unit thresholds guidelines. tribal governments of federally in the review and update of block 2. Using housing unit counts in the recognized American Indian tribes with groups, the proposed use of housing review and update of block groups. a reservation and/or off-reservation trust unit counts in the review and update of The Census Bureau received five lands to delineate block groups without block groups, and the permitted comments in response to the proposed regard to state and/or county delineation of census tracts for large use of housing unit counts in the review boundaries, provided the tribe had a water bodies and special land use tracts and update of block groups as an 1990 Census population of at least for which a single coextensive block alternative to population counts where 1,000. group would be delineated. Comments appropriate. Four commenters received are summarized below, as well supported the concept. Another II. Summary of Comments Received in as the Census Bureau’s response to these supported the proposal, but requested Response to Proposed Criteria for the comments.
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