PSAP_2020 Supporting Statement_Part B_final

Department of Commerce

United States Census Bureau

OMB Information Collection Request

2020 Census Participant Statistical Areas Program

OMB Control Number 0607-XXXX

Part B – Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

1. Universe and Respondent Selection

The 2020 Census Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) is voluntary and available to approximately 4,000 tribal, state, and local participating governments, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The primary participants are tribal governments, regional planning agencies, and councils of governments; individual counties and incorporated places may participate in the program as well. State agencies may also act on behalf of non-tribal, local governments that lack the resources to participate in the program. The U.S. Census Bureau initially solicits 2020 Census participation from the 2010 Census PSAP participants. The Census Bureau also solicits new partners where there was no previous participation.

The 2020 Census PSAP is the only opportunity to review and update the statistical areas planned for 2020 Census data tabulation. Following Census Bureau guidelines and criteria, PSAP volunteers review and update two types of statistical geographies: standard and tribal. Standard statistical geographies include census tracts, block groups, census designated places (CDPs), and census county divisions (CCDs) in selected states. Tribal statistical geographies include tribal census tracts (TCTs), tribal block groups (TBGs), census designated places (CDPS), Alaska Native village statistical areas (ANVSAs), Oklahoma tribal statistical areas (OTSAs), OTSA tribal subdivisions, tribal designated statistical areas (TDSAs), and state designated tribal statistical areas (SDTSAs). The Census Bureau will use the statistical areas defined for the 2020 Census to tabulate data for the annual American Community Survey (ACS) until 2030.

2. Procedures for Collecting Information

The PSAP occurs between March 2018 and October 2020 and has three primary components:

• PSAP Internal Review.

• PSAP Delineation.

• PSAP Verification.

• PSAP Internal Review

Census Bureau staff perform an internal review of PSAP entities prior to the distribution of materials to PSAP participants. This internal review ensures each of the statistical areas meets the population, housing, and geographic criteria as defined by the program. During the internal review process, the Census Bureau reviews, revises, and updates a draft plan of these statistical areas. This geographic plan aims to help participants efficiently identify and prioritize areas that need to be reviewed and revised for their local areas.

From March 2018 through May 2018, Census Bureau staff initially contacts the 2010 Census PSAP participants to solicit participation in the 2020 Census PSAP. If 2010 Census PSAP participants decline to participate in the 2020 Census PSAP, the Census Bureau will reach out and invite local or regional planning agencies (RPAs) that can cover relatively large areas. To obtain coverage nationwide, the Census Bureau works with federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native Regional Associations (ANRAs), local or regional planning agencies, and councils of government officials (COGs). The Census Bureau strongly recommends PSAP participants to seek input from other census data users and stakeholders regarding 2020 Census PSAP statistical area delineations. Participants reach out to local governments for additional inputs and coordinate the multiple interests and requests that arise. Local governments that are interested in participating may contact the participants covering their area. The Census Bureau will publish the contact information of the 2020 Census PSAP participants on the PSAP website. The Census Bureau will contact federally recognized tribes directly to solicit their participation in the 2020 Census PSAP. For state recognized tribes, the Census Bureau will invite state governors to designate or appoint a state tribal liaison for the 2020 Census PSAP. The Census Bureau will also contact State Data Centers to help build the 2020 Census PSAP invitation and communication lists.

In July 2018, participants receive an official invitation package with a Contact Update Form that they fill out and return to the Census Bureau by mail. The Census Bureau then sends reminder packages to participants who do not respond in the time period mentioned on the Contact Update Form.

• Program Delineation

In January 2019, the Census Bureau notifies program partners of the start of the delineation phase. The Census Bureau conducts the delineation phase of the 2020 Census PSAP using the web-based Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS), a customized geographic information system (GIS). Participants can either download the materials and software online from the Census Bureau‘s website or get them shipped on DVDs.

Tribal participants have the additional option to use Census Bureau-provided paper maps for the delineation. Participants have a maximum of 120 days from the date of receipt of materials to complete and submit statistical geography updates to the Census Bureau. In July 2019, the Census Bureau sends delineation follow-up letters to inform participants when the verification phase will start.

• Program Verification

The verification phase allows participants to review the proposed edits. The Census Bureau sends a prepaid postcard to participants asking them to verify, accept, or reject the final version of the proposed plan. Participants have 90 calendar days to review updates. Once the Census Bureau receives the postcard with a participant’s approval or acceptance of the final verification plan, the Census Bureau finalizes the 2020 Census statistical boundaries. This phase starts in January 2020.

3. Methods to Maximize Response

The Census Bureau develops several measures to maximize responses for PSAP:

• The Census Bureau will supply participants with the Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS) and digital shapefiles available for download online or via DVD/CD, which streamlines the participants’ task of reviewing their statistical boundaries and reduces the need for printing paper maps.

• The Census Bureau will conduct webinar training to assist local governments using GUPS during the delineation phase.

• Paper maps submission is the only option offered to tribal governments and state tribal liaisons whose spatial data are not available in GUPS.

4. Tests of Procedures or Methods

The Census Bureau does not test procedures or methods in relation to this package.

5. Contacts for Statistical Aspects and Data Collection

This collection does not use statistical methods, such as sampling, imputation, or other statistical estimation techniques. For more information, contact Robin A. Pennington (301)763-8132, robin.a.pennington@census.gov.

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