NSC 2018BAS Letter Revisions

Request for Non-Substantive Change to the Boundary Annexation Survey

OMB Control No. 0607-0151
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Census Bureau
Purpose
The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) annually to
collect information about selected legally defined geographic areas. The BAS is used to update
information about the legal boundaries and names of all governmental units in the United States.
The Census Bureau uses the boundary information collected in the BAS to tabulate data for the
decennial and economic censuses, and for annual estimates and surveys such as the American
Community Survey (ACS) and the Population Estimates Program. The Boundary and
Annexation Survey is authorized by Section 6 of Title 13 of the United States Code.
This Non-substantive Change request is to update the 2018 BAS materials from the currently
approved collection.
Background
The current BAS OMB collection was approved for three years on 12/31/2015. In addition,
OMB approved a Non-substantive Change on 9/6/2017 and another on 12/29/2017 to update
materials in the current BAS OMB collection. The Census Bureau has made some additional
changes to the 2018 BAS state certification to use plain language, based on feedback from users
and outside consultation.
This Non-substantive Change is a request to submit revised copies of two letters that will be
used in the 2018 BAS State Certification. There are no substantive changes to the program
resulting from this change, as the finalized letters do not change the content or objective of the
program. The changes made were to make the letters more readable based on partner feedback.
Burden
The burden of the BAS is unchanged by this update.
Attachments
BAS State Certification Materials
Changes as part of
this NSC.

Material
identification

Description of Material

Plain language
updates.

BASSC 1L

Plain language
updates.

BASSC 2L

State Certification Letter to the Local: Includes details
of discrepancies of changes reversed between state
and census data.
State Certification Letter to the Local: Includes details
of discrepancies of changes not reported to the Census
Bureau between state and census data.

BASSC-1L
(2-2018)

DC

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

Dear + :
Every year, the U.S. Census Bureau (Census Bureau) conducts the Boundary and Annexation Survey
(BAS) to provide an opportunity for tribal, state, and local governments to ensure their legal
boundaries, names, and government statuses are correctly recorded with the federal government.
Following the BAS, the BAS State Certification Program provides the governor-appointed State
Certifying Official (SCO) an opportunity to verify that the legal boundary, legal name, and
governmental status received through the BAS were reported in accordance with the state law. This
ensures the accuracy of geographic boundaries used to tabulate data for the decennial and economic
censuses, and for annual estimates and surveys such as the Population Estimates Program and the
American Community Survey.
During the 2017 BAS State Certification Program, the SCO reviewed changes submitted to the 2017
BAS. Your state’s SCO notified the Census Bureau that one or more boundary changes were not
implemented in accordance with state law. Those changes are listed on the attached form. If you
believe these boundary changes are legally in effect, please ensure the required documentation is filed
with the appropriate state or county level agency. Once resolved, please resubmit the boundary
changes with appropriate documentation to the Census Bureau by email to [email protected].
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Allison Shafer of the Census Bureau’s Geography
Division by email at [email protected] or by phone at (301)763-1099.
Sincerely,

Ron S. Jarmin
Performing the Non-Exclusive Functions
and Duties of the Director
Enclosure

census.gov

BASSC-2L
(2-2018)

DC

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

Dear + :
Every year, the U.S. Census Bureau (Census Bureau) conducts the Boundary and Annexation Survey
(BAS) to provide an opportunity for tribal, state, and local governments to ensure their legal
boundaries, names, and government statuses are correctly recorded with the federal government.
Following the BAS, the BAS State Certification Program provides the governor-appointed State
Certifying Official (SCO) an opportunity to verify that the legal boundary, legal name, and
governmental status received through the BAS were reported in accordance with the state law. This
ensures the accuracy of geographic boundaries used to tabulate data for the decennial and economic
censuses, and for annual estimates and surveys such as the American Community Survey and
Population Estimates Program.
During the 2017 BAS State Certification Program, the SCO reviewed changes submitted to the 2017
BAS. Your state’s SCO notified the Census Bureau that one or more boundary changes for your
government were not reported to the BAS. Those changes are listed on the attached form. In order to
ensure they are included in the Census Bureau’s database, please submit the boundary changes that
are legally in effect to the BAS by May 31, 2018.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Allison Shafer of the Census Bureau’s Geography
Division by email at [email protected] or by phone at (301)763-1099.
Sincerely,

Ron S. Jarmin
Performing the Non-Exclusive Functions
and Duties of the Director
Enclosure

census.gov