The Boundary and Annexation Survey
(BAS) provides tribal, state, and local governments an opportunity
to review the Census Bureau’s legal boundary data to ensure the
Census Bureau has correct boundary, name, and status information.
BAS also allows participants to review and provide updates to
census designated places (CDPs). BAS fulfills the agency’s
responsibility as part of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure,
for which the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A–16
designates the Census Bureau as the lead federal agency for
maintaining national data about legal government boundaries, as
well as statistical and administrative boundaries. BAS supports the
spatial data steward responsibilities of the OMB E-Gov, Data.gov,
the National Map, and Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
The Census Bureau uses the boundaries collected in BAS to tabulate
data for various censuses and surveys including the decennial
census, American Community Survey (ACS), and Population Estimates
Program (PEP). It also uses the legal boundaries collected through
BAS to support several other programs such as the Economic Census,
the Geographic Update Population Certification Program, the
Redistricting Data Program, and the Special Census program.
Numerous federal programs also rely on accurate boundaries
collected through BAS. The U.S. Geological Survey’s National Map is
updated annually to depict the legal boundaries provided by BAS.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development uses legal
boundaries to determine jurisdictional eligibility for various
grant programs, such as the Community Development Block Grant
program. In addition, the Department of Agriculture uses legal
boundaries to determine eligibility for various rural housing and
economic development programs.
Burden hours vary for each
year, so the Census Bureau is providing the maximum burden. The
estimated burden for the 2022 through 2024 BAS is 300,000 hours.
This estimate is based on an average of 5 hours for a no change
participant and 10 hours for a participant with changes.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.