Change to County Equivalents in the State of Connecticut, 80766-80770 [2020-27459]
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80766
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 240 / Monday, December 14, 2020 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
[Docket Number 201105–0290]
Change to County Equivalents in the
State of Connecticut
Bureau of the Census,
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of proposed program and
request for comments.
AGENCY:
This notice provides
information about the State of
Connecticut’s (hereafter Connecticut or
the State) formal request to the Bureau
of the Census (hereafter, Census Bureau)
to adopt the State’s nine planning
regions as the county equivalent
geographic unit for purposes of
collecting, tabulating, and disseminating
statistical data, replacing the eight
counties, which ceased to function as
governmental and administrative
entities in 1960. The Census Bureau
proposes to implement this change in
2023. The Census Bureau is publishing
this Notice to inform users of countylevel data of the proposed change and
is requesting information related to
potential impacts of this change. The
Census Bureau and the State of
Connecticut will use this information to
reach a final decision regarding whether
to implement this change to the county
equivalents in Connecticut as well as
the timing of implementation.
DATES: Written comments on this notice
must be submitted on or before February
12, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Please direct all written
comments on this proposed program to
Vincent Osier, Geographic Standards,
Criteria, and Quality Branch, Geography
Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Room
4H173, 4600 Silver Hill Road,
Washington, DC 20233–7400. Email:
geo.geography@census.gov. Phone: 301–
763–1128.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information on
this proposed program should be
directed to Vincent Osier, Geographic
Standards, Criteria, and Quality Branch,
Geography Division, U.S. Census
Bureau, Room 4H173, 4600 Silver Hill
Road, Washington, DC 20233–7400.
Email: Vincent.osier@census.gov.
Phone: 301–763–9039 or 301–763–1128.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice provides information about the
State of Connecticut’s formal request to
the Census Bureau to adopt the State’s
nine planning regions, designated under
Section 16a–4a(4) of the Connecticut
General Statutes, as the countyequivalent geographic unit for purposes
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SUMMARY:
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of collecting, tabulating, and
disseminating statistical data. The
Census Bureau seeks information and
comments related to the impact that
adoption of planning regions as county
equivalents might have on data analysis,
planning and decision making, and
program implementation; specifically,
(1) are there data collection and
tabulation programs or nonstatistical
programs that will not be able to
implement this change; (2) will the
proposed change in county equivalents
pose such a substantial break in data
continuity that longitudinal analyses are
not possible; and (3) are there specific
programs and other uses of county-level
information in which continued
reference to the more familiar current
counties is advisable and preferred?
The Census Bureau strives to provide
statistical data for geographic areas that
are meaningful and relevant to analysis
and decision-making. In Connecticut,
nine councils of governments (COGs)
exist to address matters of mutual
interest to their constituent cities and
towns, with each city and town
represented by its municipal chief
elected official. Connecticut’s counties
ceased to function as governmental and
administrative entities in 1960.
The nine COGs function as regional
planning organizations, coordinating
activities for their constituent cities and
towns, and in that capacity can exercise
a variety of responsibilities typically
undertaken by counties in other states.
As such, the planning regions are more
meaningful and relevant areas for
tabulation and dissemination of
statistical data within Connecticut as
well as for regional and national county
comparisons, than are the eight
counties. The Census Bureau proposes
to implement this change in 2023, and
use the new county equivalents when
reporting demographic and economic
statistical data referenced to 2023 and
all years thereafter.
Background
Officials with the Connecticut Office
of Policy and Management contacted the
Census Bureau in October 2017
regarding the possibility of replacing the
State’s eight counties with the State’s
nine planning regions for purposes of
collecting, tabulating, and disseminating
statistical data. Connecticut officials
noted that cities and towns, not
counties, are the primary units of local
government.
Although Connecticut’s eight counties
have long provided stable geographic
units for reporting statistical data, they
have not served as functional
governmental and administrative
entities since county government was
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abolished in 1960. The State’s nine
COGs function as regional planning
organizations, coordinating activities for
their constituent cities and towns (note,
however, that in some instances the
name of the planning region differs from
that of its COG). As such, planning
regions provide a more meaningful
geographic unit for reporting data since
the data would be aligned with the
collection of municipalities (i.e., cities
and towns) that constitute the
governance framework for each COG.
Each municipality within a designated
planning region is entitled to
membership in the region’s COG upon
adoption of an ordinance by its
legislative body. The chief elected
official of each member municipality is
then provided a vote on all COG
matters. By reporting statistical data for
COGs, member municipalities will be in
a better position to plan and act
collaboratively and strategically on the
efficient delivery of services, bulk
purchasing, and other matters of
practical interest.
While COGs do not have the authority
to levy taxes, they are authorized under
State law to assess dues on their
member municipalities, to accept other
sources of public and private assistance
for the purpose of providing regional
and shared services, and to administer
a regional property tax base revenue
sharing system if approved by a
unanimous vote of its member
municipalities. In this regard, as well as
the ability to provide the variety of
services listed below, the Connecticut’s
COGs and associated planning regions
have the authority to carry out
administrative functions that are
typically found among counties in other
states. Section 8–31b(b) of the
Connecticut General Statutes states that
Regional services provided to member
municipalities shall be determined by each
regional council of governments . . . and
may include, without limitation, the
following services: (1) Engineering; (2)
inspectional and planning; (3) economic
development; (4) public safety; (5) emergency
management; (6) animal control; (7) land use
management; (8) tourism promotion; (9)
social; (10) health; (11) education; (12) data
management; (13) regional sewerage; (14)
housing; (15) computerized mapping; (16)
household hazardous waste collection; (17)
recycling; (18) public facility siting; (19)
coordination of master planning; (20)
vocational training and development; (21)
solid waste disposal; (22) fire protection; (23)
regional resource protection; (24) regional
impact studies; and (25) transportation.
In the same section, the COGs are
authorized to ‘‘accept or participate in
any grant, donation or program made
available to counties by any other
governmental or private entity.’’
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 240 / Monday, December 14, 2020 / Notices
Adoption of COGs as county equivalents
will make them eligible to apply for
federal grant programs open to counties.
Scope of Change
Adoption of the nine planning regions
as county equivalents applies to the
collection, tabulation, and
dissemination of Census Bureau
statistical data for Connecticut. The
Census Bureau proposes to implement
this change in 2023, and will use
planning regions in all of its programs
that collect, tabulate, and disseminate
demographic or economic data, such as
the American Community Survey
(ACS), the intercensal Population
Estimates Program, Small Area Income
and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) Program,
the Economic Census, County Business
Patterns, and the Longitudinal
Cities and towns are the constituent
governments within each COG/planning
region. As such, data for cities and
towns can be aggregated to planning
regions, facilitating reconstruction of
Employer-Household Dynamics
Program. While other federal agencies
are encouraged to adopt Connecticut’s
planning regions as county equivalents
for use in their statistical and nonstatistical programs, the Census Bureau
does not have the authority to require
such a change. Nevertheless, adoption
of planning regions as county
equivalents will assure comparability of
data produced by all federal agencies as
well as comparability between statistical
and non-statistical programs.
Transitioning From Counties to
Planning Regions
80767
and its nine planning regions. Although
the planning regions and counties do
not align, there is substantial overlap, to
the extent that one can discern the
relationships between individual
planning regions and counties. The
closest relationship is between
Middlesex County and Lower
Connecticut River Valley planning
region, with all 15 of the cities and
towns within the county also located
within the planning region (which also
contains two towns located in New
London County. See Table 2).
Relationship Between Counties and
Planning Regions
Figure 1 depicts the relationship
between Connecticut’s eight counties
time series data and longitudinal
analysis. Table 1 provides the 2010
Census population and the 2019
estimated population for each planning
region, based on aggregated data for
constituent cities and towns.
Source: https://www.census.gov/data/
tables/time-series/demo/popest/2010stotal-cities-and-towns.html
2010 Census
population
Planning region
Capitol ......................................................................................................................................................................
Greater Bridgeport ...................................................................................................................................................
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973,959
318,004
2019
Population
estimate
969,831
320,921
EN14DE20.091</GPH>
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TABLE 1—PLANNING REGION POPULATION: 2010 AND 2019
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 240 / Monday, December 14, 2020 / Notices
TABLE 1—PLANNING REGION POPULATION: 2010 AND 2019—Continued
Lower Connecticut River Valley ..............................................................................................................................
Naugatuck Valley .....................................................................................................................................................
Northeastern Connecticut ........................................................................................................................................
Northwest Hills .........................................................................................................................................................
South Central Connecticut .......................................................................................................................................
Southeastern Connecticut .......................................................................................................................................
Western Connecticut ...............................................................................................................................................
Table 2 provides the number of cities
and towns within each of the eight
2019
Population
estimate
2010 Census
population
Planning region
counties and the number within
corresponding planning regions, further
175,686
448,738
96,617
115,247
570,001
286,711
589,135
172,058
442,869
95,570
110,102
566,579
277,635
609,722
illustrating the overlap between
counties and planning regions.
TABLE 2—DISTRIBUTION OF CITIES AND TOWNS WITHIN COUNTIES AND PLANNING REGIONS.
Cities and towns within planning regions
Cities and
towns in
county
County
Capitol
Greater
bridgeport
Lower CT river
valley
Naugatuck valley
Northeastern
CT
NW Hills
South central
CT
Southeastern
CT
Western CT
Fairfield ..................
Hartford .................
Litchfield ................
Middle-sex .............
New Haven ............
New London ..........
Tolland ...................
Wind-ham ..............
23
29
26
15
27
21
13
15
........................
26
........................
........................
........................
........................
12
........................
6
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
15
........................
2
........................
........................
1
1
5
........................
........................
........................
........................
2
19
........................
........................
16
........................
........................
2
12
........................
........................
........................
........................
1
1
14
........................
........................
15
........................
18
........................
........................
1
Total ...............
169
38
6
17
19
16
21
15
19
Using the distribution of cities and
towns within counties and planning
regions as a guide, Table 3 presents the
approximate relationship between
counties and planning regions, which
could be used when building
longitudinal data for geographic areas
for which counties and county
18
equivalents are building blocks if
component city- and town-level data
were not available.
TABLE 3—COUNTIES-TO-PLANNING REGIONS APPROXIMATION
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Fairfield ............................................
Hartford ............................................
Tolland .............................................
Litchfield ...........................................
Middlesex .........................................
New Haven ......................................
........................
943,823
892,697
150,921
181,111
162,682
857,620
New London .....................................
Windham ..........................................
266,784
117,027
To assist with transitioning from
counties to planning regions and to
assist with development of longitudinal
data for the new county equivalents, the
Census Bureau will produce and make
available reference files identifying the
cities and towns that constitute each
planning region. This will facilitate
aggregation of data from decennial
censuses, the ACS, the intercensal
Population Estimates Program, SAIPE,
the Economic Census, and the
Longitudinal Employer-Household
Dynamics Program, all of which collect,
tabulate, and disseminate data for cities
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02:51 Dec 12, 2020
Planning region
2019 Planning
region
population
estimate
Greater Bridgeport .....................................................................................
Western Connecticut .................................................................................
Capitol .......................................................................................................
320,921
609,722ROW≤
969,831
Northwest Hills ..........................................................................................
Lower Connecticut River Valley ................................................................
Naugatuck Valley ......................................................................................
South Central Connecticut ........................................................................
Southeastern Connecticut .........................................................................
Northeastern Connecticut ..........................................................................
110,102
172,058
442,869
566,579
277,635
95,570
2018 County
population
estimate
County
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and towns in Connecticut. In addition,
the Census Bureau will produce and
make available other reference files,
identifying the relationships between
various sub-state and sub-county
geographic areas and the planning
regions.
Upon adoption of this change, the
Census Bureau will include planning
regions in all geospatial data products,
including TIGER/Line shapefiles,
TIGER/Line geodatabases, cartographic
boundary files, and mapping services.
Each planning region will be assigned
a three-digit Federal Information
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Processing Series (FIPS) code, starting
with 017, and continuing in
alphabetical order by name (Table 4).
Codes 001 through 015 will continue to
reference the eight counties but will be
retired. Each planning region also will
be assigned an eight-digit American
National Standards Institute (ANSI)
code and will be included in the U.S.
Board on Geographic Names’
Geographic Names Information System.
In addition, the Census Bureau will
work with the State of Connecticut to
determine the appropriate FIPS class
code, functional status code, and other
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80769
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 240 / Monday, December 14, 2020 / Notices
codes that describe the attributes of the
planning regions. The FIPS codes, ANSI
codes, and attribute codes will be
included in Census Bureau geographic
reference products when this proposed
change is adopted.
TABLE 4—PLANNING REGION NAMES, LEGAL/STATISTICAL AREA DESCRIPTION, AND FEDERAL INFORMATION PROCESSING
SERIES (FIPS) CODES
FIPS statecounty code
Name
Capitol Planning Region ......................................................................................................................................................................
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region ...................................................................................................................................................
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region ...............................................................................................................................
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region .....................................................................................................................................................
Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region ........................................................................................................................................
Northwest Hills Planning Region .........................................................................................................................................................
South Central Connecticut Planning Region .......................................................................................................................................
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region ........................................................................................................................................
Western Connecticut Planning Region ................................................................................................................................................
Relationship to Other Statistical
Geographic Entities
The Census Bureau accounted for the
change from counties to planning
regions when implementing the
Participant Statistical Areas Program
(PSAP) for the 2020 Census, the
program in which the Census Bureau
works with local officials to review and
update block groups and census tracts.
The planning regions were the official
PSAP participants in Connecticut for
both the 2010 and 2020 censuses, thus
ensuring that census tracts and block
groups generally aligned with city and
town boundaries, facilitating transition
to the new county equivalents. The
Census Bureau further reviewed block
group and census tract boundaries for
the 2020 Census to ensure alignment
with planning region boundaries. As a
result, the change to county equivalents
in Connecticut will not affect block
group and census tract boundaries. Both
types of entities will nest within
planning region boundaries.
The adoption of planning regions as
county equivalents will affect the
delineation of Metropolitan and
Micropolitan Statistical Areas as well as
Combined Statistical Areas by the Office
of Management and Budget. Areas
delineated based on 2020 Census and
2016–2020 ACS 5-year data will reflect
the new county equivalents. New
England City and Town Areas (NECTAs)
and combined NECTAs are not affected
by this change.
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Timeline
The Census Bureau proposes to
implement adoption of the nine
planning regions as county equivalents
in 2023 and include the planning
regions in all geospatial and statistical
data products referenced to 2023 and
each year thereafter.
Officials with the State of
Connecticut’s Office of Policy and
Management contacted the Census
Bureau in October 2017 regarding the
process they should follow in order to
adopt the State’s nine planning regions
as county equivalents. At that time,
Census Bureau staff advised that
officials first obtain broad data user
support throughout the State, including
from other State agencies, the State Data
Center, as well as the planning regions.
Once broad support for the change was
achieved, a formal request addressed to
the Census Bureau’s Director was
needed for the Census Bureau to take
formal steps toward adoption of the
nine planning regions as county
equivalents. The State’s formal request
was received by the Census Bureau in
August 2019. The State also submitted
a letter of support from the Connecticut
Data Collaborative/State Data Center
attesting to the importance and value of
data for planning regions to analysts,
decision makers, and other data users
throughout Connecticut as well as broad
support for the change among data users
throughout the State. In addition,
members of Connecticut’s Congressional
Delegation, chairs of each of the State’s
nine COGs, and officials from the
Connecticut Conference of
Municipalities, Council of Small Towns,
and the Advisory Commission on
Intergovernmental Relations were
copied on the State’s letter to the Census
Bureau. The Census Bureau held a
meeting with Connecticut State and
09017
09019
09021
09023
09025
09027
09029
09031
09033
local government officials, state agency
staff, and COG chairs in April 2020 to
provide an update on outreach
regarding the proposed change; meeting
participants reiterated the importance
of, and support for, adoption of the
State’s nine planning regions as county
equivalents.
The Census Bureau began outreach to
other federal agencies and data users
regarding this change in October 2019,
following the State of Connecticut’s
formal request to replace its eight
counties with the nine planning regions.
The Census Bureau has held seven
briefings for federal agency staff: one for
the Interagency Council on Statistical
Policy; two organized by the Federal
Committee on Statistical MethodologyGeospatial Interest Group; two for
Department of Housing and Urban
Development staff, including staff
managing the Community Development
Block Grant and other funding
programs; one for Bureau of Labor
Statistics staff; and one organized by the
US Department of Transportation
attended by federal, state, and local
transportation planners. This Notice
serves as the formal process by which
the Census Bureau is announcing the
intended change and through which it
will gather formal comments.
Following completion of the formal
period of comment associated with this
Notice, the Census Bureau, in
consultation with officials with the
State of Connecticut, will review
comments received and reach a final
decision regarding whether to
implement adoption of the nine
planning regions as county equivalents.
TABLE 4—TIMELINE OF ACTIVITIES
Activity
Dates
Officials from the State of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management contact Census Bureau regarding proposed adoption of planning regions as county equivalents.
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October 2017.
80770
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 240 / Monday, December 14, 2020 / Notices
TABLE 4—TIMELINE OF ACTIVITIES—Continued
Activity
Dates
Office of Policy and Management staff conduct outreach at the State-level to obtain consensus for change ............
Formal request from the State of Connecticut to the Census Bureau’s Director regarding adoption of planning regions as county equivalents.
Census Bureau outreach to federal agencies and other data users ............................................................................
Federal Register Notice announcing the Census Bureau’s proposed implementation of the change in county
equivalents.
Census Bureau, in consultation with the State of Connecticut, issues final decision regarding adoption of planning
regions as county equivalents.
Steven D. Dillingham, Director,
Bureau of the Census, approved the
publication of this Notice in the Federal
Register.
Dated: December 9, 2020.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
the Chief Information Officer, Commerce
Department.
[FR Doc. 2020–27459 Filed 12–11–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–07–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
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Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Annual Capital Expenditures
Survey
The Department of Commerce will
submit the following information
collection request to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and clearance in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, on or after the date of publication
of this notice. We invite the general
public and other Federal agencies to
comment on proposed, and continuing
information collections, which helps us
assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. Public
comments were previously requested
via the Federal Register on September
10, 2020 during a 60-day comment
period. This notice allows for an
additional 30 days for public comments.
Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
Title: Annual Capital Expenditures
Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0607–0782.
Form Number(s): ACE–1(L), ACE–
1(M), ACE–1(S), ACE–2.
Type of Request: Regular submission,
Request for a Revision of a Currently
Approved Collection.
Number of Respondents: 70,127.
Average Hours per Response: 2.69.
Burden Hours: 188,787.
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Needs and Uses: A major concern of
economic policymakers is the adequacy
of investment in plant and equipment.
Data on the amount of business
expenditures for new plants and
equipment and measures of the stock of
existing facilities are critical to
evaluating productivity growth, the
ability of U.S. business to compete with
foreign business, changes in industrial
capacity, and overall economic
performance. The ACES is the sole
source of detailed comprehensive
statistics on investment in buildings and
other structures, machinery, and
equipment by private nonfarm
businesses in the United States.
This request is for a revision to the
currently approved collection and will
cover the 2020 through 2022 ACES
(conducted in years 2021 through 2023).
Changes from the previous ACES
authorization are the collection of
content related to the Coronavirus
Pandemic, the presence of robotic
equipment and investment in robotic
equipment by industry segment from
employer businesses, and the amount of
time it took to complete the
nonemployer survey. The detailed
capital expenditures data, collected
every five years, were collected in the
2017 ACES and will be collected again
in the 2022 ACES.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations.
Frequency: Annually.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13 of the United
States Code, Sections 131 and 182.
Sections 224 and 225 of Title 13 make
this survey mandatory.
This information collection request
may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
Follow the instructions to view the
Department of Commerce collections
currently under review by OMB.
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be
submitted within 30 days of the
publication of this notice on the
following website www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain. Find this
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November 2017–March
2019.
August 2019.
September 2019–present.
Fall 2020.
Summer 2021.
particular information collection by
selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day
Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or
by using the search function and
entering either the title of the collection
or the OMB Control Number 0607–0782.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
the Chief Information Officer, Commerce
Department.
[FR Doc. 2020–27462 Filed 12–11–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–07–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[S–217–2020]
Foreign-Trade Zone 22—Chicago,
Illinois; Application for Subzone
Expansion; Abbott Laboratories,
Itasca, Illinois
An application has been submitted to
the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board by
the Illinois International Port District,
grantee of FTZ 22, requesting an
expansion of Subzone 22F on behalf of
Abbott Laboratories (Abbott), located in
Itasca, Illinois. The application was
submitted pursuant to the provisions of
the Foreign-Trade Zones Act, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), and the
regulations of the FTZ Board (15 CFR
part 400). It was formally docketed on
December 8, 2020.
Subzone 22F currently consists of the
following sites: Site 2 (480 acres)—One
Abbott Park Road, North Chicago; Site 3
(129 acres)—Atkinson Road, North
Chicago; Site 4 (42 acres) 22nd Street,
North Chicago; Site 5 (17 acres)—1300
East Touhy, Des Plaines; and, Site 7 (1.4
acres)—1800 Brummel Avenue, Elk
Grove Village.
The proposed expansion would add
an additional site to the subzone:
Proposed Site 8 (5.64 acres)—1015 West
Devon Avenue, Itasca, DuPage County.
No authorization for expanded
production activity has been requested
at this time. The subzone will be subject
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 240 (Monday, December 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80766-80770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27459]
[[Page 80766]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
[Docket Number 201105-0290]
Change to County Equivalents in the State of Connecticut
AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of proposed program and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice provides information about the State of
Connecticut's (hereafter Connecticut or the State) formal request to
the Bureau of the Census (hereafter, Census Bureau) to adopt the
State's nine planning regions as the county equivalent geographic unit
for purposes of collecting, tabulating, and disseminating statistical
data, replacing the eight counties, which ceased to function as
governmental and administrative entities in 1960. The Census Bureau
proposes to implement this change in 2023. The Census Bureau is
publishing this Notice to inform users of county-level data of the
proposed change and is requesting information related to potential
impacts of this change. The Census Bureau and the State of Connecticut
will use this information to reach a final decision regarding whether
to implement this change to the county equivalents in Connecticut as
well as the timing of implementation.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be submitted on or before
February 12, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Please direct all written comments on this proposed program
to Vincent Osier, Geographic Standards, Criteria, and Quality Branch,
Geography Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 4H173, 4600 Silver Hill
Road, Washington, DC 20233-7400. Email: [email protected].
Phone: 301-763-1128.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information on
this proposed program should be directed to Vincent Osier, Geographic
Standards, Criteria, and Quality Branch, Geography Division, U.S.
Census Bureau, Room 4H173, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233-
7400. Email: [email protected]. Phone: 301-763-9039 or 301-763-
1128.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice provides information about the
State of Connecticut's formal request to the Census Bureau to adopt the
State's nine planning regions, designated under Section 16a-4a(4) of
the Connecticut General Statutes, as the county-equivalent geographic
unit for purposes of collecting, tabulating, and disseminating
statistical data. The Census Bureau seeks information and comments
related to the impact that adoption of planning regions as county
equivalents might have on data analysis, planning and decision making,
and program implementation; specifically, (1) are there data collection
and tabulation programs or nonstatistical programs that will not be
able to implement this change; (2) will the proposed change in county
equivalents pose such a substantial break in data continuity that
longitudinal analyses are not possible; and (3) are there specific
programs and other uses of county-level information in which continued
reference to the more familiar current counties is advisable and
preferred?
The Census Bureau strives to provide statistical data for
geographic areas that are meaningful and relevant to analysis and
decision-making. In Connecticut, nine councils of governments (COGs)
exist to address matters of mutual interest to their constituent cities
and towns, with each city and town represented by its municipal chief
elected official. Connecticut's counties ceased to function as
governmental and administrative entities in 1960.
The nine COGs function as regional planning organizations,
coordinating activities for their constituent cities and towns, and in
that capacity can exercise a variety of responsibilities typically
undertaken by counties in other states. As such, the planning regions
are more meaningful and relevant areas for tabulation and dissemination
of statistical data within Connecticut as well as for regional and
national county comparisons, than are the eight counties. The Census
Bureau proposes to implement this change in 2023, and use the new
county equivalents when reporting demographic and economic statistical
data referenced to 2023 and all years thereafter.
Background
Officials with the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management
contacted the Census Bureau in October 2017 regarding the possibility
of replacing the State's eight counties with the State's nine planning
regions for purposes of collecting, tabulating, and disseminating
statistical data. Connecticut officials noted that cities and towns,
not counties, are the primary units of local government.
Although Connecticut's eight counties have long provided stable
geographic units for reporting statistical data, they have not served
as functional governmental and administrative entities since county
government was abolished in 1960. The State's nine COGs function as
regional planning organizations, coordinating activities for their
constituent cities and towns (note, however, that in some instances the
name of the planning region differs from that of its COG). As such,
planning regions provide a more meaningful geographic unit for
reporting data since the data would be aligned with the collection of
municipalities (i.e., cities and towns) that constitute the governance
framework for each COG. Each municipality within a designated planning
region is entitled to membership in the region's COG upon adoption of
an ordinance by its legislative body. The chief elected official of
each member municipality is then provided a vote on all COG matters. By
reporting statistical data for COGs, member municipalities will be in a
better position to plan and act collaboratively and strategically on
the efficient delivery of services, bulk purchasing, and other matters
of practical interest.
While COGs do not have the authority to levy taxes, they are
authorized under State law to assess dues on their member
municipalities, to accept other sources of public and private
assistance for the purpose of providing regional and shared services,
and to administer a regional property tax base revenue sharing system
if approved by a unanimous vote of its member municipalities. In this
regard, as well as the ability to provide the variety of services
listed below, the Connecticut's COGs and associated planning regions
have the authority to carry out administrative functions that are
typically found among counties in other states. Section 8-31b(b) of the
Connecticut General Statutes states that
Regional services provided to member municipalities shall be
determined by each regional council of governments . . . and may
include, without limitation, the following services: (1)
Engineering; (2) inspectional and planning; (3) economic
development; (4) public safety; (5) emergency management; (6) animal
control; (7) land use management; (8) tourism promotion; (9) social;
(10) health; (11) education; (12) data management; (13) regional
sewerage; (14) housing; (15) computerized mapping; (16) household
hazardous waste collection; (17) recycling; (18) public facility
siting; (19) coordination of master planning; (20) vocational
training and development; (21) solid waste disposal; (22) fire
protection; (23) regional resource protection; (24) regional impact
studies; and (25) transportation.
In the same section, the COGs are authorized to ``accept or
participate in any grant, donation or program made available to
counties by any other governmental or private entity.''
[[Page 80767]]
Adoption of COGs as county equivalents will make them eligible to apply
for federal grant programs open to counties.
Scope of Change
Adoption of the nine planning regions as county equivalents applies
to the collection, tabulation, and dissemination of Census Bureau
statistical data for Connecticut. The Census Bureau proposes to
implement this change in 2023, and will use planning regions in all of
its programs that collect, tabulate, and disseminate demographic or
economic data, such as the American Community Survey (ACS), the
intercensal Population Estimates Program, Small Area Income and Poverty
Estimates (SAIPE) Program, the Economic Census, County Business
Patterns, and the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Program.
While other federal agencies are encouraged to adopt Connecticut's
planning regions as county equivalents for use in their statistical and
non-statistical programs, the Census Bureau does not have the authority
to require such a change. Nevertheless, adoption of planning regions as
county equivalents will assure comparability of data produced by all
federal agencies as well as comparability between statistical and non-
statistical programs.
Transitioning From Counties to Planning Regions
Relationship Between Counties and Planning Regions
Figure 1 depicts the relationship between Connecticut's eight
counties and its nine planning regions. Although the planning regions
and counties do not align, there is substantial overlap, to the extent
that one can discern the relationships between individual planning
regions and counties. The closest relationship is between Middlesex
County and Lower Connecticut River Valley planning region, with all 15
of the cities and towns within the county also located within the
planning region (which also contains two towns located in New London
County. See Table 2).
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14DE20.091
Cities and towns are the constituent governments within each COG/
planning region. As such, data for cities and towns can be aggregated
to planning regions, facilitating reconstruction of time series data
and longitudinal analysis. Table 1 provides the 2010 Census population
and the 2019 estimated population for each planning region, based on
aggregated data for constituent cities and towns.
Source: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-total-cities-and-towns.html
Table 1--Planning Region Population: 2010 and 2019
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019
Planning region 2010 Census Population
population estimate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capitol................................. 973,959 969,831
Greater Bridgeport...................... 318,004 320,921
[[Page 80768]]
Lower Connecticut River Valley.......... 175,686 172,058
Naugatuck Valley........................ 448,738 442,869
Northeastern Connecticut................ 96,617 95,570
Northwest Hills......................... 115,247 110,102
South Central Connecticut............... 570,001 566,579
Southeastern Connecticut................ 286,711 277,635
Western Connecticut..................... 589,135 609,722
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2 provides the number of cities and towns within each of the
eight counties and the number within corresponding planning regions,
further illustrating the overlap between counties and planning regions.
Table 2--Distribution of Cities and Towns within Counties and Planning Regions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cities and towns within planning regions
Cities and -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
County towns in Greater Lower CT river Naugatuck Northeastern South central Southeastern
county Capitol bridgeport valley valley CT NW Hills CT CT Western CT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fairfield....................... 23 .............. 6 .............. 1 .............. .............. .............. .............. 16
Hartford........................ 29 26 .............. .............. 1 .............. 2
Litchfield...................... 26 .............. .............. .............. 5 .............. 19 .............. .............. 2
Middle-sex...................... 15 .............. .............. 15
New Haven....................... 27 .............. .............. .............. 12 .............. .............. 15
New London...................... 21 .............. .............. 2 .............. 1 .............. .............. 18
Tolland......................... 13 12 .............. .............. .............. 1
Wind-ham........................ 15 .............. .............. .............. .............. 14 .............. .............. 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................... 169 38 6 17 19 16 21 15 19 18
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using the distribution of cities and towns within counties and
planning regions as a guide, Table 3 presents the approximate
relationship between counties and planning regions, which could be used
when building longitudinal data for geographic areas for which counties
and county equivalents are building blocks if component city- and town-
level data were not available.
Table 3--Counties-to-Planning Regions Approximation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Planning
2018 County region
County population Planning region population
estimate estimate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fairfield..................................... .............. Greater Bridgeport.............. 320,921
943,823 Western Connecticut............. 609,722ROW>
Hartford...................................... 892,697 Capitol......................... 969,831
Tolland....................................... 150,921
Litchfield.................................... 181,111 Northwest Hills................. 110,102
Middlesex..................................... 162,682 Lower Connecticut River Valley.. 172,058
New Haven..................................... 857,620 Naugatuck Valley................ 442,869
.............. South Central Connecticut....... 566,579
New London.................................... 266,784 Southeastern Connecticut........ 277,635
Windham....................................... 117,027 Northeastern Connecticut........ 95,570
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To assist with transitioning from counties to planning regions and
to assist with development of longitudinal data for the new county
equivalents, the Census Bureau will produce and make available
reference files identifying the cities and towns that constitute each
planning region. This will facilitate aggregation of data from
decennial censuses, the ACS, the intercensal Population Estimates
Program, SAIPE, the Economic Census, and the Longitudinal Employer-
Household Dynamics Program, all of which collect, tabulate, and
disseminate data for cities and towns in Connecticut. In addition, the
Census Bureau will produce and make available other reference files,
identifying the relationships between various sub-state and sub-county
geographic areas and the planning regions.
Upon adoption of this change, the Census Bureau will include
planning regions in all geospatial data products, including TIGER/Line
shapefiles, TIGER/Line geodatabases, cartographic boundary files, and
mapping services.
Each planning region will be assigned a three-digit Federal
Information Processing Series (FIPS) code, starting with 017, and
continuing in alphabetical order by name (Table 4). Codes 001 through
015 will continue to reference the eight counties but will be retired.
Each planning region also will be assigned an eight-digit American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) code and will be included in the
U.S. Board on Geographic Names' Geographic Names Information System. In
addition, the Census Bureau will work with the State of Connecticut to
determine the appropriate FIPS class code, functional status code, and
other
[[Page 80769]]
codes that describe the attributes of the planning regions. The FIPS
codes, ANSI codes, and attribute codes will be included in Census
Bureau geographic reference products when this proposed change is
adopted.
Table 4--Planning Region Names, Legal/Statistical Area Description, and
Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) Codes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIPS state-
Name county code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capitol Planning Region................................. 09017
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region...................... 09019
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region.......... 09021
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region........................ 09023
Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region................ 09025
Northwest Hills Planning Region......................... 09027
South Central Connecticut Planning Region............... 09029
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region................ 09031
Western Connecticut Planning Region..................... 09033
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Relationship to Other Statistical Geographic Entities
The Census Bureau accounted for the change from counties to
planning regions when implementing the Participant Statistical Areas
Program (PSAP) for the 2020 Census, the program in which the Census
Bureau works with local officials to review and update block groups and
census tracts. The planning regions were the official PSAP participants
in Connecticut for both the 2010 and 2020 censuses, thus ensuring that
census tracts and block groups generally aligned with city and town
boundaries, facilitating transition to the new county equivalents. The
Census Bureau further reviewed block group and census tract boundaries
for the 2020 Census to ensure alignment with planning region
boundaries. As a result, the change to county equivalents in
Connecticut will not affect block group and census tract boundaries.
Both types of entities will nest within planning region boundaries.
The adoption of planning regions as county equivalents will affect
the delineation of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas as
well as Combined Statistical Areas by the Office of Management and
Budget. Areas delineated based on 2020 Census and 2016-2020 ACS 5-year
data will reflect the new county equivalents. New England City and Town
Areas (NECTAs) and combined NECTAs are not affected by this change.
Timeline
The Census Bureau proposes to implement adoption of the nine
planning regions as county equivalents in 2023 and include the planning
regions in all geospatial and statistical data products referenced to
2023 and each year thereafter.
Officials with the State of Connecticut's Office of Policy and
Management contacted the Census Bureau in October 2017 regarding the
process they should follow in order to adopt the State's nine planning
regions as county equivalents. At that time, Census Bureau staff
advised that officials first obtain broad data user support throughout
the State, including from other State agencies, the State Data Center,
as well as the planning regions. Once broad support for the change was
achieved, a formal request addressed to the Census Bureau's Director
was needed for the Census Bureau to take formal steps toward adoption
of the nine planning regions as county equivalents. The State's formal
request was received by the Census Bureau in August 2019. The State
also submitted a letter of support from the Connecticut Data
Collaborative/State Data Center attesting to the importance and value
of data for planning regions to analysts, decision makers, and other
data users throughout Connecticut as well as broad support for the
change among data users throughout the State. In addition, members of
Connecticut's Congressional Delegation, chairs of each of the State's
nine COGs, and officials from the Connecticut Conference of
Municipalities, Council of Small Towns, and the Advisory Commission on
Intergovernmental Relations were copied on the State's letter to the
Census Bureau. The Census Bureau held a meeting with Connecticut State
and local government officials, state agency staff, and COG chairs in
April 2020 to provide an update on outreach regarding the proposed
change; meeting participants reiterated the importance of, and support
for, adoption of the State's nine planning regions as county
equivalents.
The Census Bureau began outreach to other federal agencies and data
users regarding this change in October 2019, following the State of
Connecticut's formal request to replace its eight counties with the
nine planning regions. The Census Bureau has held seven briefings for
federal agency staff: one for the Interagency Council on Statistical
Policy; two organized by the Federal Committee on Statistical
Methodology-Geospatial Interest Group; two for Department of Housing
and Urban Development staff, including staff managing the Community
Development Block Grant and other funding programs; one for Bureau of
Labor Statistics staff; and one organized by the US Department of
Transportation attended by federal, state, and local transportation
planners. This Notice serves as the formal process by which the Census
Bureau is announcing the intended change and through which it will
gather formal comments.
Following completion of the formal period of comment associated
with this Notice, the Census Bureau, in consultation with officials
with the State of Connecticut, will review comments received and reach
a final decision regarding whether to implement adoption of the nine
planning regions as county equivalents.
Table 4--Timeline of Activities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Activity Dates
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials from the State of Connecticut's Office October 2017.
of Policy and Management contact Census Bureau
regarding proposed adoption of planning regions
as county equivalents.
[[Page 80770]]
Office of Policy and Management staff conduct November 2017-March
outreach at the State-level to obtain consensus 2019.
for change.
Formal request from the State of Connecticut to August 2019.
the Census Bureau's Director regarding adoption
of planning regions as county equivalents.
Census Bureau outreach to federal agencies and September 2019-
other data users. present.
Federal Register Notice announcing the Census Fall 2020.
Bureau's proposed implementation of the change
in county equivalents.
Census Bureau, in consultation with the State of Summer 2021.
Connecticut, issues final decision regarding
adoption of planning regions as county
equivalents.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steven D. Dillingham, Director, Bureau of the Census, approved the
publication of this Notice in the Federal Register.
Dated: December 9, 2020.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-27459 Filed 12-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
