Temporary Suspension of the Population Estimates and Income Estimates Challenge Programs

The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) publishes this final rule to announce to state and local governments and to federal agencies that, beginning on February 3, 2010, the Census Bureau will temporarily suspend the Population Estimates Challenge Program during both the decennial census year and the following year, and will indefinitely suspend the Per Capita Income Estimates Challenge Program (also known as Procedure for Challenging Certain Population and Income Estimates) to accommodate the taking of the 2010 Census. During this time, the Census Bureau will not provide the operations necessary to review the July 1, 2009, population or per capita income estimates for state, and other general-purpose governments, such as cities, towns, and villages. The Population Estimates Challenge Program will resume in 2012 as the program begins operations based upon the results of the 2010 Census. The Per Capita Income Estimates Challenge Program will be suspended until a rulemaking is initiated to remove those regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations. This rule also summarizes the comments received on the October 7, 2009 proposed rule requesting comments on the proposed temporary suspension of the Population Estimates and Income Estimates Challenge Programs.