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 regard, the automation of the Census Bureau’s geographic processes facilitated their work, but it also introduced important new tasks and challenges.

From the TIGER data base, the Census Bureau provided the CSACs, State agencies, and tribal officials with computer-prepared base maps to use in their review of CDPs, American Indian reservations, trust lands, and other selected geographic entities. As in the past with the committees, preparations for the 1990 census relied on these groups to develop, and then review, an overall geographic plan for their area of jurisdiction or interest. Procedural manuals, developed by the Census Bureau for the 1990 decennial census, documented the technical details and specific tasks that it asked them to perform.

Throughout the planning period preceding a census, there is a close working relationship and interchange of technical materials between each CSAC, State agency, appropriate tribal official, and the Census Bureau. It is not unusual for committees to become dormant after a decennial census has been completed. As the Census Bureau begins implementing plans for the next decennial census, it will seek to reactivate the CSACs. When requested, the Census Bureau provides guidance by mail, telephone, or a visit, as appropriate, on technical problems a committee, key person, or other participant may encounter. The Census Bureau also informs the CSAC routinely of additional and revised technical guidelines on small-area geographic units developed during the planning for a census, reviews the proposed delineations, and, in some instances, revises the work (in consultation with the key person) in order to protect the integrity and comparability of the resulting statistics and/or to maintain a minimum standard on a national basis.

The Census Bureau attempts to keep all participants informed of other Census Bureau activities occurring in each area so that they can function effectively as the census voice for their area; promotes communication on the subjects of census tracts, other geographic units, and the related 3-12Sources of Local Assistance