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OMB
BULLETIN NO. 99-04
TO THE
HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ESTABLISHMENTS
SUBJECT:
Revised Statistical Definitions of Metropolitan Areas (MAs) and Guidance
on Uses of MA Definitions
Purpose:
This Bulletin establishes two new Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs).
It also provides guidance on the use of the statistical definitions of
MAs.
Background:
Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3504(e)(3) and 31 U.S.C. 1104(d) and Executive Order
No. 10253 (June 11, 1951), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
defines MAs for use in Federal statistical activities. OMB updates these
definitions each June, adding new areas that qualify as MAs and cities
that qualify as central cities for MAs.
New
MSAs: Auburn-Opelika, Alabama is defined as a Level D MSA (FIPS
Code 0580) effective June 30, 1999. The Auburn-Opelika, Alabama MSA comprises
Lee County, Alabama. The MSA's central cities are Auburn, Alabama and
Opelika, Alabama. Corvallis, Oregon, is defined as a Level D MSA
(FIPS Code 1890) effective June 30, 1999. The Corvallis, Oregon, MSA comprises
Benton County, Oregon. The MSA's central city is Corvallis, Oregon.
MAs:
This Bulletin gives the definitions of all MAs in the United States and
Puerto Rico based on the standards published on March 30, 1990, in the
Federal Register (55 FR 12154-12160), the 1990 Decennial Census data,
and 1998 Census Bureau population estimates. A total of 261 MSAs are recognized.
There are 19 Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CMSAs), consisting
of 76 Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs). List I provides titles
and definitions of all MSAs; List II presents similar information for CMSAs
and PMSAs. List III identifies the MSAs, CMSAs, and PMSAs in each State.
List IV provides titles and definitions for the New England County Metropolitan
Areas (NECMAs). MSAs, PMSAs, and NECMAs are categorized by their 1990 population
size, as follows:
Level A --
Areas of 1 million or more
Level B -- Areas of 250,000 to 999,999
Level C -- Areas of 100,000 to 249,999
Level D -- Areas of less than 100,000
Uses
of MA Definitions: All agencies that conduct statistical activities
to collect and publish data for MAs should use the most recent definitions
of MAs established by OMB.
OMB establishes
and maintains the definitions of MAs solely for statistical purposes.
In periodically reviewing and revising the MA definitions, OMB does
not take into account or attempt to anticipate any nonstatistical uses
that may be made of the definitions, nor will OMB modify the definitions
to meet the requirements of any nonstatistical program.
We recognize
that some legislation specifies the use of MAs for programmatic purposes,
including allocating Federal funds. For example, as called for by the
Social Security Act, the Health Care Financing Administration uses MAs
to define labor market areas and gather hospital wage data that are
used in developing a hospital wage index for the labor-related portion
of a hospital's standardized Medicare payment. We will continue to work
with the Congress to clarify the foundations of the MA definitions and
the resultant, often unintended consequences of their use for nonstatistical
purposes.
In a case
where there is no statutory requirement and an agency elects to use
the MA definitions in a nonstatistical program, it
is the sponsoring agency's responsibility to ensure that the definitions
are appropriate for such use. When an agency is publishing for comment
a proposed regulation that would use the MA definitions for a nonstatistical
purpose, the agency should seek public comment on the proposed use of
the MA definitions. Please refer to M-94-22 on Use of Metropolitan Area
Definitions, issued by OMB on May 5, 1994, for further information.
List
of MA Definitions: This bulletin is available electronically
from the OMB home page at http://whitehouse.gov/OMB; go to Bulletins.
Copies of the list of MAs as of June 30, 1999, are available from the
National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Document Sales, 5285 Port
Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161 (703-605-6000 or 1-800-553-6847) (Accession
Number PB99-132698). This list is also available through NTIS in electronic
form (Wordperfect) (Accession Number PB99-501538).
Inquiries:
Inquiries concerning MA standards and the statistical uses of MA definitions
should be directed to Suzann Evinger (202-395-3093).
Jacob
J. Lew
Director
Attachment (92 pages, 146 kb)
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