2023-26509. Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.

ACTION:

Notice of information collection; request for comment.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension without change of “General Inquiries to State Agency Contacts.” A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the Addresses section of this notice.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the Addresses section of this notice on or before February 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to Erin Good, BLS Clearance Officer, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room G225, 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20212. Written comments also may be transmitted by email to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Erin Good, BLS Clearance Officer, at 202–691–7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See Addresses section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) awards funds to State agencies in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands (hereinafter referred to as the “States”) in order to jointly conduct BLS/State Labor Market Information (LMI) and Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) cooperative statistical programs, which themselves have been approved by OMB separately, as follows:

Current Employment Statistics	1220–0011
Local Area Unemployment Statistics	1220–0017
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics	1220–0042
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages	1220–0012
Annual Refiling Survey	1220–0032
Labor Market Information Cooperative Agreement	1220–0079
Multiple Worksite Report	1220–0134
Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses	1220–0045
Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries	1220–0133
BLS OSHS Cooperative Agreement	1220–0149

To ensure the timely flow of information and to be able to evaluate and improve the BLS/State cooperative programs' management and operations, it is necessary to conduct ongoing communications between the BLS and its State partners. Whether information requests deal with program deliverables, program enhancements, operations, or administrative issues, questions and dialogue are crucial to the successful implementation of these programs.

II. Current Action

Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for an extension of General Inquiries to State Agency Contacts. Information collected under this clearance is used to support the administrative and programmatic needs of jointly conducted BLS/State LMI and OSHS cooperative statistical programs.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in comments that:

• Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility.
• Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used.
• Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.

• Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.

Title of Collection: General Inquiries to State Agency Contacts.

OMB Number: 1220–0168.

Type of Review: Extension without change.

Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government.

Total Respondents: 54.

Frequency: As needed.

Total Responses: 23,890.

Average Time per Response: 40 minutes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 15,927 hours.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; they also will become a matter of public record.

Signed at Washington, DC, on November 27, 2023.

Eric Molina,

Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems.