03-9876. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION:

Notice.

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 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). 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 of “General Inquiries to State Agency Contacts.” A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) 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 below on or before June 23, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212, telephone number 202-691-7628 (this is not a toll-free number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, telephone number 202-691-7628. (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, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa (hereinafter referred to as the “States”) in order to jointly conduct BLS/State Labor Market Information and Occupational Safety and Health Statistics 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 Statistics—1220-0042

Employment and Wages Report—1220-0012

Annual Refiling Survey—1220-0032

Multiple Worksite Report—1220-0134

Mass Layoff Statistics—1220-0090

Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries & Illnesses—1220-0045

Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries—1220-0133

(This list of BLS/State cooperative statistical programs may change over time.)

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

II. Desired Focus of Comments

The BLS 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; and
• 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.

III. Current Action

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance is being sought for 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 Labor Market Information and Occupational Safety and Health Statistics cooperative statistical programs.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Title: General Inquiries to State Agency Contacts.

OMB Number: 1220-0168.

Affected Public: State, local, or tribal government.

Total Respondents: 55.

Frequency: As needed.

Total Responses: 23,890.

Average Time Per Response: 40 minutes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 15,762 hours.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.

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

Signed in Washington, DC, this 7th day of April, 2003.

Jesús Salinas,

Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.