E9-15433. Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

June 25, 2009.

The Department of Labor (DOL) hereby announces the submission of the following public information collection requests (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35). A copy of each ICR, with applicable supporting documentation; including among other things a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain or by contacting Darrin King on 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number)/e-mail: [e-mail].

Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Department of Labor—Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: [phone]/Fax: [phone] (these are not toll-free numbers), e-mail: [e-mail] within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal Register. In order to ensure the appropriate consideration, comments should reference the OMB Control Number (see below).

The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:

• 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 submission of responses.

Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved collection.

Title of Collection: General Inquiries to State Agency Contacts.

OMB Control Number: 1220-0168.

Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 54.

Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 15,927.

Total Estimated Annual Costs Burden: $0.

Description: BLS awards funds to State Agencies in order to assist them in operating Labor Market Information and/or Occupational Safety and Health Statistics Federal/State cooperative statistical programs. To ensure a timely flow of data and to be able to evaluate and improve the programs it is necessary to conduct ongoing communications between BLS and the State partners dealing with, for example, deliverables, program enhancements, and administrative issues. For additional information, see related notice published at Vol. 74 FR 12386 on March 24, 2009.

Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Title of Collection: American Time Use Survey (ATUS).

OMB Control Number: 1220-0175.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 13,240.

Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 4,358.

Total Estimated Annual Costs Burden: $0.

Description: The ATUS is the Nation's first federally administered, continuous survey on time use in the United States. It measures, for example, time spent with children, working, sleeping, or doing leisure activities. In the United States, several existing Federal surveys collect income and wage data for individuals and families, and analysts often use such measures of material prosperity as proxies for quality of life. Time-use data substantially augment these quality-of-life measures. The data also can be used in conjunction with wage data to evaluate the contribution of non-market work to national economies. This enables comparisons of production between nations that have different mixes of market and non-market activities. The ATUS develops nationally representative estimates of how people spend their time. Respondents also report who was with them during activities, where they were, how long each activity lasted, and if they were paid. All of this information has numerous practical applications for sociologists, economists, educators, government policymakers, businesspersons, health researchers, and others.

The ATUS data are collected on an ongoing, monthly basis, allowing analysts to identify changes in how people spend their time. The survey sample is drawn from households completing their final month of interviews for the Current Population Survey (CPS). Households are selected to ensure a representative demographic sample, and one individual from each household is selected to take part in one Computer Assisted Telephone Interview. The interview asks respondents to report all of their activities for one pre-assigned 24-hour day, the day prior to the interview. A short series of summary questions and CPS updates follows the core time diary collection.

For additional information, see related notice published at Vol. 74 FR 14160 on March 30, 2009.

Darrin A. King,

Departmental Clearance Officer.