2011-1843. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; National Compensation Survey

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) hereby announces the submission of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, “National Compensation Survey,” as proposed to be revised, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

DATES:

Submit comments on or before February 28, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation; including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or sending an e-mail to [e-mail].

Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: [phone]/Fax: [phone] (these are not toll-free numbers), e-mail: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by e-mail at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the National Compensation Survey (NCS), the BLS conducts ongoing surveys of compensation (earnings and benefits) and job characteristics. The NCS produces data on local, regional, and national levels by sampling establishments various localities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The NCS samples 152 areas, of which 117 are metropolitan areas. Data from the 48 contiguous States is used to provide data to the President's Pay Agent to meet the BLS obligation under the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act. NCS data also produces the Employment Cost Index, which is designated a principal Federal Economic Indicator under OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 3.

This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless it is currently approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the collection of information does not display a currently valid OMB control number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection under OMB Control Number 1220-0164. The current OMB approval is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2011; however, it should be noted that information collections submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For additional information, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on October 4, 2010 (75 FR 61178).

Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. In order to ensure appropriate consideration, comments should reference OMB Control Number 1220-0164. The OMB 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 submission of responses.

Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Title of Collection: National Compensation Survey.

OMB Control Number: 1220-0164.

Affected Public: Private sector—businesses and other for profits and not for profit institutions; State, local, and tribal governments.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 14,433.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 46,201.

Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 37,120.

Total Estimated Annual Costs Burden: $0.

Dated: January 24, 2011.

Michel Smyth,

Departmental Clearance Officer.