2011-33557. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Mass Layoff Statistics Program

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, “Mass Layoff Statistics Program,” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

DATES:

Submit comments on or before January 30, 2012.

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,, on the day following publication of this notice or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at [phone] (this is not a toll-free number) or sending an email 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 (BLS), Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: [phone]/Fax: [phone] (these are not toll-free numbers), email: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michel Smyth by telephone at [phone] (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The information collected and compiled in the MLS program is used to satisfy the legislatively required reporting mandated by Clause (iii) of Section 309(2)(15)(a)(1)(A) of the Workforce Investment Act, which states that the Secretary of Labor shall oversee the development, maintenance, and continuous improvements of the program to measure the incidence of, industrial and geographical location of, and number of workers displaced by, permanent layoffs and plant closings. In addition to the BLS uses of MLS data, such data are used by Congress, the Executive Branch, the business, labor, and academic communities, SWAs, and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for both macro- and microeconomic analysis, including specific labor market studies geared towards manpower assistance and development. Moreover, State agencies use the MLS data in various ways, including the identification of geographic areas in need of special manpower services; the identification of ailing or troubled industries; the identification of specific employers needing assistance; the targeting of outreach activities for the unemployed; and the determination of those workers in need of temporary health care services. Respondents consist of entirely private, for-profit and not-for-profit establishments.

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 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 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 1220-0090. The current OMB approval is scheduled to expire on February 29, 2012; however, it should be noted that existing information collection requirements 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 September 30, 2011 (76 FR 60930).

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 help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should reference OMB Control Number 1220-0090. 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: Mass Layoff Statistics Program.

OMB Control Number: 1220-0090.

Affected Public: Private Sector, State, Local, or Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 21,053.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 21,848.

Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 75,380.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

Dated: December 22, 2011.

Linda Watts Thomas,

Acting Departmental Clearance Officer.