[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31349-31350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12400]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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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 
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 provide 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 revision of the 
Labor Market Information (LMI) Cooperative Agreement. A copy of the 
proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by 
contacting the individual listed 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 July 17, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sytrina D. Toon, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20212, telephone number 202-
691-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sytrina D. Toon, BLS Clearance 
Officer, telephone number 202-691-7628. (See Addresses section.)

[[Page 31350]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The BLS enters into Cooperative Agreements with State Employment 
Security Agencies (SESAs) annually to provide financial assistance to 
the SESAs for the production and operation of the following LMI 
statistical programs: Current Employment Statistics, Local Area 
Unemployment Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, Covered 
Employment and Wages Report, and Mass Layoff Statistics. The 
Cooperative Agreement provides the basis for managing the 
administrative and financial aspects of these programs.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments which:
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> 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

    The existing collection of information allows Federal staff to 
negotiate the Cooperative Agreement with the SESAs, and to monitor 
their financial and programmatic performance and adherence to 
administrative requirements imposed by regulations implementing OMB 
Circular A-102 and other grant-related regulations. The information 
collected also is used for planning and budgeting at the Federal level 
and in meeting Federal reporting requirements.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Labor Market Information (LMI) Cooperative Agreement.
    OMB Number: 1220-0079.
    Affected Public: State, local, or Tribal Government.
    Frequency: Annually.

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    Information collection        Respondents      Frequency       Responses          Time          Total hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Work Statements...............              55               1              55  1-2 hr..........          55-110
BIF (LMI 1A, 1B)..............              55               1              55  1-6 hr..........          55-330
Quarterly Automated Financial               48               4             192  10-50 min.......          32-160
 Reports.
Monthly Automated Financial                 48              8*             384  5-25 min........          32-160
 Reports.
BLS Cooperative Statistics                   7              12              84  1-5 hr..........          84-420
 Financial Report (LMI 2A).
Quarterly Status Report (LMI              1-30               4           4-120  1 hr............           4-120
 2B).
                               ----------------                ----------------                  ---------------
    Total.....................            1-55  ..............         774-890  ................        264-1300
    Average Totals............              55  ..............             832  ................            782
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*Reports are not received for end-of-quarter months, i.e., December, March, June, and September.

    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 Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 11th day of May 2000.
W. Stuart Rust, Jr.,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 00-12400 Filed 5-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-M