[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8459-8460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4636]


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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 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collection 
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. Currently, the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
revision of the ``Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) Reports 8, 
15-17.''
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the addressee 
section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before April 28, 1997.
    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments which:

[[Page 8460]]

    <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.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20212. Ms. Kurz can be 
reached on 202--606-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics has been charged by Congress 
[Congressional Act of July 7, 1930 (29 U.S.C. Chapters 1 and 2)] with 
the responsibility of collecting and publishing monthly information on 
employment, the average wage received, and the hours worked by area and 
industry. The process for developing residency based employment and 
unemployment estimates is a cooperative Federal-State program which 
uses employment and unemployment inputs available through State 
agencies.
    The reports covered by this collection are integral parts of the 
Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program insofar as they 
insure and/or measure the timeliness, quality, consistency, and 
adherence to program directions of the LAUS estimates and related 
research. LAUS program data are used in economic analysis by public 
agencies and private industry, and for State and area allocations and 
eligibility determinations according to legal and administrative 
requirements. Implementation of policy and legislative prerogatives 
could not be accomplished as now written without collection of the 
data.

II. Current Actions

    Exportable software associated with monthly LAUS transmittals 
eliminated the need for the Monthly Report on Continued Claimants by 
Place of Residence (LAUS 6). Electronic transmittals of any corrections 
to regularly submitted data have eliminated the need to use Monthly and 
Area Correction Forms (LAUS 13 and 14).
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) Reports 8, 15-17.
    OMB Number: 1220-0043.
    Affected Public: State Government.

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                                                                                                      Estimated 
                                                  Total       Frequency      Total     Average time     total   
                     Form                      respondents     (years)       annual    per response     burden  
                                                                           responses      (hours)      (hours)  
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LAUS 8.......................................           52          15            780           1            780
LAUS 15......................................           52           0.5           26           2             52
LAUS 16......................................           52           2            104           1            104
LAUS 17......................................           52           4            208           0.5          104
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      Totals.................................  ...........  ............        1,118  ............        1,040
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    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, D.C., this 18th day of February, 1997.
W. Stuart Rust, Jr.,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 97-4636 Filed 2-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-M