[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 241 (Friday, December 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64885-64886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30855]


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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 
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 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. The 
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed new collection of the American Time Use Survey (ATUS). A copy 
of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by 
contacting the individual listed below 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 February 12, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Amy A. Hobby, 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: Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, 
telephone number 202-691-7628. (See ADDRESSES section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    According to economist William Nordhaus, ``Inadequate data on time-
use is the single most important gap in federal statistics' (1997). 
Approximately 50 other countries collect, or will soon collect, time-
use data. Such data are considered important indicators of quality of 
life. They measure, 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 will 
substantially augment these quality-of-life measures. The data can also 
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 will develop nationally representative estimates of how 
people spend their time. Respondents will 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 will have numerous practical applications 
for sociologists, economists, educators, government policy makers, 
businesspersons, lawyers, and others, potentially answering the 
following questions: Do the ways people use their time vary across 
demographic and labor force characteristics, such as age, sex, race, 
ethnicity, employment status, earnings, and education? How much time do 
parents spend in the company of their children, either actively 
providing care, occasionally checking on them, or being with them while 
socializing, relaxing, or doing other things? How are earnings related 
to leisure time'do those with higher earnings spend more or less time 
relaxing and socializing? Where do people work'at a workplace, in their 
homes, or someplace else? For application in personal injury or 
wrongful death cases: What is the approximate value of non-market work, 
such as household activities or childcare, in one's day? What are some 
non-economic effects of government policy decisions? Should lawmakers 
develop new or change existing policies to address the changing needs 
of our society? The ATUS data will be

[[Page 64886]]

collected on an ongoing, monthly basis, so time series data will 
eventually become available, allowing analysts to identify changes in 
how people spend their time.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments that:
    <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

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
new collection of the American Time Use Survey. This survey will 
collect information on how individuals in the United States use their 
time. Collection will be on a continuous, monthly basis. The survey 
sample will be drawn from households completing their final month of 
interviews for the Current Population Survey (CPS). Households will be 
selected to ensure a representative demographic sample, and one 
individual from each household will be selected to take part in one 
Computer Assisted Telephone Interview. The interview will ask 
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. After 
one full year of collection, annual national estimates of time use for 
an average weekday or weekend day will be available. Eventually, time 
series data will be available.
    Because the ATUS sample will be a subset of households completing 
interviews for the CPS, the same demographic information collected from 
that survey will be available for the ATUS respondents. Comparisons of 
activity patterns across characteristics such as sex, race, age, and 
education of the respondent, as well as the presence of children and 
the number of adults living in the respondent's household will be 
possible.
    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics
    Title: American Time Use Survey.
    OMB Number: 1220-NEW.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Total Respondents: 24,000.
    Frequency: Monthly.
    Total Responses: 24,000.
    Average Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 12,000 hours.
    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 7th day of December, 2001.
Jesus Salinas,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 01-30855 Filed 12-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-28-P