[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 67 (Friday, April 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 15308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8486]



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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. 
Currently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed extension of the ``Manual for Developing Local 
Area Unemployment Statistics.'' 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 
addresses section below on or before June 4, 1996. BLS is particularly 
interested in comments which help the agency to:
     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 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 NE., Washington, DC 20212. Ms. Kurz can be 
reached on 202-606-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Department of Labor, through BLS, is responsible for the 
development and publication of local area labor force statistics. This 
program includes the issuance of monthly estimates of the labor force, 
employment, unemployment, and the unemployment rate for each State and 
labor market area in the Nation.

II. Current Actions

    The labor force estimates developed and issued in this program are 
used for economic analysis and as a tool in the implementation of 
Federal economic policy in such areas as employment and economic 
development under the Job Training and Partnership Act, the Public 
Works and Economic Development Act, among others.
    The estimates are also 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.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Manual for Developing Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
    OMB Number: 1220-0017.
    Affected Public: State government.

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                                                                                   Average time      Estimated  
             Form                   Total          Frequency           Total       per response    total burden 
                                 respondents                         responses        (hours)          hours    
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LAUS 2.......................           6,700  Monthly..........          80,400            1.62         130,248
LAUS 3.......................             384  Monthly..........           4,608             .11             507
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      Totals.................  ..............  .................          85,008  ..............         130,755
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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 2nd day of April, 1996.
Peter T. Spolarich,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 96-8486 Filed 4-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-M