[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11153-11154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5409]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment Standards Administration


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 preclearance 
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 Employment Standards Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed collection: Economic Survey Schedule 
(WH-1). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section 
of this Notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before May 6, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution

[[Page 11154]]

Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 693-0418, 
fax (202) 693-1451, E-mail esa.gov">[email protected]esa.gov. Please use only 
one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or Email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Background

    Sections 5, 6(a)(3) and 8 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 
administered by the Wage Hour Division, provide that covered, nonexempt 
employees in American Samoa may be paid a minimum wage rate established 
by a special industry committee. The committee is to recommend to the 
Secretary of Labor the highest minimum wage rate (not to exceed the 
rate required under section 6(a)(1) of the FLSA) that it will not 
substantially curtail employment in the industry and will not give any 
industry in American Samoa a competitive advantage over any other 
industry in the United States outside of American Samoa. The Secretary 
of Labor must submit to the industry committee economic data to enable 
the committee to recommend the industry wage rates. The Economic Survey 
Schedule (WH-1) is a voluntary use form completed by employers in 
American Samoa to disclose certain economic data concerning their 
establishment.
    This information collection is currently approved for use through 
August 31, 2003.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    [sbull] 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 Actions

    The Department of Labor seeks approval for the extension of this 
information collection in order to gather information necessary to 
prepare the required economic report to be used by the committee to set 
industry wage rates in American Samoa.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Economic Survey Schedule.
    OMB Number: 1215-0028.
    Agency Number: WH-1.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Total Respondents: 55.
    Total Responses: 55.
    Time per Response: 45 minutes.
    Frequency: Biennially.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 41.
    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 will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: March 3, 2003.
Sue Blumenthal,
Acting Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, 
Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration 
and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-5409 Filed 3-6-03; 8:45 am]
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