[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 54 (Thursday, March 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13731-13732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6693]


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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 
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 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 May 19, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 
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

    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 BLS is particularly interested in comments that:
    [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,

[[Page 13732]]

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 Action

    Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance is being sought for 
the LMI Cooperative Agreement. The existing collection of information 
allows Federal staff to negotiate the Cooperative Agreement with the 
SESAs and monitor their financial and programmatic performance and 
adherence to administrative requirements imposed by common 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: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Labor Market Information (LMI) Cooperative Agreement.
    OMB Number: 1220-0079.
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Governments.
    Frequency: Monthly, quarterly, annually.

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     Information collection         Respondents      Frequency       Responses         Time         Total hours
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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 2B)            1-30               4           4-120            1 hr           4-120
Budget Variance Request Form....            1-55               1            1-55        5-25 min            0-23
                                 -----------------
Total...........................            1-55  ..............         775-945  ..............        262-1323
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Average Totals..................              55  ..............             860  ..............            793
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\*\ Reports are not received for end-of-quarter months, i.e., December, March, June, 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 OMB approval of the information 
collection request; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 11th day of March, 2003.
Jesus Salinas,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 03-6693 Filed 3-19-03; 8:45 am]
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