[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20408-20409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10238]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Collection of the ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and 
Continued Claims Report and the ETA 539, Weekly Claims and Extended 
Benefits Trigger Data; 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 and Training Administration, Office of 
Workforce Security is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
extension of the collection of the ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and 
Continued Claims Report and the ETA 539, Weekly Claims and Extended 
Benefits Trigger.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section 
of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee's section below on or before June 24, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Thomas Stengle, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and 
Training Administration, Room S-4231, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202-693-2991, Fax: 202-693-3229, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The ETA 538 and ETA 539 reports are weekly reports which contain 
information on initial claims and continued weeks claimed. These 
figures are important economic indicators. The ETA 538 provides 
information that allows national unemployment claims information to be 
released to the public five days after the close of the reference 
period. The ETA 539 contains more refined weekly claims detail and the 
state's 13-week insured unemployment rate, which is used to determine 
eligibility for the Extended Benefits program.

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 ETA 538 and ETA 539 continue to be needed as they provide both 
timely economic indicators as well as the information needed to track 
the data that triggers states ``on'' and ``off'' the Extended Benefits 
program.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Title: ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and Continued Claims Report 
and the ETA 539, Weekly Claims and Extended Benefits Trigger Data.
    OMB Number: 1205-0028.
    Agency Number: ETA 538 and ETA 539.
    Recordkeeping: Respondent is expected to maintain data which 
support the reported data for three years.
    Affected Public: State governments.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours:

[[Page 20409]]



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                                                                   Hours
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ETA 538 53 States x 52 reports x 30 min. =......................    1378
ETA 539 53 States x 52 reports x 50 min. =......................    2297
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  Total Burden..................................................    3675
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    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request 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: April 18, 2003.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
[FR Doc. 03-10238 Filed 4-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P