[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 130 (Friday, July 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39532-39533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13415]



[[Page 39532]]

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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 revision of the ``Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) 
Program Survey.'' 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 below on or before September 6, 2005.

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. Ms. Hobby can be 
reached on 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

    Section 309(2)(a)(1)(A)(iii) of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) 
states that the Secretary of Labor shall oversee development, 
maintenance, and continuous improvements of the program to measure the 
incidence of, industrial and geographical location of, and number of 
workers displaced by, permanent layoffs and plant closings. Prior to 
the WIA, section 462(e) of Public Law 97-300, the Job Training 
Partnership Act (JTPA), provided that the Secretary of Labor develop 
and maintain statistical data relating to permanent mass layoffs and 
plant closings and issue an annual report. The report includes, at a 
minimum, the number of plant closings and mass layoffs, and the number 
of workers affected. The data are summarized by geographic area and 
industry.
    The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program uses a standardized, 
automated approach to identify, describe, and track the impact of major 
job cutbacks. The program utilizes, to the greatest degree possible, 
existing Unemployment Insurance (UI) records and computerized data 
files, supplemented by direct employer contact. Its major features 
include:
     The identification of major layoffs and closings through 
initial UI claims filed against the identified employer;
     The use of existing files on claimants to obtain basic 
demographic and economic characteristics on the individual;
     The telephone contact of those employers meeting mass 
layoff criteria to obtain specific information on the nature of the 
layoff and characteristics of the establishment;
     The identification of the continuing impact of the mass 
layoff on individuals by matching affected initial claimants with 
persons in claims status;
     The measurement of the incidence of the exhaustion of 
regular state UI benefits by affected workers; and,
     The identification and quantifying the effects that 
extended mass layoffs have on the movement of work.
    In the program, State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) submit one report 
each quarter, and a preliminary, summary report each month. These 
computerized reports contain information from State administrative 
files and information obtained from those employers meeting the program 
criteria of a mass layoff.
    Congress has provided for the implementation of the MLS program by 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) through the Fiscal Years 1984-1992 
appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, 
Education, and related agencies. The program was not operational in 
Fiscal Years 1993 and 1994. Program operation resumed in Fiscal Year 
1995 with funds provided by the Employment and Training Administration 
(ETA). Beginning in fiscal year 2004, funding for the MLS program 
became part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics permanent budget. Also in 
2004, the scope of the MLS program was redefined to cover only the 
private nonfarm economy for extended mass layoffs due to budget 
constraints.
    In addition to the BLS uses of MLS data, such data are used by 
Congress, the Executive Branch, the business, labor, and academic 
communities, SWAs, and the U.S. Department of Labor for both macro- and 
microeconomic analysis.
    A Congressionally mandated use of mass layoff data includes the 
WIA, which replaces Title III of the JTPA. Section 133 of the WIA 
encourages the use of MLS data in substate allocations relating to 
dislocated worker employment and training activities.
    State agencies use the MLS data in various ways, including the 
identification of geographic areas in need of special manpower 
services; ailing or troubled industries; specific employers needing 
assistance; and outreach activities for the unemployed.
    There is no other comprehensive source of statistics on either 
establishments or workers affected by mass layoffs and plant closings; 
therefore, none of the aforementioned data requirements could be 
fulfilled if this data collection did not occur.
    At the present time, all states, the District of Columbia, and 
Puerto Rico are participating in the program.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance is being sought for 
the Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) Program.
    The difference between the Current OMB inventory and the total 
annual hours requested results from a decrease of 6,000 employer 
respondents. This decrease is largely due to the result of the scope of 
the MLS program being redefined in January 2004 to cover only the 
private nonfarm economy for extended mass layoff events.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

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

[[Page 39533]]

technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Mass Layoff Statistics Program.
    OMB Number: 1220-0090.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit; not-for-profit 
institutions; Farms; Federal government; State, Local or Tribal 
government.
    Total Respondents: 17,052.
    Frequency: SWAs report quarterly and monthly. Affected employers 
report on occasion.
    Total Responses: 17,832.
    Average Time Per Response: 60 minutes for SWAs and 20 minutes for 
employers.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 72,587 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 in Washington, DC, this 24th day of June, 2005.
Cathy Kazanowski,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 05-13415 Filed 7-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-28-P