[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60855-60856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20926]


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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

[[Page 60856]]

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: Optional Use 
Payroll Form Under The Davis-Bacon Act (WH-347). 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 December 19, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0418, fax (202) 693-1451, Email [email protected]. Please 
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or Email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Copeland Act (40 U.S.C. 3145) requires contractors and 
subcontractors performing work on Federally financed or assisted 
construction contracts to ``furnish weekly a statement with respect to 
the wages paid each employee during the preceding week.'' Regulations 
29 CFR 5.5(a)(3)(ii) requires contractors weekly to submit a copy of 
all payrolls to the Federal agency contracting for or financing the 
construction project. A signed ``Statement of Compliance'' indicating 
the payrolls are correct and complete and that each laborer or mechanic 
has been paid not less than the proper Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) prevailing 
wage rate for the work performed must accompany the payroll. 
Regulations 29 CFR 3.3(b) requires each contractor to furnish such 
weekly ``Statements of Compliance''. Regulations 29 CFR 5.5(a)(3)(i) 
requires the Social Security Number of each employee on such payrolls. 
Regulations 29 CFR 3.4 and 5.5(a)(3)(i) require contractors to maintain 
these records for three years after completion of the work. Contractors 
and subcontractors must certify their payrolls by attesting that 
persons performing work on Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) covered 
contracts have received the proper payment of wages and fringe 
benefits. Contracting officials and Wage and Hour Division staff use 
these certified payrolls to verify that contractors pay the required 
rates and as an aid in determining whether the contractors have 
properly classified the workers for the work they perform. The DOL has 
developed the optional use Form WH-347, Payroll Form, which contractors 
may use to meet the payroll reporting requirements. The form contains 
the basic payroll information that contractors must furnish each week 
they perform any work subject to the DBRA. This information collection 
is currently approved for use through March 31, 2006.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
     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.

III. Current Actions

    The Department of Labor seeks the approval of the extension of this 
information collection to carry out its responsibility to determine a 
contractor's compliance with provisions of the Davis-Bacon and Related 
Acts and the Copeland Act.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Titles: Optional Use Payroll Form under the Davis-Bacon Act.
    OMB Number: 1215-0149.
    Agency Numbers: WH-347.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Federal Government; 
State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Total Respondents: 54,620.
    Total Annual Responses: 5,025,040.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,700,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 56 minutes.
    Frequency: Weekly.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $201,000.
    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: October 13, 2005.
Bruce Bohanon,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, , Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-20926 Filed 10-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-P