[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26112-26113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6662]


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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 
extension of the ``BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) 
Cooperative Agreement Application Package.'' 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 July 3, 2006.

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 Secretary of Labor has delegated to the BLS the authority to 
collect, compile, and analyze statistical data on work-related injuries 
and illnesses, as authorized by the Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970 (Pub. L. 91-596). The Cooperative Agreement is designed to 
allow the BLS to ensure conformance with program objectives. The BLS 
has full authority over the financial operations of the statistical 
program. The BLS requires financial reporting that will produce the 
information that is needed to monitor the financial activities of the 
BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics grantees.

II. Current Action

    The BLS requests approval for a generic OSHS Cooperative Agreement 
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This is not a new 
collection, but for the first time the BLS is soliciting comments on 
the application package--without its program work statements--as a 
generic Cooperative Agreement application. The work statements will be 
submitted separately to OMB for review of any minor year-to-year 
information collection burden changes they may contain. The Cooperative 
Agreement provides the basis for effectively managing the 
administrative and financial aspects of the program. The application 
package being submitted to OMB is representative of the package sent 
every year to State agencies and, as such, is considered to be a 
generic package. The existing collection of information allows Federal 
staff to negotiate the Cooperative Agreement with the State Grant 
Agencies (SGAs) 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.
    The burden estimates are based on actual experience of grantees 
completing the forms. Public comments on the accuracy of the burden 
estimates,

[[Page 26113]]

as well as suggestions for reducing the burden, are encouraged. 
Signatures that certify the authenticity of the information will 
continue to be required.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

    The BLS 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 technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics Cooperative 
Agreement Application Package.
    OMB Number: 1220-0149.
    Affected Public: State Governments.

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                                                                                Average burden
                                                                          --------------------------  Estimated
                     Forms                          Total      Frequency       Per                      total
                                                 respondents                 response     Annually      burden
                                                                             (hours)      (hours)      (hours)
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BLS-OSHS Work Statements.......................           56            1            2            2          112
BLS-OSHS2......................................           56            4            1            4          224
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    Total......................................           56            5            3            6          336
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    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 26th day of April 2006.
Cathy Kazanowski,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
 [FR Doc. E6-6662 Filed 5-2-06; 8:45 am]
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