[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 464-465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-31393]


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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 on the proposed 
extension of the Labor Market Information (LMI) 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 March 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Carol Rowan, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212, telephone number 
202-691-7099. (This is not a toll free number.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Rowan, BLS Clearance Officer, 
telephone number 202-691-7099. (See ADDRESSES section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The BLS enters into Cooperative Agreements with State Workforce 
Agencies (SWAs) annually to provide financial assistance to the SWAs 
for the production and operation of the following LMI statistical 
programs: Current Employment Statistics, Local Area Unemployment 
Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, Quarterly Census of 
Employment and Wages, and Mass Layoff Statistics. The Cooperative 
Agreement provides the basis for managing the administrative and 
financial aspects of these programs.

[[Page 465]]

    The existing collection of information allows Federal staff to 
negotiate the Cooperative Agreement with the SWAs 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 Cooperative Agreement application package being submitted for 
approval is representative of the package sent every year to state 
agencies. The work statements included in the Cooperative Agreement 
application also are representative of what is included in the whole 
LMI Cooperative Agreement package. The final Cooperative Agreement, 
including the work statements, will be submitted separately to the 
Office of Management and Budget for review of any minor year-to-year 
information collection burden changes these documents may contain.

II. Current Action

    The BLS requests clearance for the LMI Cooperative Agreement from 
the Office of Management and Budget. The BLS is requesting an extension 
of the existing clearance for the LMI Cooperative Agreement package.

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.
     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: 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             1-30               4           4-120              1 hr.           4-120
 2B).........................
Budget Variance Request Form.            1-55               1            1-55          5-25 min.            0-23
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    Total....................            1-55  ..............         775-945  .................       262-1,323
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    Average Totals...........              55  ..............             860  .................             793
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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 Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 30th day of December 2008.
Kim Hill,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. E8-31393 Filed 1-5-09; 8:45 am]
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