[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 98 (Friday, May 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24039-24040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11962]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Proposed Information Collection Request for the ETA 538 and ETA 
539, Weekly Initial and Continued Claims; Comment Request for Extension 
Without Change

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration

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 collection 
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.
    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 or by accessing: http://www.doleta.gov/OMBCN/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before July 21, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Scott Gibbons, U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Security, 
200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Frances Perkins Bldg., Room S-4531, 
Washington, DC 20210, telephone number (202) 693-3008 (this is not a 
toll-free number) or by 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 detailed weekly claims 
information and the state's 13-week insured unemployment rate which is 
used to determine eligibility for the Extended Benefits program.
    II. Desired Focus of Comments: The Department of Labor is 
particularly interested in comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary, 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 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 trigger states ``on'' and 
``off'' the Extended Benefits program.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.

[[Page 24040]]

    Agency: Employment and Training Administration (ETA).
    Title: Weekly Initial and Continued Claims.
    OMB Number: 1205-0028.
    Agency Number: ETA 538, ETA 539.
    Affected Public: State and Local Governments.
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Weekly.
    Total Responses: 104 (52 weekly responses for each of the two 
reports).
    Average Time per Response: 30 minutes per submittal for the ETA 
538, 50 minutes per submittal for the ETA 539.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours:

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                                                         Reports               Minutes                Hours
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ETA 538--53 States............................   x               52    x               30    =           1,378.
ETA 539--53 States............................   x               52    x               50    =           2,297.
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    Total Burden Hours: 3,675.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $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 will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: Friday, May 15, 2009.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
 [FR Doc. E9-11962 Filed 5-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FW-P