[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 5, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61739-61740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25606]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request for 
Information Collection; Information Collection Plan for Benefits.gov 
Online; Extension Without Change

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and 
Management, U.S. Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of an opportunity for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), 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 (PRA) [44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)(A)]. The 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 the 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by December 5, 2011.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the ICR and supporting documentation as submitted 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) can be obtained by 
contacting the Department of Labor. To obtain copies, contact Michel 
Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or 
e-mail to [email protected]. Send comments regarding this 
proposed collection of information, including suggestions for reducing 
the burden to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-1301, 
Washington, DC 20210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Federal Government developed a strategy to simplify the 
delivery of services to citizens, which included the Department of 
Labor (DOL) serving as the managing partner of the Benefits.gov Web 
site. The Benefits.gov Web site assists citizens by providing 
information and eligibility prescreening services for more than 1,000 
Federally funded benefit and assistance programs.
    This Web site reduces the burden on citizens attempting to locate 
services available from many different government agencies by providing 
one-stop access to information on obtaining those services.
    Respondents answer a series of questions to the extent necessary 
for locating relevant information on Federal benefits. Responses are 
used by the respondent to expedite the identification and retrieval of 
sought after information and resources pertaining to the benefits 
sponsored by the Federal government.

II. Current Action

    Pursuant to the PRA implementing regulations at 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 
this notice requests comments on the proposed information collection 
request discussed above in the Background section of this notice. OMB 
approval for this collection of information is currently scheduled to 
expire on January 31, 2012. The DOL will request a three-year extension 
of the approval from OMB for the collection of information required for 
locating information on the Benefits.gov Web site. Interested parties 
are encouraged to provide comments to the individual listed in the 
ADDRESSES section above.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Department 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 
submission of responses.
    Agency: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and 
Management.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Title of Collection: Information Collection Plan for Benefits.gov 
Online.
    OMB Control Number: 1290-0003.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, not for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,345,715.
    Frequency: On occasion.

[[Page 61740]]

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 6,345,715.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 5.5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 581,691 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Cost Burden: $0.

    Dated: September 29, 2011.
Linda Watts-Thomas,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-25606 Filed 10-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-23-P