[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 92 (Friday, May 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27798-27799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11348]


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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 
proposed reinstatement of the ``BLS GREEN TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES 
SURVEY.'' 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 10, 2012.

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. Written comments also 
may be transmitted by fax to 202-691-5111 (this is not a toll free 
number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Rowan, BLS Clearance Officer, at 
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See ADDRESSES section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program has been 
funded to collect and produce objective and reliable information on 
occupational employment and wages for green jobs at the establishment 
level. This is to be conducted through a special employer survey. This 
work is necessary to meet the publication objective outlined in the 
FY2012 Congressional Appropriation.
    The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) presented its approach to 
measuring

[[Page 27799]]

green jobs and published its final definition of green jobs in the 
September 21, 2010, Federal Register (75 FR 57506). The measurement 
approach includes two surveys: One on jobs related to producing green 
goods and services, and one on jobs related to using environmentally 
friendly production processes and practices.
    The latter approach will be accomplished through a special employer 
survey. This information collection request is for the Green 
Technologies and Practices (GTP) Survey. This survey includes 
collecting the current employment for the establishment; collecting 
information on the use of environmentally friendly production processes 
within the establishment; and collecting the number, occupation, and 
wages paid to employees of the establishment performing environmentally 
friendly activities.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for a 
reinstatement of the ``BLS Green Technologies and Practices Survey.'' 
The goal of BLS and its OES program is to produce economic statistics 
on employment related to the use of environmentally friendly 
technologies and practices across the U.S. economy. Using its business 
establishment register, the OES program intends to survey 
establishments about these green activities and the associated 
employment. The survey will identify employers performing green 
activities, determine whether they have any employees performing tasks 
associated with these activities, gather information to classify those 
employees according to the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 
system, and collect wage rate information.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics 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: Reinstatement.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: BLS Green Technologies and Practices Survey.
    OMB Number: 1220-0184.
    Affected Public: Private sector businesses or other for-profits and 
not-for-profit institutions; small businesses or organizations; 
Federal, State, and local governments.
    Total Respondents: 26,251.
    Frequency: One time.
    Total Responses: 26,251.
    Average Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours:

                                              GTP: Fiscal Year 2012
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                                                                                      Average
                                                                     Responses     response time  Total response
                                                                                     (minutes)     time  (hours)
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Private sector establishments...................................          22,103              30          11,052
Local government establishments.................................           2,738              30           1,369
State government establishments.................................             870              30             435
Federal government establishments...............................             540              30             270
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    Total.......................................................          26,251  ..............          13,126
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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 4th day of May 2012.
Kimberley Hill,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 2012-11348 Filed 5-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P