[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 35060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14173]



[[Page 35060]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Employment and Training Administration; 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 (ETA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (Department), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the 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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps 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.
    Currently, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the collection of 
data about the Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims data collection, 
which expires September 30, 2012.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before August 13, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Scott Gibbons, Office of 
Unemployment Insurance, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. 
Telephone number: 202-693-3008 (this is not a toll-free number). 
Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may access the telephone 
number above via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay 
Service at 1-877-889-5627 (TTY/TDD). Email: [email protected]. A 
copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting Mr. Gibbons.

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. Review Focus

    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 submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

Extension Without Changes

    Title: Weekly Initial and Continued Claims.
    OMB Number: 1205-0028.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Form(s): ETA 538, ETA 539.
    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

ETA 538 53 States x 52 reports x 30 min. = 1378 hours
ETA 539 53 States x 52 reports x 50 min. = 2297 hours
Total Burden = 3675 hours

    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the ICR; 
they will also become a matter of public record.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on this 5th day of June, 2012.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2012-14173 Filed 6-11-12; 8:45 am]
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