[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 180 (Monday, September 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57155-57156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22857]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request: Weekly Claims and Extended Benefits Data and 
Weekly Initial and Continued Weeks Claimed

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and 
Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request 
(ICR) titled, ``Weekly Claims and Extended Benefits Data and Weekly 
Initial and Continued Weeks Claimed,'' to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.).

DATES: Submit comments on or before October 17, 2012.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the 
RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, on the 
day following publication of this notice or by contacting Michel Smyth 
by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or 
sending an email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-ETA, Office of 
Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 
20503, Fax: 202-395-6881 (this is not a toll-free number), email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [email protected].

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Forms ETA-538 and ETA-539 are computerized 
weekly reports that contain information on initial Unemployment 
Insurance claims and continued weeks claimed. These figures are 
important economic indicators. Form ETA-538 provides information 
allowing release of national unemployment claims information to the 
public five days after the close of the reference period. Form ETA-539 
contains more detailed weekly claims information and the State's 13-
week insured unemployment rate that is used to determine eligibility 
for the Extended Benefits program.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the 
collection of information does not display a valid Control Number. See 
5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this 
information collection under Control Number 1205-0028. The current 
approval is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2012; however, it 
should be noted that existing information collection requirements 
submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they 
undergo review. For additional information, see the related notice 
published in the Federal Register on June 12, 2012 (77 FR 35060).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1205-0028. 
The OMB 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; 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: DOL-ETA.
    Title of Collection: Weekly Claims and Extended Benefits Data and 
Weekly Initial and Continued Weeks Claimed.
    OMB Control Number: 1205-0028.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 5,512.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 3,675.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.


[[Page 57156]]


    Dated: September 10, 2012.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-22857 Filed 9-14-12; 8:45 a.m.]
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