[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44160-44162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17578]


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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 revision of the Annual Refiling Survey (ARS). 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 September 23, 2013.

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, 
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See Addresses section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program is a 
Federal/State cooperative effort which compiles monthly employment 
data, quarterly wages data, and business identification information 
from employers subject to State Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws. These 
data are collected from State Quarterly Contribution Reports (QCRs) 
submitted to State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The States send micro-
level employment and wages data, supplemented with the names,

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addresses, and business identification information of these employers, 
to the BLS. The State micro-level data files are used to create the BLS 
sampling frame, known as the longitudinal QCEW data.
    To ensure the continued accuracy of these data, the information 
supplied by employers must be periodically verified and updated. For 
this purpose, the Annual Refiling Survey (ARS) is used in conjunction 
with the UI tax reporting system in each State. The information 
collected on the ARS is used to review the existing industry code 
assigned to each establishment as well as the physical location of the 
business establishment. As a result, changes in the industrial and 
geographical compositions of our economy are captured in a timely 
manner and reflected in the BLS statistical programs.
    The ARS also asks employers to identify new locations in the State. 
If these employers meet QCEW program reporting criteria, then a 
Multiple Worksite Report (MWR) is sent to the employer requesting 
employment and wages for each worksite each quarter. Thus, the ARS is 
also used to identify new potential MWR-eligible employers.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for a 
revision of the ARS. While the primary purpose of the ARS is to verify 
or to correct the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 
code assigned to establishments, there are other important purposes of 
the ARS. The ARS seeks accurate mailing and physical location addresses 
of establishments as well as geographical codes such as county and 
township (independent city, parish, or island in some States). The BLS 
and the Census Bureau signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2012 to 
share selected business data on multi-location companies. Both the BLS 
and the Census Bureau compile and maintain censuses of business 
establishments in the United States that contain economic and 
administrative data for nearly all businesses in the United States. A 
key aspect of data quality is that businesses include accurate NAICS 
and geographic categorizations. Both agencies have reviewed each 
other's business lists and have identified information that can improve 
the quality and comparability of these data. Specifically, information 
from the ARS will be used to verify NAICS codes independently and to 
provide these to the Census Bureau to improve data quality and reduce 
costs and respondent burden through increased data sharing.
    Once every three years, the SWAs survey employers that are covered 
by the State's UI laws to ensure that State records correctly reflect 
the business activities and locations of those employers. The QCEW 
program sends an ARS form to approximately one-third of businesses each 
year, surveying the entire universe of covered businesses over a three-
year cycle. The selection criterion for surveying establishments is 
based on the nine-digit Federal Employer Identification Number of the 
respondent.
    The ARS remains largely a mail survey, although steps have been 
taken to reduce the amount of paperwork involved in responding to the 
survey. For example, BLS staff review selected, large multi-worksite 
national employers rather than surveying these employers with 
traditional ARS forms. This central review reduces postage costs 
incurred in sending ARS forms. It also reduces respondent burden, as 
the selected employers do not have to submit ARS forms.
    Single-worksite employers have been identified as potential users 
of the BLS Touchtone Response System (TRS). Employers can use the TRS 
if they meet certain conditions and there are no changes to specific 
data elements based upon the employer's review. The TRS reduces 
respondent burden because it is quick, free, and convenient. It also 
allows respondents to help BLS reduce survey costs because they do not 
return the form in the business reply envelope provided. All States are 
using the TRS in conducting the ARS.
    Building on the success of the TRS, the BLS added online reporting 
options for the ARS. Respondents have the option to provide their 
information via a secure Web site. Respondents are still able to mail 
their returns if they so desire or they can use the TRS if eligible and 
if they have no changes to report.
    Finally, BLS continues to use a private contractor to handle 
various administrative aspects of the survey to reduce the costs 
associated with the ARS. This initiative is called the Contracted 
Annual Refiling Survey (CARS). Under CARS, BLS effectively utilizes the 
commercial advantages related to printing, stuffing, and mailing large 
volumes of survey forms.

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 the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of 
responses.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Annual Refiling Survey (ARS).
    OMB Number: 1220-0032.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit institutions, not-
for-profit institutions, and farms.
    Frequency: Annually.

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                                    Total                             Total        Average time    Total burden
         Form number             respondents       Frequency        responses      per response       (hours)
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BLS 3023-(NVS)...............       1,407,614  Once............       1,407,614  5 minutes......         117,301
BLS 3023-(NVM)...............          39,483  Once............          39,483  15 minutes.....           9,871
BLS 3023-(NCA)...............         158,818  Once............         158,818  10 minutes.....          26,470
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    Totals:..................       1,605,915  ................       1,605,915  ...............         153,642
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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

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Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; 
they also will become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 17th day of July, 2013.
Kimberley Hill,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 2013-17578 Filed 7-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P