[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13027-13028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05627]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Bureau of 
Labor and Statistics (BLS) sponsored information collection request 
(ICR) revision titled, ``Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program,'' 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval 
for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before April 13, 2015.

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 free of charge 
from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201411-1220-001 (this link will only become active 
on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting 
Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are 
not toll-free numbers) or sending an email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request by mail or courier to the Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-
BLS, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202-395-5806 (this is not a toll-free 
number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters are 
encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments 
by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the 
Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance 
Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210; or by email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 
202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or 
sending an email to [email protected].

[[Page 13028]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks approval under the PRA for 
revisions to the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program 
information collection. The BLS has the statutory responsibility of 
collecting and publishing monthly information on employment, the 
average wage received, and the hours worked by area and industry. The 
LAUS program develops residency-based employment and unemployment 
statistics through a cooperative Federal-State program that uses 
employment and unemployment inputs available in State agencies. State 
agencies prepare monthly estimates and transmit them to the BLS for 
validation and publication. This information collection has been 
classified as a revision, because of a redesign to improve the 
methodology for the program. In addition, certain forms to be cleared 
under this ICR have undergone minor changes. The BLS Authorizing 
Statute authorizes this collection. See 29 U.S.C. 1 and 2.
    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 that 
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 1220-0017. The current approval is scheduled to 
expire on March 31, 2015; however, the DOL notes that existing 
information collection requirements submitted to the OMB receive a 
month-to-month extension while they undergo review. New requirements 
would only take effect upon OMB approval. For additional substantive 
information about this ICR, see related notices published in the 
Federal Register on September 10, 2014 (79 FR 53787), and October 28, 
2014 (79 FR 64217).
    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 thirty (30) days of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1220-0017. 
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-BLS.
    Title of Collection: Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program.
    OMB Control Number: 1220-0017.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 52.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 96,869.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 144,994 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.
    Dated: March 6, 2015.

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

Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-05627 Filed 3-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-24-P