[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 16458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07030]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection for OMB 1205-0028, 
Weekly Initial and Continued Claims (ETA 538 and ETA 539); Extension 
Without Revision

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 October 31, 2015.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before May 26, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Thomas Stengle, Office of 
Unemployment Insurance, Room S-4524, Employment and Training 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone number: 202-693-3029 (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]. To obtain a copy of the proposed information 
collection request (ICR), please contact the person listed above.

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 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

    Type of Review: Extension without revision.
    Title: Weekly Initial and Continued Claims, ETA 538 and ETA 539.
    OMB Number: 1205-0028.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Estimated Total Annual 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. = 1,378 hours.
    ETA 539--53 States x 52 reports x 50 min. = 2,297 hours.
    Total Burden = 3,675 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
    We will summarize and/or include in the request for OMB approval of 
the ICR, the comments received in response to this comment request; 
they will also become a matter of public record.

Portia Wu,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2015-07030 Filed 3-26-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-FW-P