[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3426-3427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00842]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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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. 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 new collection of the ``QCEW Business 
Supplement.'' 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 March 23, 2020.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) intends to implement a new 
collection for a QCEW Business Supplement (QBS). Through the QBS, the 
BLS will be able to capture information on the US economy in a more 
efficient and timely manner than is currently possible. The QBS will 
allow BLS to quickly collect information so that stakeholders and data 
users can understand the impact of specific events on the US economy as 
they occur, improving the relevancy of the data.
    The BLS will use the Annual Refiling Survey (ARS) as a platform for 
conducting the QBS. Each year, the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment 
and Wages (QCEW) Program conducts the ARS by reaching out to 
approximately 1.2 million establishments requesting verification of 
their main business activity, and their mailing and physical location 
addresses. The fully web-based ARS allows for an accelerated timeframe 
for collection and provides a low-cost platform for conducting the 
quick, short surveys of the QBS. The QBSs accompanying the ARS will 
have little data collection overhead, leveraging the respondent contact 
process undertaken as part of the production ARS. QBS Respondents 
already logged into the ARS secure website would be directed to a QBS 
and asked to answer a limited number of additional survey questions 
after completing the ARS.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
QCEW Business Supplement (QBS).
    The QBS, based on the ARS data collection platform, will allow BLS 
to leverage the multitude of information already known about the sample 
units to allow for targeted sampling. It also will permit BLS to target 
only the units meeting the specific set of characteristics desired 
allowing BLS to delve into specific areas of economic interest without 
burdening establishments which do not meet the specific targeted 
features.
    The QBS is designed to encourage a fast response and minimize 
respondent burden on the public by limiting the number of questions on 
each survey and by asking questions that respondents should be able to 
answer without research or referring to records. In this manner, BLS 
can provide information that is needed quickly and is not collected 
elsewhere.
    The QBS is designed to incorporate new questionnaires as the need 
for data arises, as frequently as twice a year. The BLS plans to 
conduct multiple small surveys under the QBS clearance. The initial 
survey will focus on the ways employers contract for services with 
other employers, or individuals. For example, employers may use the 
services of other companies or individuals to maintain their computers 
or networks, manufacture their products, for customer outreach 
activities, or facilities maintenance rather than their own employees.

[[Page 3427]]

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 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.
    Title of Collection: QCEW Business Supplement.
    OMB Number: 1220-NEW.
    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit institutions, not-
for-profit institutions, and farms.
    Total Respondents: 45,000.
    Frequency: One time.
    Total Responses: 45,000.
    Average Time per Response: Five minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 3,750 hours.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, January 14, 2020.
Mark Staniorski,
Division Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 2020-00842 Filed 1-17-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-24-P