[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 223 (Wednesday, November 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73515-73516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25420]


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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 revision of the ``Labor Market 
Information (LMI) Cooperative Agreement Application Package.'' A copy 
of the proposed information collection request 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 January 19, 2021.

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 email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Rowan, BLS Clearance Officer, 
telephone number 202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See 
Addresses section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The BLS enters into Cooperative Agreements with State Workforce 
Agencies (SWAs) annually to provide financial assistance to the SWAs 
for the production and operation of the following LMI statistical 
programs: Current Employment Statistics, Local Area Unemployment 
Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, and Quarterly Census of 
Employment and Wages. The Cooperative Agreement provides the basis for 
managing the administrative and financial aspects of these programs.
    The existing collection of information allows Federal staff to 
negotiate the Cooperative Agreement with the SWAs and monitor their 
financial and programmatic performance and adherence to administrative

[[Page 73516]]

requirements imposed by the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200) and 
other grant related regulations. The information collected also is used 
for planning and budgeting at the Federal level and in meeting Federal 
reporting requirements.
    The Cooperative Agreement application package being submitted for 
approval is representative of the package sent every year to state 
agencies. The work statements included in the Cooperative Agreement 
application also are representative of what is included in the whole 
LMI Cooperative Agreement package. The final Cooperative Agreement, 
including the work statements, will be submitted separately to the 
Office of Management and Budget for review of any minor year-to-year 
information collection burden changes they may contain.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
LMI Cooperative Agreement application package.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

    The BLS 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: Labor Market Information (LMI) Cooperative 
Agreement Application Package.
    OMB Number: 1220-0079.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments.
    Frequency: Monthly, quarterly, annually.

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                                     Number of       Number of         Total                       Total burden
            Activity                respondents      responses       responses    Average burden      (hours)
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Work Statements.................              54               1              54             1.5              81
BIF LMI 1A......................              54               1              54             3.5             189
BIF LMI 1B......................              15               1              15             3.5            52.5
Quarterly Automated Financial                 48               4             192           30/60              96
 Reports........................
Monthly Automated Financial                   48             * 8             384           15/60              96
 Reports........................
BLS Cooperative Statistics                     7              12              84               3             252
 Financial Reports..............
Quarterly Status Report (LMI 2B)              15               4              60               1              60
Budget Variance Request Form....              27               1              27           15/60             6.8
Transmittal and Certification                 54               1              54            8/60             7.2
 Form...........................
FRW--A: Base Programs...........              54               1              54           25/60            22.5
FRW--B: AAMC....................              15               1              15           25/60             6.2
Property Listing................              27               1              27           25/60            11.2
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    Total.......................              54  ..............           1,020  ..............             881
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    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, this 12th day of November 2020.
Eric Molina,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems.
[FR Doc. 2020-25420 Filed 11-17-20; 8:45 am]
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