[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 124 (Thursday, July 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35138-35139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14106]


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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 reinstatement of the ``Eating and 
Health Supplement to the American Time Use Survey.'' 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

[[Page 35139]]

Addresses section of this notice on or before August 30, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Erin Good, 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: Erin Good, BLS Clearance Officer, at 
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See Addresses section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The American Time Use Survey (ATUS) is the Nation's first federally 
administered, continuous survey on time use in the United States. It 
measures, for example, time spent with children, working, sleeping, or 
doing leisure activities. In the United States, several existing 
Federal surveys collect income and wage data for individuals and 
families, and analysts often use such measures of material prosperity 
as proxies for quality of life. Time-use data substantially augment 
these quality-of-life measures. The data also can be used in 
conjunction with wage data to evaluate the contribution of non-market 
work to national economies. This enables comparisons of production 
between nations that have different mixes of market and non-market 
activities.
    The ATUS is used to develop nationally representative estimates of 
how people spend their time. This is done by collecting a time diary 
about the activities survey respondents did over a 24-hour period 
``yesterday,'' from 4 a.m. on the day before the interview until 4 a.m. 
on the day of the interview. In the one-time interview, respondents 
also report who was with them during the activities, where they were, 
how long each activity lasted, and if they were paid. All of this 
information has numerous practical applications for sociologists, 
economists, educators, government policymakers, businesspersons, health 
researchers, and others.
    Time use data allows researchers to analyze the choices people make 
in how they spend their time, along with the time and income 
constraints they face. The data from the proposed Eating and Health 
module supplement can be used for research on the inter-relations of 
time use patterns and body mass index (BMI), food assistance program 
participation, grocery and food shopping, and meal preparation. These 
data enhance the understanding of peoples' overall well-being.
    Information collected in the supplement will be published as a 
public use data set to facilitate research on numerous topics, such as: 
The association between eating patterns, physical activity, and BMI; 
time-use patterns of food assistance program participants and low-
income nonparticipants; and how time-use varies by health status. 
Sponsored by the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the United States 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), the supplement is asked of 
respondents immediately upon their completion of the American Time Use 
Survey (ATUS).
    The Eating and Health supplement supports the mission of the Bureau 
of Labor Statistics by providing relevant information on economic and 
social issues, specifically the association between time-use patterns 
and eating and physical activity behavior and health. The data from the 
Eating and Health Module Supplement also closely support the mission of 
its sponsor, ERS, to improve the nation's nutrition and health. The 
supplement surveys individuals aged 15 and up from a nationally 
representative sample of approximately 2,060 sample households each 
month.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
2022-23 Eating and Health Module of questions to follow the American 
Time Use Survey (ATUS). The Eating and Health Module, if approved, will 
include questions about peoples' eating behaviors, food assistance 
program participation, in-store and online grocery shopping, prepared 
meal purchases, food preparation, and food sufficiency. It will also 
include questions on general health and physical exercise.
    There have been few efforts to collect data on time-use and how it 
relates to BMI, food assistance participation, grocery shopping, and 
meal preparation. The ATUS first ran Eating and Health Modules in 2006-
08 and a modified version in 2014-16. The previous Eating and Health 
Modules produced useful data that have been used in a variety of 
research products that inform policy and programs on eating and other 
behaviors.
    Fielding the Eating and Health Module Supplement in calendar years 
2022-23 will allow researchers to monitor changes in Americans' time 
use patterns along with changes in Americans' eating activities, BMI 
values, and food assistance participation. Additionally, the proposed 
2022-23 Eating and Health Module includes several important questions 
that were not included in previous modules. This includes questions 
about online grocery shopping, quality of diet, and physical exercise. 
These questions will provide an additional dimension to analyses of the 
time-use data and BMI, food assistance participation, grocery shopping, 
meal preparation, and physical exercise.

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: Eating and Health Supplement to the American 
Time Use Survey.
    OMB Number: 1220-0187.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Total Respondents: 9,435.
    Frequency: One time.
    Total Responses: 9,435.
    Average Time per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 786 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, on June 24, 2021.
Eric Molina,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems.
[FR Doc. 2021-14106 Filed 6-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P