[Federal Register: April 25, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 80)]
[Notices]
[Page 20408-20409]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ap03-72]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Proposed Collection of the ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and
Continued Claims Report and the ETA 539, Weekly Claims and Extended
Benefits Trigger Data; Comment Request
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a preclearance
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 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. 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.
Currently, the Employment and Training Administration, Office of
Workforce Security is soliciting comments concerning the proposed
extension of the collection of the ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and
Continued Claims Report and the ETA 539, Weekly Claims and Extended
Benefits Trigger.
A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section
of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addressee's section below on or before June 24, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Thomas Stengle, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and
Training Administration, Room S-4231, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202-693-2991, Fax: 202-693-3229, e-mail:
stengle.thomas@dol.gov.
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 national unemployment claims information to be
released to the public five days after the close of the reference
period. The ETA 539 contains more refined weekly claims detail 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 of Labor is particularly interested in comments
which:
[sbull] 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;
[sbull] 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;
[sbull] Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
[sbull] 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
The ETA 538 and ETA 539 continue to be needed as they provide both
timely economic indicators as well as the information needed to track
the data that triggers states ``on'' and ``off'' the Extended Benefits
program.
Type of Review: Extension without change.
Title: ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and Continued Claims Report
and the ETA 539, Weekly Claims and Extended Benefits Trigger Data.
OMB Number: 1205-0028.
Agency Number: ETA 538 and ETA 539.
Recordkeeping: Respondent is expected to maintain data which
support the reported data for three years.
Affected Public: State governments.
Estimated Total Burden Hours:
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Hours
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ETA 538 53 States x 52 reports x 30 min. =...................... 1378
ETA 539 53 States x 52 reports x 50 min. =...................... 2297
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Total Burden.................................................. 3675
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Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and
Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also
become a matter of public record.
Dated: April 18, 2003.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
[FR Doc. 03-10238 Filed 4-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P