[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44160-44162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17578]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Proposed Collection, 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 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 (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. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the
proposed revision of the Annual Refiling Survey (ARS). 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 September 23, 2013.
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,
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See Addresses section.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program is a
Federal/State cooperative effort which compiles monthly employment
data, quarterly wages data, and business identification information
from employers subject to State Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws. These
data are collected from State Quarterly Contribution Reports (QCRs)
submitted to State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The States send micro-
level employment and wages data, supplemented with the names,
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addresses, and business identification information of these employers,
to the BLS. The State micro-level data files are used to create the BLS
sampling frame, known as the longitudinal QCEW data.
To ensure the continued accuracy of these data, the information
supplied by employers must be periodically verified and updated. For
this purpose, the Annual Refiling Survey (ARS) is used in conjunction
with the UI tax reporting system in each State. The information
collected on the ARS is used to review the existing industry code
assigned to each establishment as well as the physical location of the
business establishment. As a result, changes in the industrial and
geographical compositions of our economy are captured in a timely
manner and reflected in the BLS statistical programs.
The ARS also asks employers to identify new locations in the State.
If these employers meet QCEW program reporting criteria, then a
Multiple Worksite Report (MWR) is sent to the employer requesting
employment and wages for each worksite each quarter. Thus, the ARS is
also used to identify new potential MWR-eligible employers.
II. Current Action
Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for a
revision of the ARS. While the primary purpose of the ARS is to verify
or to correct the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
code assigned to establishments, there are other important purposes of
the ARS. The ARS seeks accurate mailing and physical location addresses
of establishments as well as geographical codes such as county and
township (independent city, parish, or island in some States). The BLS
and the Census Bureau signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2012 to
share selected business data on multi-location companies. Both the BLS
and the Census Bureau compile and maintain censuses of business
establishments in the United States that contain economic and
administrative data for nearly all businesses in the United States. A
key aspect of data quality is that businesses include accurate NAICS
and geographic categorizations. Both agencies have reviewed each
other's business lists and have identified information that can improve
the quality and comparability of these data. Specifically, information
from the ARS will be used to verify NAICS codes independently and to
provide these to the Census Bureau to improve data quality and reduce
costs and respondent burden through increased data sharing.
Once every three years, the SWAs survey employers that are covered
by the State's UI laws to ensure that State records correctly reflect
the business activities and locations of those employers. The QCEW
program sends an ARS form to approximately one-third of businesses each
year, surveying the entire universe of covered businesses over a three-
year cycle. The selection criterion for surveying establishments is
based on the nine-digit Federal Employer Identification Number of the
respondent.
The ARS remains largely a mail survey, although steps have been
taken to reduce the amount of paperwork involved in responding to the
survey. For example, BLS staff review selected, large multi-worksite
national employers rather than surveying these employers with
traditional ARS forms. This central review reduces postage costs
incurred in sending ARS forms. It also reduces respondent burden, as
the selected employers do not have to submit ARS forms.
Single-worksite employers have been identified as potential users
of the BLS Touchtone Response System (TRS). Employers can use the TRS
if they meet certain conditions and there are no changes to specific
data elements based upon the employer's review. The TRS reduces
respondent burden because it is quick, free, and convenient. It also
allows respondents to help BLS reduce survey costs because they do not
return the form in the business reply envelope provided. All States are
using the TRS in conducting the ARS.
Building on the success of the TRS, the BLS added online reporting
options for the ARS. Respondents have the option to provide their
information via a secure Web site. Respondents are still able to mail
their returns if they so desire or they can use the TRS if eligible and
if they have no changes to report.
Finally, BLS continues to use a private contractor to handle
various administrative aspects of the survey to reduce the costs
associated with the ARS. This initiative is called the Contracted
Annual Refiling Survey (CARS). Under CARS, BLS effectively utilizes the
commercial advantages related to printing, stuffing, and mailing large
volumes of survey forms.
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 the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other collection techniques or other forms
of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of
responses.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Title: Annual Refiling Survey (ARS).
OMB Number: 1220-0032.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit institutions, not-
for-profit institutions, and farms.
Frequency: Annually.
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Total Total Average time Total burden
Form number respondents Frequency responses per response (hours)
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BLS 3023-(NVS)............... 1,407,614 Once............ 1,407,614 5 minutes...... 117,301
BLS 3023-(NVM)............... 39,483 Once............ 39,483 15 minutes..... 9,871
BLS 3023-(NCA)............... 158,818 Once............ 158,818 10 minutes..... 26,470
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Totals:.................. 1,605,915 ................ 1,605,915 ............... 153,642
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Total Burden Cost (Capital/Startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (Operating/Maintenance): $0.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for Office of
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Management and Budget approval of the information collection request;
they also will become a matter of public record.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 17th day of July, 2013.
Kimberley Hill,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 2013-17578 Filed 7-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P