83 FR 28450 - Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 118 (June 19, 2018)
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 118 (June 19, 2018)
| Page Range | 28450-28451 | |
| FR Document | 2018-13077 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 19, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 28450-28451] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-13077] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 extension of the International Price Program U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes. 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 August 20, 2018. ADDRESSES: Send comments to Nora Kincaid, 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: Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, 202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See ADDRESSES section.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes, produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics' International Price Program (IPP), measure price change over time for all categories of imported and exported products, as well as selected services. The IPP has produced the U.S. Import Price Indexes continuously since 1973 and the U.S. Export Price Indexes continuously since 1971. The Office of Management and Budget has listed the Import and Export Price Indexes as a Principal Federal Economic Indicator since 1982. The indexes are widely used in both the public and private sectors. The primary public sector use is the deflation of the U.S. monthly Trade Statistics and the quarterly estimates of U.S. Gross Domestic Product; the indexes also are used in formulating U.S. trade policy and in trade negotiations with other countries. In the private sector, uses of the Import Price Indexes include market analysis, inflation forecasting, contract escalation, and replacement cost accounting. The IPP indexes are closely followed statistics, and are viewed as a key indicator of the economic environment. The U.S. Department of Commerce uses the monthly statistics to produce monthly and quarterly estimates of inflation-adjusted trade flows. Without continuation of data collection, it would be extremely difficult to construct accurate estimates of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. In fact, DOL-BLS' attempt to curtail publication of the export price indexes beginning in FY15 was met with resistance from the Commerce Department who explained that a viable substitute is not available. The Beyond the Numbers article ``Analyzing alternatives to export price indexes'' (http://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-3/analyzing-alternatives-to-export-price-indexes.htm) explores alternatives to using IPP's export price indexes to deflate the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and explains why there are currently no comparable replacements. Additionally, Federal policymakers in the Department of Treasury, the Council of Economic Advisers, and the Federal Reserve Board utilize these statistics on a regular basis to improve these agencies' formulation and evaluation of monetary and fiscal policy and evaluation of the general business environment. II. Current Action Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes. The IPP continues to modernize data collection and processing to permit more timely release of its indexes, and to reduce reporter burden. The IPP has expanded the use of its web application, introduced in 2003 to allow respondents to update their data online and more rapidly than using a paper-based form. As of March 2018, 91 percent of IPP respondents were providing prices via the web application or had agreed to start using this repricing method. Field Economists currently offer web repricing to all new respondents and at initiation, it is the preferred method of collection offered to companies. The Program continues its multi-year effort to develop a more effective sampling and collection strategy for companies that are considered major importers or exporters. Research has shown that, while hundreds of thousands of companies import and export goods into and from the United States each year, the volume of trade (in terms of dollar value) is heavily concentrated on a very small percentage of these companies. IPP's sampling methodology results in the large companies being sampled on a frequent basis. As a result of the continual fielding of these companies, Field Economists combine collection efforts for multiple IPP samples, as they deem appropriate. The collection of multiple IPP samples at once results in fewer visits and consequently, reduced burden. Also, IPP has started revising its Data Collection Procedures, with the goal of improving collection methods for [[Page 28451]] respondents (and for the Field Economists). 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: International Price Program (IPP) U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes. OMB Number: 1220-0025. Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved collection. Affected Public: Private Sector, Business or other for-profits. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average time Estimated Form Total Frequency Total per response total burden respondents responses (hours) hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Form 3008................... .............. Annually.......... Imports................. 1,500 .................. 1,500 1.0 1,500 Exports................. 1,000 .................. 1,000 1.0 1,000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total............... 2,500 .................. 2,500 .............. 2,500 Repricing Form.............. .............. Monthly........... Imports................. 2,700 9.0 \1\........... 24,300 \2\.4438 10,784 Exports................. 1,750 9.3 \1\........... 16,275 \3\.4541 7,390 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total............... 4,450 .................. 40,575 .............. 18,174 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals.......... .............. .................. 43,075 .............. 20,674 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ During initiation, the respondent determines how many months he/she will need to supply data in a given year based upon how often the company changes its pricing information. The average company is requested to supply information 9.3 months per year for exports and 9.0 months per year for imports. \2\ Time to reprice is based upon 5 minutes of response time per item x 5.325 items = 26.625 minutes/60 = .4438 hours. \3\ Time to reprice is based upon 5 minutes of response time per item x 5.449 items = 27.245 minutes/60 = .4541 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, this 12th day of June 2018. Eric P. Molina, Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems. [FR Doc. 2018-13077 Filed 6-18-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-24-P
![28450 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 118 / Tuesday, June 19, 2018 / Notices
U.S.C. 1528, to obtain injunctive relief properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor export price indexes beginning in FY15
from and impose civil penalties against Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments was met with resistance from the
the Defendant for violating these concerning the proposed extension of Commerce Department who explained
statutes by discharging pollutants the International Price Program U.S. that a viable substitute is not available.
without a permit into waters of the Import and Export Price Indexes. A The Beyond the Numbers article
United States and taking protected copy of the proposed information ‘‘Analyzing alternatives to export price
species. The proposed Consent Decree collection request can be obtained by indexes’’ (http://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/
resolves these allegations by requiring contacting the individual listed below volume-3/analyzing-alternatives-to-
the Defendant to remove the offending in the Addresses section of this notice. export-price-indexes.htm) explores
material, restore the impacted areas, DATES: Written comments must be alternatives to using IPP’s export price
enhance fish habitat, and pay a civil submitted to the office listed in the indexes to deflate the U.S. Gross
penalty. Addresses section of this notice on or Domestic Product and explains why
The Department of Justice will accept before August 20, 2018. there are currently no comparable
written comments relating to this ADDRESSES: Send comments to Nora
replacements.
proposed Consent Decree for thirty (30) Additionally, Federal policymakers in
Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer,
days from the date of publication of this the Department of Treasury, the Council
Division of Management Systems,
Notice. Please address comments to of Economic Advisers, and the Federal
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080,
John Thomas H. Do, United States Reserve Board utilize these statistics on
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE,
Department of Justice, Environment & a regular basis to improve these
Washington, DC 20212. Written
Natural Resources Division, Post Office agencies’ formulation and evaluation of
comments also may be transmitted by
Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044–7611 monetary and fiscal policy and
fax to 202–691–5111 (this is not a toll
and refer to United States v. Jack Noble, evaluation of the general business
free number).
DJ # 90–5–1–1–20923. environment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The proposed Consent Decree may be II. Current Action
examined at the Clerk’s Office, United Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer,
States District Court for the Northern 202–691–7628 (this is not a toll free Office of Management and Budget
District of California, 450 Golden Gate number). (See ADDRESSES section.) clearance is being sought for the U.S.
Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. In SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Import and Export Price Indexes. The
addition, the proposed Consent Decree IPP continues to modernize data
I. Background
may be examined electronically at collection and processing to permit
The U.S. Import and Export Price more timely release of its indexes, and
http://www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_
Indexes, produced by the Bureau of to reduce reporter burden. The IPP has
Decrees.html.
Labor Statistics’ International Price expanded the use of its web application,
Cherie L. Rogers, Program (IPP), measure price change introduced in 2003 to allow respondents
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental over time for all categories of imported to update their data online and more
Defense Section, Environment and Natural and exported products, as well as rapidly than using a paper-based form.
Resources Division. selected services. The IPP has produced As of March 2018, 91 percent of IPP
[FR Doc. 2018–13056 Filed 6–18–18; 8:45 am] the U.S. Import Price Indexes respondents were providing prices via
BILLING CODE 4410–15–P continuously since 1973 and the U.S. the web application or had agreed to
Export Price Indexes continuously since start using this repricing method. Field
1971. The Office of Management and Economists currently offer web
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Budget has listed the Import and Export repricing to all new respondents and at
Price Indexes as a Principal Federal initiation, it is the preferred method of
Bureau of Labor Statistics Economic Indicator since 1982. The collection offered to companies.
indexes are widely used in both the The Program continues its multi-year
Information Collection Activities; public and private sectors. The primary effort to develop a more effective
Comment Request public sector use is the deflation of the sampling and collection strategy for
AGENCY: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. monthly Trade Statistics and the companies that are considered major
Department of Labor. quarterly estimates of U.S. Gross importers or exporters. Research has
ACTION: Notice of information collection; Domestic Product; the indexes also are shown that, while hundreds of
request for comment. used in formulating U.S. trade policy thousands of companies import and
and in trade negotiations with other export goods into and from the United
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as countries. In the private sector, uses of States each year, the volume of trade (in
part of its continuing effort to reduce the Import Price Indexes include market terms of dollar value) is heavily
paperwork and respondent burden, analysis, inflation forecasting, contract concentrated on a very small percentage
conducts a pre-clearance consultation escalation, and replacement cost of these companies. IPP’s sampling
program to provide the general public accounting. methodology results in the large
and Federal agencies with an The IPP indexes are closely followed companies being sampled on a frequent
opportunity to comment on proposed statistics, and are viewed as a key basis. As a result of the continual
and/or continuing collections of indicator of the economic environment. fielding of these companies, Field
information in accordance with the The U.S. Department of Commerce uses Economists combine collection efforts
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This the monthly statistics to produce for multiple IPP samples, as they deem
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
program helps to ensure that requested monthly and quarterly estimates of appropriate. The collection of multiple
data can be provided in the desired inflation-adjusted trade flows. Without IPP samples at once results in fewer
format, reporting burden (time and continuation of data collection, it would visits and consequently, reduced
financial resources) is minimized, be extremely difficult to construct burden.
collection instruments are clearly accurate estimates of the U.S. Gross Also, IPP has started revising its Data
understood, and the impact of collection Domestic Product. In fact, DOL–BLS’ Collection Procedures, with the goal of
requirements on respondents can be attempt to curtail publication of the improving collection methods for
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:55 Jun 18, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\19JNN1.SGM 19JNN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_28568/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 118 / Tuesday, June 19, 2018 / Notices 28451
respondents (and for the Field • Evaluate the accuracy of the technological collection techniques or
Economists). agency’s estimate of the burden of the other forms of information technology,
proposed collection of information, e.g., permitting electronic submissions
III. Desired Focus of Comments
including the validity of the of responses.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is methodology and assumptions used. Title of Collection: International Price
particularly interested in comments • Enhance the quality, utility, and Program (IPP) U.S. Import and Export
that: clarity of the information to be Price Indexes.
• Evaluate whether the proposed collected. OMB Number: 1220–0025.
collection of information is necessary • Minimize the burden of the Type of Review: Extension without
for the proper performance of the collection of information on those who change of a currently approved
functions of the agency, including are to respond, including through the collection.
whether the information will have use of appropriate automated, Affected Public: Private Sector,
practical utility. electronic, mechanical, or other Business or other for-profits.
Average Estimated
Total Total time per
Form Frequency total burden
respondents responses response hours
(hours)
Form 3008 ........................................................................... ........................ Annually.
Imports .......................................................................... 1,500 ........................ 1,500 1.0 1,500
Exports ......................................................................... 1,000 ........................ 1,000 1.0 1,000
Total ...................................................................... 2,500 ........................ 2,500 ........................ 2,500
Repricing Form .................................................................... ........................ Monthly.
Imports .......................................................................... 2,700 9.0 1 ................ 24,300 2.4438 10,784
Exports ......................................................................... 1,750 9.3 1 ................ 16,275 3.4541 7,390
Total ...................................................................... 4,450 ........................ 40,575 ........................ 18,174
Totals ............................................................. ........................ ........................ 43,075 ........................ 20,674
1 Duringinitiation, the respondent determines how many months he/she will need to supply data in a given year based upon how often the
company changes its pricing information. The average company is requested to supply information 9.3 months per year for exports and 9.0
months per year for imports.
2 Time to reprice is based upon 5 minutes of response time per item x 5.325 items = 26.625 minutes/60 = .4438 hours.
3 Time to reprice is based upon 5 minutes of response time per item x 5.449 items = 27.245 minutes/60 = .4541 hours.
Comments submitted in response to extend OMB approval of the Instructions: All submissions must
this notice will be summarized and/or information collection requirements include the Agency name and the OSHA
included in the request for Office of contained in the 13 Carcinogens docket number (OSHA–2012–0012) for
Management and Budget approval of the Standard. the Information Collection Request
information collection request; they also DATES: Comments must be submitted (ICR). All comments, including any
will become a matter of public record. (postmarked, sent, or received) by personal information you provide, are
Signed at Washington, DC, this 12th day of August 20, 2018. placed in the public docket without
June 2018. ADDRESSES: change, and may be made available
Eric P. Molina, Electronically: You may submit online at http://www.regulations.gov.
Acting Chief, Division of Management comments and attachments For further information on submitting
Systems. electronically at http:// comments see the ‘‘Public
[FR Doc. 2018–13077 Filed 6–18–18; 8:45 am] www.regulations.gov, which is the Participation’’ heading in the section of
BILLING CODE 4510–24–P Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the this notice titled SUPPLEMENTARY
instructions online for submitting INFORMATION.
comments.
Docket: To read or download
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Facsimile: If your comments,
including attachments, are not longer comments or other material in the
Occupational Safety and Health than 10 pages, you may fax them to the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov
Administration OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693–1648. or the OSHA Docket Office at the above
Mail, hand delivery, express mail, address. All documents in the docket
[Docket No. OSHA–2011–0860] messenger, or courier service: When (including this Federal Register notice)
using this method, you must submit a are listed in the http://
The 13 Carcinogens Standard; www.regulations.gov index; however,
copy of your comments and attachments
Extension of the Office of Management some information (e.g., copyrighted
to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No.
and Budget’s (OMB) Approval of material) is not publicly available to
OSHA–2012–0012, Occupational Safety
Information Collection (Paperwork) read or download from the website. All
and Health Administration, U.S.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Requirements submissions, including copyrighted
Department of Labor, Room N–3653,
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health 200 Constitution Avenue NW, material, are available for inspection
Administration (OSHA), Labor. Washington, DC 20210. Deliveries and copying at the OSHA Docket Office.
ACTION: Request for public comments. (hand, express mail, messenger, and You may also contact Christie Garner at
courier service) are accepted during the the phone number below in FOR
SUMMARY:OSHA solicits public Docket Office’s normal business hours, FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT to obtain
comments concerning its proposal to 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., ET. a copy of the ICR.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:55 Jun 18, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\19JNN1.SGM 19JNN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_28568/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-07-02 11:21:53
Document Modified: 2018-07-02 11:21:53
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of information collection; request for comment. | |
| Dates | Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the | |
| Contact | Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 28450 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR