Comment Request for Information Collection for The National Agricultural Workers Survey: Revision to an Approved Collection (OMB 1205-0453), 18798 [2011-7972]

Agencies

• Employment and Training Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 18798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7972]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection for The National 
Agricultural Workers Survey: Revision to an Approved Collection (OMB 
1205-0453)

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), 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 is soliciting 
comments concerning the addition of seven new questions to the National 
Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) regarding: (1) The amount of time 
per day farm workers are engaged working in specific crops and tasks, 
and (2) farm workers' clothes laundering and hygiene practices. The 
information obtained from these questions will improve the 
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs' (EPA/
OPP) ability to assess farm workers' risk to pesticide exposure. There 
are no known national-level studies that assess the length of the work 
day for specific crop-task combinations. The Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) authorization for the current NAWS questionnaire will 
expire on October 31, 2013.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request 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 
ADDRESSES section below on or before June 6, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Mr. Daniel Carroll, Division of 
Research and Evaluations, Office of Policy Development and Research, 
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-5641, 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone number: 202-693-2795 (this is not a 
toll-free number). Fax: 202-693-2766. E-mail: carroll.daniel.j@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The NAWS is an employment-based, annual survey of the demographic, 
employment, and health characteristics of hired crop farm workers, 
including workers brought to farms by labor intermediaries. Each year, 
approximately 1,500 workers are randomly chosen for an interview. 
Interviews are conducted three times per year to account for the 
seasonality of agricultural production and employment. Several Federal 
agencies utilize the NAWS to collect information on the population of 
hired crop farm workers. EPA, which has responsibility for assessing 
exposure to pesticides, is one such agency. These added questions will 
provide information that will improve EPA's ability to assess farm 
workers' risk of pesticide exposure.
    The questions would be piloted in one interview cycle in Fiscal 
Year 2011 and, depending on the quality of information obtained, would 
be administered in all three interview cycles of Fiscal Years 2012 and 
2013. The questions would be administered to each farm worker who is 
randomly selected for an interview.

II. Review Focus

    DOL is particularly interested in comments which:
    * 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; and
    * Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including through the use of appropriated automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

    Type of Review: Revision to an Approved Collection.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: National Agricultural Workers Survey.
    OMB Number: 1205-0453.
    Affected Public: Individuals, Farms.
    Form(s): Primary Questionnaire.
    Total Annual Respondents: 2,064.
    Frequency: annual.
    Total Annual Responses: 2,064.
    Average Time per Response: 49.2 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,693.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the 
information collection request; they will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: March 29, 2011.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-7972 Filed 4-4-11; 8:45 am]
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