Proposed Collection, Comment Request, 54614-54615 [2012-21804]
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54614
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 5, 2012 / Notices
Department of Justice, Justice
Management Division, Policy and
Planning Staff, Two Constitution
Square, 145 N Street NE., Suite 2E–508,
Washington, DC 20530.
Dated: August 30, 2012.
Jerri Murray,
Department Clearance Officer, PRA, U.S.
Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2012–21803 Filed 9–4–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–18–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Proposed Collection, Comment
Request
ACTION:
Notice.
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 revision of the ‘‘The
Consumer Expenditure Surveys: The
Quarterly Interview and the Diary.’’ 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 November 5, 2012.
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, at
202–691–7628 (this is not a toll free
number). (See ADDRESSES section.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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I. Background
The Consumer Expenditure (CE)
Surveys collect data on consumer
expenditures, demographic information,
and related data needed by the
Consumer Price Index (CPI) and other
public and private data users. The
continuing surveys provide a constant
measurement of changes in consumer
expenditure patterns for economic
analysis and to obtain data for future
CPI revisions. The CE Surveys have
been ongoing since 1979.
The data from the CE Surveys are
used (1) for CPI revisions, (2) to provide
a continuous flow of data on income
and expenditure patterns for use in
economic analysis and policy
formulation, and (3) to provide a
flexible consumer survey vehicle that is
available for use by other Federal
Government agencies. Public and
private users of price statistics,
including Congress and the economic
policymaking agencies of the Executive
branch, rely on data collected in the CPI
in their day-to-day activities. Hence,
data users and policymakers widely
accept the need to improve the process
used for revising the CPI. If the CE
Surveys were not conducted on a
continuing basis, current information
necessary for more timely, as well as
more accurate, updating of the CPI
would not be available. In addition, data
would not be available to respond to the
continuing demand from the public and
private sectors for current information
on consumer spending.
In the Quarterly Interview Survey,
each consumer unit (CU) in the sample
is interviewed every three months over
five calendar quarters. The sample for
each quarter is divided into three
panels, with CUs being interviewed
every three months in the same panel of
every quarter. The Quarterly Interview
Survey is designed to collect data on the
types of expenditures that respondents
can be expected to recall for a period of
three months or longer. In general the
expenses reported in the Interview
Survey are either relatively large, such
as property, automobiles, or major
appliances, or are expenses which occur
on a fairly regular basis, such as rent,
utility bills, or insurance premiums.
The Diary (or recordkeeping) Survey
is completed at home by the respondent
family for two consecutive one-week
periods. The primary objective of the
Diary Survey is to obtain expenditure
data on small, frequently purchased
items which normally are difficult to
recall over longer periods of time.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
II. Current Action
Office of Management and Budget
clearance is being sought for the
proposed revision of the Consumer
Expenditure Surveys: The Quarterly
Interview and the Diary.
The continuing CE Surveys provide a
constant measurement of changes in
consumer expenditure patterns for
economic analysis and obtain data for
future CPI revisions.
The Consumer Expenditure Quarterly
Interview Survey has recently
undergone a thorough review. The
proposed changes from this review fall
into two major categories: Streamlining
the current questions in several sections
and updating several questions and
sections to reflect the current
marketplace. In the streamlining
category, the BLS deleted or collapsed
obsolete questions. For example,
previously clothing purchases were
asked separately for those over and
under two years old. These questions
were combined into one section for all
clothing purchases. Sewing products
were moved to ‘Miscellaneous
Expenditures’ after ‘arts and crafts.’
To keep the survey current and to
fulfill the requirements of the Consumer
Price Index (CPI), question wording
changed and new items were added. For
example, the questions on who is a
member of the CU were collapsed from
several questions down to one; the
number of educational categories were
reduced; the residential telephone
service category was collapsed with
voice over IP; cell phone service was
collapsed with prepaid cell phone
service; vehicle repair categories were
collapsed; sewing item expenditures
were collapsed from four questions into
one; some appliance categories (e.g.
washer and dryer will now be collected
together) were collapsed; service
contracts were combined with the repair
and maintenance of items; clothing
items were combined. Lastly, many
questions in the income section were
collapsed and reworded.
There are no changes to the Diary
CAPI instrument since clearance was
last received.
A full list of the proposed changes to
the Quarterly Interview Survey and
Diary Survey are available upon request.
In addition, the Consumer
Expenditure program is planning
several tests over the next several years
in an effort to improve the CE surveys
in the areas of both data quality and
respondent burden.
III. Desired Focus of Comments
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is
particularly interested in comments
that:
E:\FR\FM\05SEN1.SGM
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54615
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 5, 2012 / Notices
• 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,
• 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.
Total
respondents
Form
e.g., permitting electronic submissions
of responses.
Type of Review: Revision.
Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Title: The Consumer Expenditure
Surveys: The Quarterly Interview and
the Diary.
OMB Number: 1220–0050.
Affected Public: Individuals or
Households.
Total
responses
Frequency
Average time
per response
(minutes)
Estimated total
burden
CEQ—Interview ...................................................................
CEQ—Reinterview ...............................................................
CED—Diary (recordkeeping) ...............................................
CED—Diary (Interview) ........................................................
CED—Diary (Reinterview) ...................................................
8,825
3,800
7,050
7,050
1,400
4
1
2
3
1
35,300
3,800
14,100
21,150
1,400
55
10
105
24
10
32,358
633
24,675
8,460
233
Totals ............................................................................
........................
........................
75,750
........................
66,359
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
Management and Budget approval of the
information collection request; they also
will become a matter of public record.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 28th day of
August 2012.
Kimberley Hill,
Chief, Division of Management Systems,
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
to 2015 with a balance of investments in new
and existing grants programs, facilities, and
other activities. The briefing will provide the
AAAC with information that will assist it in
the future in providing its advice to NSF,
NASA, and DOE on issues within the field
of astronomy and astrophysics that are of
mutual interest and concern to the agencies.
Agenda: Brief the AAAC on the Portfolio
Review report process and recommendations.
Dated: August 29, 2012.
Susanne Bolton,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012–21741 Filed 9–4–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
[FR Doc. 2012–21804 Filed 9–4–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–24–P
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION
SAFETY BOARD
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory
Committee #13883; Notice of Meeting
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
In accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
463, as amended), the National Science
Foundation announces the following
Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory
Committee (#13883) meeting:
Date and Time: September 25, 2012, 1
p.m.–2 p.m.
Place: National Science Foundation, Room
1020, Stafford I Building, 4201 Wilson Blvd.,
Arlington, VA, 22230.
Type of Meeting: Open.
Contact Person: Dr. Jim Ulvestad, Division
Director, Division of Astronomical Sciences,
Suite 1045, National Science Foundation,
4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230.
Telephone: 703–292–7165.
Purpose of Meeting: To brief the AAAC on
the Portfolio Review report
recommendations. The AST portfolio review
committee was charged with recommending
critical capabilities over the period of 2015
VerDate Mar<15>2010
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Strategic Management Program; Fiscal
Year 2013–2016 Strategic Plan
AGENCY:
National Transportation Safety
Board.
ACTION:
Notice: Request for comments.
This notice is in accordance
with OMB Circular A–11, Section
210.3(b), Consultation and Outreach,
which requires that the NTSB solicits
comments on the proposed strategic
plan to be published by October 2012.
All interested parties are invited to
submit comments regarding this
proposed strategic plan.
As background, the NTSB’s 2010–
2015 strategic plan was published in
January 2010. This document updates
that plan, incorporating a revised
mission statement, expanded core
values including diversity and inclusion
in the workplace, streamlined strategic
goals and objectives, and updated key
priority performance indicators to
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4703
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measure overall success of agency
objectives.
You can view a copy of the draft
strategic plan on the NTSB Web site at
https://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/
agency_reports/Strategic-Plan_2013–
2016.pdf.
DATES: Parties should submit comments
on or before September 19, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit electronic
comments to strategicplan@ntsb.gov or
at https://regulations.gov. Submit written
comments by regular mail to the
National Transportation Safety Board,
490 L’Enfant Plaza SW., Washington,
DC 20594. Attn: MD–1, Strategic
Management Program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Agency contact, Shamicka Fulson,
Program Manager, Strategic
Management Program; National
Transportation Safety Board, 490
L’Enfant Plaza SW., MD–1, Washington,
DC 20594, 202–314–6082.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: * * *
Candi R. Bing,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012–21820 Filed 9–4–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7533–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. NRC–2012–0176]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of pending NRC action to
submit an information collection
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\05SEN1.SGM
05SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54614-54615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21804]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Proposed Collection, Comment Request
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
revision of the ``The Consumer Expenditure Surveys: The Quarterly
Interview and the Diary.'' 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 November 5, 2012.
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,
at 202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See ADDRESSES
section.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Consumer Expenditure (CE) Surveys collect data on consumer
expenditures, demographic information, and related data needed by the
Consumer Price Index (CPI) and other public and private data users. The
continuing surveys provide a constant measurement of changes in
consumer expenditure patterns for economic analysis and to obtain data
for future CPI revisions. The CE Surveys have been ongoing since 1979.
The data from the CE Surveys are used (1) for CPI revisions, (2) to
provide a continuous flow of data on income and expenditure patterns
for use in economic analysis and policy formulation, and (3) to provide
a flexible consumer survey vehicle that is available for use by other
Federal Government agencies. Public and private users of price
statistics, including Congress and the economic policymaking agencies
of the Executive branch, rely on data collected in the CPI in their
day-to-day activities. Hence, data users and policymakers widely accept
the need to improve the process used for revising the CPI. If the CE
Surveys were not conducted on a continuing basis, current information
necessary for more timely, as well as more accurate, updating of the
CPI would not be available. In addition, data would not be available to
respond to the continuing demand from the public and private sectors
for current information on consumer spending.
In the Quarterly Interview Survey, each consumer unit (CU) in the
sample is interviewed every three months over five calendar quarters.
The sample for each quarter is divided into three panels, with CUs
being interviewed every three months in the same panel of every
quarter. The Quarterly Interview Survey is designed to collect data on
the types of expenditures that respondents can be expected to recall
for a period of three months or longer. In general the expenses
reported in the Interview Survey are either relatively large, such as
property, automobiles, or major appliances, or are expenses which occur
on a fairly regular basis, such as rent, utility bills, or insurance
premiums.
The Diary (or recordkeeping) Survey is completed at home by the
respondent family for two consecutive one-week periods. The primary
objective of the Diary Survey is to obtain expenditure data on small,
frequently purchased items which normally are difficult to recall over
longer periods of time.
II. Current Action
Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the
proposed revision of the Consumer Expenditure Surveys: The Quarterly
Interview and the Diary.
The continuing CE Surveys provide a constant measurement of changes
in consumer expenditure patterns for economic analysis and obtain data
for future CPI revisions.
The Consumer Expenditure Quarterly Interview Survey has recently
undergone a thorough review. The proposed changes from this review fall
into two major categories: Streamlining the current questions in
several sections and updating several questions and sections to reflect
the current marketplace. In the streamlining category, the BLS deleted
or collapsed obsolete questions. For example, previously clothing
purchases were asked separately for those over and under two years old.
These questions were combined into one section for all clothing
purchases. Sewing products were moved to `Miscellaneous Expenditures'
after `arts and crafts.'
To keep the survey current and to fulfill the requirements of the
Consumer Price Index (CPI), question wording changed and new items were
added. For example, the questions on who is a member of the CU were
collapsed from several questions down to one; the number of educational
categories were reduced; the residential telephone service category was
collapsed with voice over IP; cell phone service was collapsed with
prepaid cell phone service; vehicle repair categories were collapsed;
sewing item expenditures were collapsed from four questions into one;
some appliance categories (e.g. washer and dryer will now be collected
together) were collapsed; service contracts were combined with the
repair and maintenance of items; clothing items were combined. Lastly,
many questions in the income section were collapsed and reworded.
There are no changes to the Diary CAPI instrument since clearance
was last received.
A full list of the proposed changes to the Quarterly Interview
Survey and Diary Survey are available upon request.
In addition, the Consumer Expenditure program is planning several
tests over the next several years in an effort to improve the CE
surveys in the areas of both data quality and respondent burden.
III. Desired Focus of Comments
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in
comments that:
[[Page 54615]]
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.
Type of Review: Revision.
Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Title: The Consumer Expenditure Surveys: The Quarterly Interview
and the Diary.
OMB Number: 1220-0050.
Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average time
Form Total Frequency Total per response Estimated
respondents responses (minutes) total burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CEQ--Interview.................. 8,825 4 35,300 55 32,358
CEQ--Reinterview................ 3,800 1 3,800 10 633
CED--Diary (recordkeeping)...... 7,050 2 14,100 105 24,675
CED--Diary (Interview).......... 7,050 3 21,150 24 8,460
CED--Diary (Reinterview)........ 1,400 1 1,400 10 233
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals...................... .............. .............. 75,750 .............. 66,359
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a
matter of public record.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 28th day of August 2012.
Kimberley Hill,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 2012-21804 Filed 9-4-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P
