[Federal Register: December 6, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 233)]
[Notices]               
[Page 68121-68122]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de99-85]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment Standards Administration

 
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 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 Standards Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension collection of the Optional 
Use Payroll Form Under the Davis-Bacon Act, WH-347. A copy of the 
proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting 
the office listed below in the addresses section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before February 4, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW, Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0339 (this is not a toll-free number), fax (202 693-1451.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The WH-347 is an optional form which may be used by contractors and 
subcontractors to certify payrolls, attesting that proper wage rates 
and fringe benefits have been paid to their employees performing work 
on contracts covered by the Davis-Bacon and related Acts. Contracting 
officials and Wage-Hour investigative staff use these payrolls to 
verify that legal rates are paid and as an aid in determining whether 
employees have been properly classified for the work they perform.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor 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 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 Department of Labor seeks the extension of approval to collect 
this information in order to carry out its responsibility to determine 
a contractor's compliance with provisions of the Davis-Bacon and 
Related Acts and the Copeland Act.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Optional Use Payroll Form under the Davis-Bacon Act.
    OMB Number: 1215-0149.
    Agency Number: WH-347.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit; Individuals or 
households; Federal Government; State, local or Tribal Government.
    Total Respondents: 106,960.
    Frequency: Weekly.
    Total Responses: 9,840,320.
    Average Time per Response: 56 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 9,200,000.

[[Page 68122]]

    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $354,252.
    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 will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: November 30, 1999.
Margaret J. Sherrill,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-31501 Filed 12-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-M