[Federal Register: September 16, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 179)]
[Notices]               
[Page 54245-54246]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16se03-77]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

 
Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Temporary Extended Unemployment 
Compensation for Displaced Airline and Related Workers

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.

DATES: Submit comments on or before November 17, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Thomas Stengle, U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Room S-4231, 200 Constitution 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20210. Phone number: (202) 693-2991. Fax: 202-
693-3229. (These are not toll free numbers.) E-mail: 
stengle.thomas@dol.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On April 16, 2003, President Bush signed into law an enhancement to 
the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program. This 
enhancement created special rules for determining TEUC eligibility for 
certain displaced airline related workers. Such workers may qualify for 
an additional 26 weeks of basic TEUC benefits if the worker became 
unemployed as a result of: (1) Reductions in service by an air carrier 
as a result of a terrorist action or security measure; (2) a closure of 
an airport in the United States as a result of a terrorist action or 
security measure; or (3) a military conflict with Iraq that has been 
authorized by Congress. In order to determine TEUC eligibility for 
these displaced airline and related workers specific information from 
employers must be collected. Emergency approval for this collection of 
information was granted through November 30, 2003. However, to cover 
the existing period of program implementation and to provide for 
potential congressional extensions of this program, ETA is seeking a 2 
year extension for this collection package.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Department of Labor's Employment and Training 
Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension 
of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation for Displaced 
Airline Workers information collection request.
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    [sbull] Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who

[[Page 54246]]

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.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed above in the addressee section 
of this notice.

III. Current Actions

    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: TEUC--Displaced Airline and Related Workers.
    OMB Number: 1205-0440.
    Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal government.
    Annualized Reporting Burden (time measured in hours):

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                                                     Number of
                                                    Respondents   Estimated time     Number of         Total
                                                      Burden       per response       Reports
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Employer........................................          40,000             .25               1          10,000
State...........................................          40,000             .50               1          20,000
                                                 -----------------
    Total Burden Hours:.........................  ..............  ..............  ..............         30,000.
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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $781,700.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval of the information collection request and will become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: September 8, 2003.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
[FR Doc. 03-23546 Filed 9-15-03; 8:45 am]

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