[Federal Register: July 6, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 128)]
[Notices]
[Page 40664-40665]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06jy04-76]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Proposed Information Collection Request
ACTION: Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations: Labor Surplus
Areas.
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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.
Currently, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the collection
of data contained in the procedures to petition for classification as a
Labor Surplus Area (LSA) under exceptional circumstances criteria.
DATES: Submit comments on or before September 7, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Anthony D. Dais, Acting Director, USES/ALMIS, Employment and
Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4231,
Washington, DC 20210; (202) 693-2784 (not a toll-free number); Internet
address: dais.anthony@dol.gov; FAX: (202) 693-3015.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background: Under Executive Orders 12073 and 10582, and 20 CFR
Parts 651 and 654, the Secretary of Labor is required to classify LSAs
and disseminate this information for the use of all Federal agencies.
This information is used by Federal agencies for various purposes
including procurement decisions, food stamp waiver decisions, certain
small business loan decisions, as well as other purposes determined by
the agencies. The LSA list is issued annually, effective October 1 of
each year, utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Areas
meeting the criteria are classified as LSAs.
Department regulations specify that the Department can add other
areas to the annual LSA listing under the exceptional circumstance
criteria. Such additions are based upon information contained in
petitions submitted by the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) to the ETA's
national office. These petitions contain specific economic information
about an area in order to provide ample justification for adding the
area to the LSA listing under the exceptional circumstances criteria.
An area is eligible for classification as a LSA if it meets all of the
criteria, and if the exceptional circumstance event is not temporary or
seasonal. This data collection pertains only to data submitted
voluntarily by states in exceptional circumstances petitions.
Most of the information contained in the SWA LSA petitions is
already available from other sources, e.g., internal reports,
statistical programs, newspaper clippings, etc. The petitions are not
intended to provide new (unduplicated) information but serve to bring
various types of information together in a single document in order
that a LSA classification determination can be made. The only
information which SWAs may have to develop for use in the petition is
the 12-month projections of the area's labor force and unemployment. No
periodic reporting is required.
II. Desired Focus of Comments: 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.
A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be
obtained by contacting the office below in the ADDRESSES section of
this notice.
III. Current Actions: This is a request for the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) of an extension to an existing
collection of information previously approved and assigned OMB Control
No. 1205-0207. There is a reduction in burden based on an experience
rate for the last two years of the approved data collection period: one
petition in 2003 and zero in 2004.
Type of Review: Extension without change.
Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
Title: Procedures for Classifying Labor Surplus Areas Exceptional
Circumstances Reporting.
OMB Number: 1205-0207.
Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
Burden Table below:
Total Estimated Cost to SWAs: $208 ($24.93 average wage x 4 hours =
99.72 x 1 respondent = $99.72).
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Number of Response per Total Hours per Total burden
Form respondents year responses response hours
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Current Procedure............... 5 5 5 4 20
Proposed Procedure.............. 1 1 1 4 4
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Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): 0.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the ICR; they will
also become a matter of public record.
[[Page 40665]]
Dated: June 28, 2004.
Grace A. Kilbane,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Investment.
[FR Doc. 04-15175 Filed 7-2-04; 8:45 am]
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