[Federal Register: April 25, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 80)]
[Notices]
[Page 20835-20836]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ap01-83]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training 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 and Training Administration (ETA) is
soliciting comments concerning the proposed
[[Page 20836]]
extension on the collection of data contained in the procedures to
petition ETA for classification as a Labor Surplus Area (LSA) under
exceptional circumstances criteria.
A copy of the proposed information collection request can be
obtained by contacting the office below in the ADDRESSES section of
this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
ADDRESSES section below on or before June 25, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Gay Gilbert,
Division Chief, U.S. Employment Service/ALMIS, Office of Workforce
Security, Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution
Ave., NW., Rm. C-4512, Washington, DC 20210; (202) 693-3046 (not a
toll-free number); Internet address: ggilbert@doleta.gov; and/or Fax:
(202) 693-3229.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
20 CFR parts 654, the Secretary of Labor is required to classify
labor surplus areas (LSAs) and disseminate this information for the use
of all Federal agencies. This information is used by Federal agencies
for various purposes including procurement decision, food stamp waiver
decisions, certain small business loan decisions, as well as other
purposes determined by the agencies. The LSA listings are issued
annually, effective October 1 of each year, utilizing data from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Areas meeting the criteria are classified
as Labor Surplus Areas.
The Department's regulations specify that the Department can add
other areas to the annual LSA listing under the exceptional
circumstance criteria in 20 CFR 654.5. Such additions are based upon
information contained in petitions submitted by the State Employment
Security Agencies (SESAs) to the national office of the ETA. 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 circumstance criteria. Exceptional circumstances
as defined in 20 CFR 654.5(a) are catastrophic events, such as natural
disasters, plant closings, and contract cancellations expected to have
a long-term impact on labor market area conditions, discounting
temporary or seasonal factors. This data collection pertains only to
data submitted voluntarily by States in exceptional circumstance
petitions.
Most of the information contained in the SESA LSA petitions is
already available from other sources, e.g., internal reports,
statistical programs, newspaper clippings, and other similar
information. The petitions are not intended to provide new
(unduplicated) information but, rather, are intended to bring various
types of information together in a single document in order to make an
LSA classification determination. No periodic reporting is required.
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:
This is a request for 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 year of
the approved data collection period. During the current OMB approved
period, a maximum of five petitions annually have been received and
processed. Therefore, a reduction is being reported for the next
period.
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 Employment Security Agencies.
Total Responses: 5.
Average Time Per Response: 4 hours.
Total Burden Hours: 20.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
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; they will also
become a matter of public record.
Dated: April 17, 2001.
Gay Gilbert,
Division Chief of U.S. Employment Service/ALMIS.
[FR Doc. 01-10245 Filed 4-24-01; 8:45 am]
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