ESA Federal Register Notice

Proposed Collection; Comment Request [10/24/1997]

Volume 62, Number 206, Page 55428-55429

[DOCID:fr24oc97-100]

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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 following information collections: (1) 
Application for a Farm Labor Contractor or a Farm Labor Contractor 
Employee Certificate of Registration, Form WH-530. Copies of the 
proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting 
the office listed below in the addressee section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before December 23, 1997. 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.

ADDRESSES: Contact Ms. Margaret Sherrill at the U.S. Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room S-3201, Washington, D.C. 
20210, telephone (202) 219-7601. The Fax number is (202) 219-6592. 
(These are not toll-free numbers.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 101(a) of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Protection 
Act (MSPA) provides that no person shall engage in farm labor 
contracting activity unless such person has a certificate of 
registration from the Secretary of Labor specifying which farm labor 
contracting activities (i.e., recruiting, soliciting, hiring, 
employing, furnishing transportation, or transporting any migrant or 
seasonal agricultural worker, with respect to migrant agricultural 
workers, providing housing) such worker is authorized to perform. 
Sections 101(b) of the MSPA provides that a farm labor contractor shall 
not hire, employ, or use any individual to perform farm labor 
contracting activities (i.e., recruiting, soliciting, hiring, 
employing, furnishing transportation, or transporting any migrant or 
seasonal agricultural worker) unless such individual has a certificate 
of registration or a certificate of registration as an employee of a 
farm labor contractor employer, which authorizes the activity for which 
such individual is hired, employed, or used. Form WH-530 is used by the 
Farm Labor Contractor applicants to obtain authorization to engage in 
farm labor contracting activities under MSPA and by Farm Labor 
Contractor Employee applicants to be hired, employed, or used by a farm 
labor contractor to perform farm labor contracting activities under 
MSPA. The completed form must be subscribed and sworn to before a 
person authorized to administer oaths.
    Current Actions: The Department of Labor (DOL) seeks extension of 
approval to collect this information in order to carry out its 
responsibility to meet the statutory requirements of MSPA to file

[[Page 55429]]

a written application with the Secretary containing certain specified 
information concerning farm labor activities. This information is 
essential to enable the Administrator, Wage and Hour Division to carry 
out the statutory obligation under MSPA to determine that an applicant 
has met all requirements of the Act to be hired, employed, used by a 
specific farm labor contractor to recruit, solicit, hire, employ, 
furnish transportation or transport any migrant or seasonal 
agricultural worker.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Application for a Farm Labor Contractor or Farm Labor 
Contractor Employee Certificate of Registration.
    OMB Number: 15-0037 and 1215-0038.
    Agency Numbers: WH-530.
    Affected Public: Individuals of households; business or other for-
profit; farms.
    Total Respondents: 7,500.
    Frequency: Biennially.
    Total Responses: 7,500.
    Average Time Per Response for Reporting: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 3,750.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $1,560.00.
    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 Seasonal; they will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: October 2, 1997.
Cecily A. Rayburn,
Director, Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, 
Administration and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-28258 Filed 10-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-M