[Federal Register: March 30, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 59)]
[Notices]               
[Page 14158-14159]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30mr09-86]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

 
Employment and Training Administration Submission for OMB 
Emergency Review: Comment Request

March 24, 2009.
    The Department of Labor has submitted the following information 
collection request (ICR), utilizing emergency review procedures, to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35) and 5 CFR 1320.13. OMB approval has been requested 
by March 30, 2009. A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting 
documentation; including among other things a description of the likely 
respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden 
may be obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain or by contacting Darrin King on 202-
693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number)/e-mail: DOL_PRA_
PUBLIC@dol.gov. Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk 
Officer for the Department of Labor-ETA, Office of Management and 
Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 202-395-7316/ Fax: 
202-395-6974 (these are not toll-free numbers), e-mail: OIRA_
submission@omb.eop.gov.

[[Page 14159]]

Comments and questions about the ICR listed below should be received by 
March 30, 2009.
    The OMB 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.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title of Collection: State/Local Consultations on Readiness for 
Implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
    OMB Control Number: Pending.
    Frequency of Collection: One time collection.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies and Local Areas 
designated under the Workforce Investment Act.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 45 minutes.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 78.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 59 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Costs Burden: $0.
    Description: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
(ARRA) outlines the public workforce system's important role in helping 
workers prepare for and find employment, and providing work experience 
for youth. The Act contains many provisions for ensuring a successful 
implementation of effective workforce interventions. To ensure success, 
Federal, State and local workforce systems must be guided by four 
overriding principles: (1) Transparency and accountability in the use 
of funds; (2) timely spending of the funds and implementation of 
quality activities; (3) expanded workforce system capacity and service 
levels; and, (4) increased training leading to increased employment 
opportunities. The first step in the process is to accurately assess 
workforce system readiness across key administrative and program areas 
and to identify Technical Assistance (TA) needs. To do this, ETA 
Regional Offices will conduct an assessment of states and many local 
areas, compile those assessment responses, and provide recommendations 
on technical assistance actions ETA should take to support state and 
local implementation of the ARRA.

Why Are We Requesting Emergency Processing?

    If DOL were to comply with standard PRA clearance procedures, it 
would not be able to properly comply with the ARRA-mandated requirement 
to assess and mitigate risk associated with the allocation of ARRA 
funds. The Department will take all necessary steps in consulting with 
state workforce agencies to minimize the burden of collecting the 
readiness information.

Darrin A. King,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E9-6968 Filed 3-27-09; 8:45 am]

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