Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: December 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 244)]

[Notices]

[Page 71503-71505]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr21de99-129]

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

Trade Adjustment Assistance/NAFTA Financial Status Report/Request for Funds; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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

[[Page 71504]]

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 is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance/North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Transitional Adjustment Assistance program Financial Status Report/ Request for Funds. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed 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 February 22, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Jess Aragon or Erica Cantor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20210, 202-219-7979 (this is not a toll free number). FAX number 202-219-6564.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

  1. Background

    The amendments to the Trade Act contained in the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (OTCA) of 1988 (Public Law 100-418) and Title 5 of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Public Law 103-182) of 1993 made some significant changes which affect the way the Trade Adjustment Assistance and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Adjustment Assistance programs are funded and administered. These changes made enrollment in training programs an entitlement for workers adversely affected by imports (Trade program) or by imports from Canada or Mexico (NAFTA program). Thus, the Trade program and NAFTA trade program consists of entitlements for trade readjustment allowances, job search allowances, job relocation allowances and training. In order for workers to continue to receive entitlement to trade adjustment allowances, they must be enrolled in a training program approved by the Secretary of Labor (1423 of OTCA) for the trade program and (section 250 of the NAFTA Implementation Act) for the NAFTA program.

    Although training becomes an entitlement under both programs, the OTCA imposed a training cap in section 236 for the Trade program and under subchapter D for the NAFTA program. The statutory cap is $80 million for the Trade program and $30 million for the NAFTA program. The purpose of the collection of this information on the Form ETA-9023 is to be able to monitor expenditures for both programs to ensure that the statutory ceilings are not exceeded.

    Additionally, the Secretary of Labor is responsible for ensuring that resources are equitably distributed to the States. This form enables the ETA to evaluate a State's need for resources and to redistribute resources among States as necessary.

  2. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments which:

    ‹bullet› 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;

    ‹bullet› 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;

    ‹bullet› Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

    ‹bullet› 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.

  3. Current Actions

    The ETA-9023 has been successfully utilized by the ETA and the States with only minor modifications since FY 1989. The Federal Register Notice requests an extension of the ETA-9023 for both the TAA and NAFTA programs. Overall, States have done a commendable job in completing the form with relatively minor problems or questions raised by the States on the form. The ETA-9023 has been extremely important to the ETA over the last several years because the entire $80 million available, under the statutory cap for the Trade program for training was allocated to the States. The ETA-9023 report was critical in allowing ETA to be able to redistribute resources equitably among States so training activity would not be discontinued in some States.

    Type of Review: Reinstatement.

    Title: Trade Adjustment Assistance/NAFTA Financial Status Report/ Request for Funds.

    OMB Number: 1205-0275.

    Agency Number: ETA-9023.

    Affected Public: State Government, State Employment Security Agencies.

    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: See below.

    Total

    Total Average time Cite/reference

    respondents Frequency responses per responses Burden

    TAA Rptg........................

    50

    5

    250

    2 hrs.

    500 NAFTA Rptg......................

    50

    5

    250

    2 hrs.

    500

    Totals...................... .............. ..............

    500 ..............

    1,000 .............. ..............

    .............. ..............

    ..............

    [[Page 71505]]

    The total costs is $26.00 x 100 hours = $26,000.

    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: December 15, 1999. Jack H. Rapport, Comptroller, Employment and Training Administration.

    [FR Doc. 99-32985Filed12-20-99; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4510-30-P

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