[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16296-16297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7322]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services; Proposed 
Collection; Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship and Training 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

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 is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of the collection of the 
registered apprenticeship programs under Title 29 CFR part 30 (Equal 
Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship and Training). A copy of the 
proposed information collection request (ICR) 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's section below on or before May 22, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Anthony Swoope, Administrator, Office of Apprenticeship 
Training, Employer and Labor Services, 200 Constitution Ave., NW. Room 
S-1310, Washington, DC 20210; E-mail Internet address: 
[email protected]; Telephone number: (202) 693-2796 (this is not a 
toll-free number); Fax number: (202) 693-2808 (this is not a toll-free 
number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The National Apprenticeship Act of 1937 authorizes and direct the 
Secretary of Labor ``to formulate and promote the furtherance of labor 
standards necessary to safeguard the welfare of apprentices, to extend 
the application of such

[[Page 16297]]

standards by encouraging the inclusion thereof in contracts of 
apprenticeship, to bring together employers and labor for the 
formulation of programs of apprenticeship, to cooperate with State 
agencies engaged in the formulation and promotion of standards of 
apprenticeship, and to cooperate with the Secretary of Education * * 
*'' (29 U.S.C. 50). Section 50a of the Act authorizes the Secretary of 
Labor to ``publish information relating to existing and proposed labor 
standards of apprenticeship,'' and to ``appoint national advisory 
committees * * *'' (29 U.S.C. 50a).
    Title 29 CFR Part 30 sets forth policies and procedures to promote 
equality of opportunity in apprenticeship programs registered with the 
U.S. Department of Labor and recognized State apprenticeship agencies. 
These policies and procedures apply to recruitment and selection of 
apprentices, and to all conditions of employment and training during 
apprenticeship. The procedures provide for review of apprenticeship 
programs, for registering apprenticeship programs, for processing 
complaints, and for deregistering noncomplying apprenticeship programs. 
This part also provides policies and procedures for continuation or 
withdrawal of recognition of State agencies which register 
apprenticeship programs for Federal purposes.

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 clarify 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

    Recordkeeping and data collection activities regarding registered 
apprenticeship are by-products of the registration system. 
Organizations which apply for apprenticeship sponsorship enter into an 
agreement with the Federal Government or cognizant State government to 
operate their proposed programs consistent with 29 CFR part 30. 
Apprenticeship sponsors are not required to file reports regarding 
their apprentices other than individual registration and update 
information as an apprentice moves through their program.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Title 29 CFR part 30, Equal Employment Opportunity in 
Apprenticeship and Training.
    OMB Number: 1205-0224 for 29 CFR part 30.
    Affected Public: Apprentices, Sponsors, State Apprenticeship 
Councils or Agencies.
    Form: ETA Form 9039.
    Total Respondents: See Chart.
    Frequency: 1-time basis.
    Total Responses: See Chart.
    Average Time per Response: See Chart.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 6,264.
    Recordkeeping: Apprenticeship sponsors are required to keep 
accurate records on recruitment, selection, employment and training 
activities related to the applicant and/or apprentice and the 
qualifications of each applicant/apprentice pertaining to determination 
of compliance with these regulations. Records must be retained, where 
appropriate, regarding affirmative action plans and evidence that 
qualification standards have been validated. State Apprenticeship 
Councils are also obligated to keep adequate records pertaining to 
determination of compliance with these regulations. All of the above 
records are required to be maintained for five years. If this 
information was not required, there would be no documentation that the 
apprenticeship programs were being operated in a nondiscriminatory 
manner. Many apprenticeship programs are 4 years or more in duration; 
therefore, it is important to maintain the records for at least 5 
years.

                                                          Summary of Burden for 29 CFR Part 30
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                                                                                                                Average  time/
              Section                   Total respondents           Frequency           Total responses            response                Burden
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Sec. 30.3..........................  1,497 spon............  1-time................  1,497................  \1/2\ hr./spon.......  749 hrs.
Sec. 30.4..........................  112 spon..............  1-time................  112..................  1 hr./spon...........  112 hrs.
Sec. 30.5..........................  5,589 spon............  1-time/applicant......  5,589................  \1/2\ hr./spon.......  2,945 hrs.
30.6...............................  50 spon...............  1-time................  50...................  5 hrs./spon..........  250 hrs.
30.8...............................  37,425 spon...........  1-time................  37,425...............  1 min./spon..........  624 hrs.
30.8...............................  30 State Agencies.....  1-time/program........  18,713...............  5 min./spon..........  1,559 hrs.
30.11..............................  37,425 spon...........  1-time................  37,425...............  Handout..............  .....................
ETA 9039...........................  50 appl/appr..........  1-time................  50...................  \1/2\ hr.............  25 hrs.
30.15..............................  30 State Agencies.....  1-time................  Completed............  .....................  .....................
30.19..............................  30 State Agencies.....  varies.
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    Total..........................  ......................  ......................  6,051................  .....................  6,264 hrs.
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    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: March 19, 2001.
Anthony Swoope,
Administrator, Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor 
Services.
[FR Doc. 01-7322 Filed 3-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P