[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20835-20836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10245]


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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: [email protected]; 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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