[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65604-65605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27211]


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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 is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed revision of data collections using 
Form ETA 563, Quarterly Determinations, Allowance Activities, and 
Employability Services Under the Trade Act (1205-0016 expires 12/02), 
and reinstatement Form ETA 9027 (1205-0016 expired 11/90), Training 
Waivers Issued and Revoked.
    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 section below on or before December 24, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Erin L. FitzGerald, Program Analyst, Division of Trade 
Adjustment Assistance, Room C-5311, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20210. Phone (202) 693-3506 (this is not a toll-free 
number), fax (202) 693-3584, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Trade Act of 1974, Section 236(d), as amended, requires the 
President to submit an annual report to the Congress on the trade 
agreements program, which includes information on trade adjustment 
assistance for workers. Furthermore, key workload data on the Trade 
Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and North American Free Trade Agreement-
Transitional Adjustment Assistance (NAFTA-TAA) programs are needed to 
allocate program and administrative funds to State agencies 
administering the program for the Secretary. The Trade Adjustment 
Assistance Reform Act of 2002 amended the Trade Act of 1974. This 
revision to the ETA 563 (1205-0016 expires 12/02) incorporates changes 
necessary to accurately reflect the 2002 amendments.
    The Trade Act of 1974, Section 231(a)(5)(A), as amended by the 
Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002, requires participants 
to be enrolled in training within 16 weeks of their most recent 
qualifying separation or 8 weeks of the certification covering the 
worker in order to receive income support. The Trade Act as amended, 
Section 231(c), allows the enrollment in training requirement to be 
waived, and provides 6 specific criteria for issuing waivers. Allowable 
reasons for waiving the training requirement include the worker is 
expected to be recalled, the worker possesses marketable skills, the 
worker is within 2 years of retirement, the worker is in poor health, 
enrollment is not available, and training is not available. The statute 
requires the State agencies administering the Trade Adjustment 
Assistance (TAA) program for the Secretary to report to the Secretary 
on training waivers issued and revoked. The data collected in the 
reinstated and revised ETA 9027 (1205-0016 expired 11/90) will serve as 
that

[[Page 65605]]

report and will also be used in the Secretary's annual report to 
Congress on training waivers issued and revoked.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    [sbull] 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 notice of proposed revision of collection of information 
currently approved by OMB (ETA 563, 1205-0016 expires 12/02) and 
proposed reinstatement with changes of a collection of information 
previously approved by OMB (ETA 9027, 1205-0016 expired 11/90). This 
revision of the ETA 563 incorporates amendments in benefit eligibility 
set forth in the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002, 
reduces the burden hours, and eliminates data elements duplicated in 
the Trade Act Participant Report (TAPR) (1205-0392, expires 2/04). The 
reinstatement with changes of the ETA 9027 complies with amendments in 
waiver eligibility and required reporting set forth in the Trade 
Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Quarterly Determinations, Allowance Activities, and 
Employability Services Under the Trade Act; Training Waivers Issued and 
Revoked.
    OMB Number: 1205-0016.
    Recordkeeping: 2 years.
    Affected Public: State or Local Government.

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                                        Total                                        Total
          Cite/reference             respondents            Frequency              responses     Average time per response              Burden
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ETA 563..........................              52  Quarterly..................          17,100  8 minutes..................  2,223 hours.
ETA 9027.........................              52  Quarterly..................             180  15 minutes.................  45 hours.
Combined Reprogramming burden....              52  One time...................  ..............  Minimal....................  Minimal.
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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $100,000.
    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: October 22, 2002.
Edward A. Tomchick,
Director, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 02-27211 Filed 10-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P