[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 190 (Wednesday, October 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56651-56652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24800]


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NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: NARA is giving public notice that the agency proposes to 
request extension of a currently approved information collection, NA 
Form 3035, Applicant Background Survey, to obtain source of 
recruitment, ethnicity, race,

[[Page 56652]]

and disability data on job applicants. The information is used to 
determine if the recruitment is effectively reaching all aspects of the 
relevant labor pool. The information is also used to determine if there 
are proportionate acceptance rates at various stages of the recruitment 
process. The public is invited to comment on the proposed information 
collection pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 1, 2003 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to: Paperwork Reduction Act Comments 
(NHP), Room 4400, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 
Adelphi Rd, College Park, MD 20740-6001; or faxed to 301-837-3213; or 
electronically mailed to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the proposed information collection and supporting statement 
should be directed to Tamee Fechhelm at telephone number 301-837-1694, 
or fax number 301-837-3213.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), NARA invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed information collections. The 
comments and suggestions should address one or more of the following 
points: (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of NARA; (b) the accuracy 
of NARA's estimate of the burden of the proposed information 
collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) ways, including the use of 
information technology, to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents. The comments that are submitted will be 
summarized and included in the NARA request for Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record. In this notice, NARA is soliciting comments concerning the 
following information collection:
    Title: Applicant Background Survey.
    OMB number: 3095-0045.
    Agency form number: NA Form 3035.
    Type of review: Regular.
    Affected public: Applicants for NARA jobs.
    Estimated number of respondents: 2,593.
    Estimated time per response: 5 minutes.
    Frequency of response: On occasion (when applicant wishes to apply 
for a job at NARA).
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 216 hours.
    Abstract: A diverse workforce enhances our agency by ensuring that 
we can draw on the widest possible variety of viewpoints and 
experiences to improve the planning and actions we undertake to achieve 
our mission and goals. By promoting and valuing workforce diversity, we 
create a work setting where these varied experiences contribute to a 
more efficient and dynamic organization and employees can develop to 
their full potential. To achieve these ends and in accordance with our 
Strategic Plan, we constantly work to improve our performance in hiring 
and promoting people in underrepresented groups.
    This form is used to obtain source of recruitment, ethnicity, race, 
and disability data on job applicants to determine if the recruitment 
is effectively reaching all aspects of the relevant labor pool and to 
determine if there are proportionate acceptance rates at various stages 
of the recruitment process. Use of this form allows us to objectively 
determine the barriers to recruitment and selection that affect 
underrepresented groups. There is no source of this information other 
than directly from applicants.
    Response is optional. The information is used for evaluating 
recruitment only, and plays no part in the selection of who is hired. 
The information is not provided to selecting officials and plays no 
part in the selection of individuals. Instead, it is used in summary 
form to determine trends over many selections within a given occupation 
or organizational area. The information is treated in a very 
confidential manner. No information from the form is entered into the 
personnel file of the individual selected and all the forms are 
destroyed after the conclusion of the selection process.
    The format of the questions on ethnicity and race are compliant 
with OMB requirements and comparable to those used by other Federal 
agencies. This form is a further simplification and update of a similar 
OPM applicant background survey used by NARA for many years.

    Dated: September 17, 2003.
L. Reynolds Cahoon,
Assistant Archivist for Human Resources and Information Services.
[FR Doc. 03-24800 Filed 9-30-03; 8:45 am]
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