[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 129 (Thursday, July 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38426-38427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10505]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Collection; 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 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, Office of 
Apprenticeship is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension 
of the collection for the Title 29 CFR part 30, Equal Employment 
Opportunity in Apprenticeship 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 or at this Web site: http://www.doleta.gov/Performance/guidance/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before September 5, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Anthony Swoope, Administrator, Office of Apprenticeship, 
U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Room 
N-5311, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 
(202) 693-2796 (This is not a toll-free number), Fax: (202) 693-2808, 
or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The National Apprenticeship Act of 1937, Section 50 (29 U.S.C. 50), 
authorizes and directs 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 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 in accordance with Section 17 
of Title 20.'' 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).

[[Page 38427]]

    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 non-complying 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 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

    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Title 29 CFR part 30, Equal Employment Opportunity in 
Apprenticeship Training.
    OMB Number: 1205-0224.
    Agency Form Number: ETA 9039.
    Recordkeeping: Apprenticeship sponsors are required to keep 
accurate records on recruitment, selection of the applicant and/or 
apprentice and the employment and training activities related to the 
apprentice and the qualifications of each applicant/apprentice 
pertaining to determination of compliance with the regulation. 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 four years or more in 
duration; therefore, it is important to maintain the records for at 
least five years.
    Affected Public: Applicants, Apprentices, Sponsors, State 
Apprenticeship Councils or Agencies, Tribal Government.
    Total Respondents: 28,800.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 5,842.

                                                          Summary of Burden for 29 CFR Part 30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                              Burden
               Sec.                  Total respondents           Frequency               Total responses       Average time per response      (hours)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30.3.............................  1,540...............  1-time basis.............  1,540....................  1/2 hr./spon.............             770
30.4.............................  70..................  1-time basis.............  70.......................  1 hr./spon...............              70
30.5.............................  6,140...............  1-time basis.............  6,140....................  1/2 hr./spon.............           3,070
30.6.............................  50..................  1-time basis.............  50.......................  5 hrs./spon..............             250
30.8.............................  28,800..............  1-time/ program..........  28,800...................  1 min./spon..............             480
30.8.............................  30 State Agencies...  1-time basis.............  14,120...................  5 min./spon..............           1,177
30.11............................  28,800..............  1 time...................  28,800...................  Handout..................  ..............
ETA 9039.........................  50 appl/appr........  1-time basis.............  50.......................  1/2 hr...................              25
30.15............................  30 State Agencies...  1-time...................  Completed................  .........................  ..............
30.19............................  30 State Agencies...  Varies...................  .........................  .........................  ..............
    Totals.......................  28,800..............  .........................  50,770...................  .........................           5,842
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: June 23, 2006.
Anthony Swoope,
Administrator, Office of Apprenticeship.
[FR Doc. E6-10505 Filed 7-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P