[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58899-58900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20463]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request for Submission of 
Petition for Classifying Labor Surplus Areas; Comment Request

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, DOL.

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 pre-clearance 
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

[[Page 58900]]

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 data contained in the procedures to petition for 
classification as a Labor Surplus Area (LSA) under exceptional 
circumstances criteria. 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/OMBCN/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before December 17, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Anthony D. Dais, Office of Workforce Investment, Employment 
and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4231, 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-2784 (This is not a toll-
free number); fax (202) 693-3015; or e-mail [[email protected]].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Under Executive Orders 12073 and 10582, and 20 CFR parts 651 and 
654, The Secretary of Labor is required to classify LSAs and 
disseminate this information for the use of all Federal Agencies. This 
information is used by Federal agencies for various purposes including 
procurement decisions, food stamp waiver decisions, certain small 
business loan decisions, as well as other purposes determined by the 
agencies. The LSA list is issued annually, effective October 1 of each 
year, utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Areas meeting 
the criteria are classified as LSAs.
    Department regulations specify that the Department can add other 
areas to the annual LSA listing under the exceptional circumstance 
criteria. Such additions are based upon information contained in 
petitions submitted by the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) to the ETA's 
national office. 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 circumstances criteria. 
An area is eligible for classification as a LSA if it meets all of the 
criteria, and if the exceptional circumstance event is not temporary or 
seasonal. This data collection pertains only to data submitted 
voluntary by states exceptional circumstances petitions.
    Most of the information contained the SWA LSA petitions is already 
available from other sources, e.g., internal reports, statistical 
programs, newspaper clippings, etc. The petitions are not intended to 
provide new (unduplicated) information but serve to bring various types 
of information together in a single document in order that a LSA 
classification determination can be made. The only information which 
SWAs may have to develop for use in the petition is the 12-month 
projections of the area's labor force and unemployment. 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

    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection. There 
is no reduction in burden based on an experience rate of the approved 
data collection period: The ETA has not received a petition since 2003.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration
    Title: Procedures for Classifying Labor Surplus Areas Exceptional 
Circumstances Reporting.
    OMB Number: 1205-0207.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Total Respondents: 1.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 3.
    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: October 11, 2007.
Gay M. Gilbert,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Investment Employment & Training 
Administration.
 [FR Doc. E7-20463 Filed 10-16-07; 8:45 am]
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