[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 240 (Friday, December 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71159-71161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24180]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Proposed Collection for Workforce Information Grants to States 
Application Instructions for Program Year (PY) 2008; Comment Request

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor.

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 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 a revision to a currently approved collection for 
Workforce Information Grants to States under OMB Control Number 1205-
0417.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained

[[Page 71160]]

by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this 
notice or by accessing: http://www.doleta.gov/OMBCN/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee's section below on or before February 12, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Employment and Training 
Administration, Room S-4231, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20210, Attention: Anthony Dais, Telephone number: 202-693-2784 (this 
is not a toll-free number). Fax: 202-693-3015. E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In May 2005, The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) 
received three year approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) to publish without change the annual planning guidance for the 
Workforce Information Grants to States under OMB Control Number 1205-
0417. This approval is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2008.
    This Federal Register Notice is to request public comments and 
recommendations regarding the revision of the information collection.
    The purpose of the information collection is to strengthen and 
support state workforce and economic information integration, analysis 
and distribution; retain a high level of state flexibility; and reduce 
the state reporting burden. It is ETA's goal to continue the 
transformation of workforce information and services to support 
regional economies. Therefore, ETA expects states to participate in 
regionally-focused economic and workforce activities; actively 
collaborate with economic development, business and education partners 
to create and utilize an array of current and real-time workforce and 
economic data; integrate workforce information and economic data in a 
manner that results in accessible, user-friendly tools and products; 
assist economic development project teams assess and identify asset 
gaps; and help develop integrated economic development strategies that 
unify workforce and economic development systems. The data/information 
collection required from each grantee includes:
    (a) Submission of an annual state certification of a statement of 
work attesting to the planned accomplishment of expected grant 
deliverables signed by the Governor, or by both the Administrator of 
the State Workforce Agency (SWA) and the Chair of the State Workforce 
Investment Board (SWIB).
    (b) A published detailed state economic analysis report for use by 
the Governor and the SWIB.
    (c) Submission of an annual grant performance report signed by the 
Governor, or by both the Administrator of the SWA and Chair of the 
SWIB.

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

    Notice--Proposed collection; comment request.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Workforce Information Grants to States Application 
Instructions for Program Year (PY) 2008.
    OMB Number: 1205-0417.
    Recordkeeping: N/A.
    Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Form: N/A.
    Total Respondents: 54.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Total Responses: 162.
    Average Time per Response: Grant Prep & Certification--63 hours; 
State Economic Analysis Report--434 hours; and Annual Report (on state 
grant performance)--80 hours;
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 31,158.
    Total Burden Cost: $0.

 
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                                     Number of     Responses per       Total         Hour per      Total burden
            Activity                respondents        year          responses       response          hours
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Grant Prep & Certification......              54               1              54              63           3,402
State Economic Analysis Report..              54               1              54             434          23,436
Annual Report...................              54               1              54              80           4,320
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    Totals......................              54               3             162             577          31,158
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[[Page 71161]]

    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: December 7, 2007.
 Gay M. Gilbert,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Investment, Employment and Training 
Administration.
 [FR Doc. E7-24180 Filed 12-13-07; 8:45 am]
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