[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 3654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1027]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Request for Extension of Previously Approved Information 
Collection: ATAA Activities Report, 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 extension of the Alternative Trade 
Adjustment Assistance Activities Report (ATAAAR). A copy of the 
proposed collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the 
office listed below in the addressee section of this notice by 
accessing: http://www.doleta.gov/OMBCN/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed below on 
or before March 23, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Susan Worden, U.S. Department of 
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Room C-5325, 200 
Constitution Avenue, Phone: 202-693-3708 (this is not a toll-free 
number), Fax: 202.693.3517, E-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Section 246 of Title II, Chapter 2 of the Trade Act of 1974, as 
amended by the Trade Act of 2002, establishes ATAA as an alternative 
assistance program for older workers certified eligible to apply for 
Trade Adjustment Assistance. This program is effective for petitions 
filed on or after August 6, 2003. ATAA is designed to allow eligible 
older workers for whom retraining may not be appropriate to quickly 
find reemployment and receive a wage subsidy to help bridge the salary 
gap between their old and new employment. To receive the ATAA benefits, 
workers must be TAA and ATAA certified.
    Key workload data on ATAA is needed to measure program activities 
and to allocate program and administrative funds to the State Agencies 
administering the Trade programs for the Secretary. States will provide 
this information on the ATAA Activities Report (ATAAAR).
    Regulations published at 617.61 give the Secretary authority to 
require the States to report the data described in this directive; 
therefore the respondents' obligation to fulfill these requirements is 
mandatory.
    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 without change.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance Activities Report 
(ATAAAR), ETA.
    OMB Number: 1205-0459.
    Recordkeeping: Respondent is expected to maintain records which 
support the requested data for three years.
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Burden (annual): 50 Responses x .43 Hours x 4 quarters = 86 hours.
    Total Respondents: 50.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Responses: 200 annually.
    Average Time per Response: .43 Hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 86 Hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice 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: January 12, 2009.
Erin FitzGerald,
Director, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance, Office of National 
Response, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-1027 Filed 1-16-09; 8:45 am]
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