[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 588-589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-33247]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection for Workforce 
Information Grants to States Application Instructions for PY 2011, 
Extension Without Revisions

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, 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 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 collection of data about the Workforce 
Information (WI) Grants to States, OMB Control Number 1205-0417 that 
expires on May 31, 2011.
    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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee's section below on or before March 7, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Mr. Anthony Dais, Room S-4231, 
Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210. 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 2008, 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 will expire on May 31, 
2011.
    On July 16, 2010, ETA published the application instructions for 
program year (PY) 2010 Workforce Information Grants to States (One-Stop 
Workforce Information Grant Plan and Annual Performance Report) through 
Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 3-10. ETA is requesting 
to continue the information collection requirements specified in TEGL 
3-10 and be granted OMB approval for three years following the current 
date of expiration. This Federal Register notice is to request public 
comments and recommendations regarding the continuation of the 
information collection.
    The purpose of the information collection required by TEGL 3-10 is 
to strengthen and support state and regional use of workforce and 
economic information, increase data integration, expand the use of 
economic analysis, information disseminated via the Internet and other 
means to inform workforce investment decision-making. At the same time, 
ETA intends to retain a high level of state flexibility, and maintain 
the current state reporting burden. It is ETA's goal for the Workforce 
Information Grants to States to support increased employment and 
sustainable economic growth and recovery by supporting state and local 
workforce system transformational efforts. Therefore, ETA expects 
states through their labor market information (LMI)/WI research 
entities to provide: Reliable foundational data; actionable workforce 
information; and economic research and information services to state 
and local policy makers, workforce system staff, job seekers, and 
external partners. These workforce information services will support 
the development of data-driven policy, inform training and employment 
program design and investment decision-making, support consultations 
with strategic partners, and leverage limited WI program grant 
resources.
    The data/information collection required from each grantee 
includes:
    (a) Submission of an annual grant statement of work (SOW) 
certification affirming the planned accomplishment of expected grant 
deliverables signed by both the Administrator of the State Workforce 
Agency (SWA) and the Chair of the State Workforce Investment Board 
(SWIB), or by the Governor.
    (b) Submission of published economic analyses, special workforce 
information reports, and/or economic studies determined to be relevant 
and of benefit to the Governor and state and local workforce investment 
boards (WIBs).
    (c) Submission of an annual performance report that is signed by 
both the Administrator of the SWA and Chair of the SWIB, or by the 
Governor.

[[Page 589]]

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 changes.
    Title: Workforce Information Grant to States (One-Stop Workforce 
Information Grant Plan and Annual Performance Report).
    OMB Number: 1205-0417.
    Affected Public: State.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Total Annual Respondents: 54.
    Annual Frequency: Once.
    Total Annual Responses: 162.
    Average Time per Response: Grant Prep and Certification--63 hrs; 
Relevant Economic Analyses--434 hrs; Annual Report--80 hrs;
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 31,158.
    Total Annual Burden Cost for Respondents: $1,246,320.
    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 28, 2010.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-33247 Filed 1-4-11; 8:45 am]
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