[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 23281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9240]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; O*Net Data Collection Program

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and 
Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request 
(ICR) titled, ``O*Net Data Collection Program,'' to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.).

DATES: Submit comments on or before May 18, 2012.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the 
RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, on the 
day following publication of this notice or by contacting Michel Smyth 
by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or 
sending an email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-ETA, Office of 
Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 
202-395-6929/Fax: 202-395-6881 (these are not toll-free numbers), 
email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Occupational Information Network (O*Net) 
Data Collection Program yields detailed characteristics of occupations 
and skills for over 800 occupations by obtaining information from job 
incumbents/occupational specialists on worker and job characteristics 
to populate the O*Net database. The O*Net database information is used 
for a wide range of purposes related to career counseling and 
development, curriculum design, human resources functions and workforce 
investment efforts. The data collection methodology includes contacting 
businesses/associations to gain their cooperation, and collecting 
information from employees of cooperating businesses/associations as 
well as occupational specialists. While not affecting public burdens, 
this ICR technically qualifies as a revision under the PRA. The agency 
has added a questionnaire comment box soliciting respondent feedback on 
the last page of the Background/Association Questionnaire and removed a 
question about apprenticeship from the Knowledge Questionnaire. The 
agency has also made minor editorial changes to cover materials, to be 
consistent with other DOL information collections.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the 
collection of information does not display a valid OMB Control Number. 
See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this 
information collection under OMB Control Number 1205-0421. The current 
OMB approval is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2012; however, it should 
be noted that existing information collection requirements submitted to 
the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. 
For additional information, see the related notice published in the 
Federal Register on November 29, 2011 (76 FR 73680).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should reference OMB Control Number 1205-0421. 
The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
     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 submission of responses.
    Agency: DOL-ETA.
    Title of Collection: O*Net Data Collection Program.
    OMB Control Number: 1205-0421.
    Affected Public: Federal Government; Individuals or Households; 
Private Sector--Businesses or Other For-Profits, Farms, and Not-for-
Profit Institutions; State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 25,168.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 26,287.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 13,671.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: April 12, 2012.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-9240 Filed 4-17-12; 8:45 am]
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