[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8491-8492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02526]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Trade 
Adjustment Assistance for Firms

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 8, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collection to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Miriam Kearse, Eligibility Examiner, Trade Adjustment 
Assistance Division, Room 71028, Economic Development Administration, 
Washington, DC 20230, telephone (202) 482-3963, facsimile (202) 482-
2883 (or via the Internet at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    EDA administers the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) 
Program, which is authorized under chapters 3 and 5 of title II of the 
Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2341 et seq.) (Trade Act), and 
the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011 (Pub. L. 112-40) 
which reauthorized the program, through a national network of 11 non-
profit and university-affiliated Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers 
(TAACs), each of which serves a different geographic service region. 
EDA certifies firms as eligible to participate in the TAAF Program and 
provides funding to allow eligible client-firms to receive adjustment 
assistance through the TAACs. The information collected on Form ED-840P 
and relevant supporting documentation is used to determine if a firm is 
eligible to participate in the program. In accordance with the Trade 
Act and EDA's regulations as set out at 13 CFR part 315, EDA must 
verify that the following have occurred: (1) A significant reduction in 
the number or proportion of the workers in the firm, a reduction in the 
workers' wage or work hours, or an imminent threat of such reductions; 
(2) sales or production of the firm have decreased absolutely, as 
defined in EDA's regulations, or sales or production, or both, of any 
article or service accounting for at least 25 percent of the firm's 
sales or production has decreased absolutely; and (3) an increase in 
imports of articles or services like or directly competitive with those 
produced or provided by the petitioning firm, which has contributed 
importantly to the decline in employment and sales or production of 
that firm. Additionally, the firm must demonstrate that its customers 
have reduced purchases from the firm in favor of buying items or 
services from foreign suppliers. The use of the form standardizes and 
limits the information collected as part of the certification process 
and eases the burden on applicants and reviewers alike.
    In addition, after being determined eligible for TAAF Program 
assistance using Form ED-840P, firms must create an EDA-approved 
adjustment proposal, which is each firm's business plan to remain 
viable in the current global economy, in order to receive financial 
assistance under the TAAF Program. Each adjustment proposal must meet 
certain requirements as set out in the Trade Act and EDA's regulation 
at 13 CFR 315.6. This notice also includes an estimate for adjustment 
proposals.

II. Method of Collection

    Form ED-840P may be obtained in Portable Document Format (PDF) from 
EDA or the TAACs upon request. TAACs are responsible for preparing the 
application on the firm's behalf.

[[Page 8492]]

Although there is no form associated with adjustment proposals, they 
must meet the requirements for adjustment proposals set out in EDA's 
regulation at 13 CFR 315.16. Both petitions for certification on Form 
ED-840P and adjustment proposals may be submitted via email to 
[email protected] or in hard copy to EDA at Trade Adjustment Assistance for 
Firms, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 71028, Washington DC 20230.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0610-0091.
    Form Number(s): ED-840P.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 800 (500 petitions for 
certification and 300 adjustment proposals).
    Estimated Time Per Response: 128.2 hours (8.2 for petitions for 
certification and 120 for adjustment proposals).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 40,100 (4,100 for petitions 
for certification and 36,000 for adjustment proposals).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: January 31, 2013.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-02526 Filed 2-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-WH-P