[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 14421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06006]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Form ED-840P 
Petition by a Firm for Certification of Eligibility To Apply for Trade 
Adjustment Assistance; Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms Program

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of 
Commerce.

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 May 16, 2016.

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, Lead Program Analyst, Trade Adjustment 
Assistance Division, Room 71030, Economic Development Administration, 
1401 Constitution Ave. NW., 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 Reauthorization Act of 2015 (Pub. L. 
114-27) which reauthorized the program, through a national network of 
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. 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 71030, Washington DC 20230.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0610-0091.
    Form Number(s): ED-840P.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    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: $1,664,000 ($179,550 for 
petitions for certification and $1,485,000 for adjustment proposals).

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: March 14, 2016.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-06006 Filed 3-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-WH-P