[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 87 (Thursday, May 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27175-27176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10536]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection for Form ETA-232, 
Domestic Agricultural In-Season Wage Report and Form ETA-232A, Wage 
Survey Interview Record, Extension With Revisions

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Department of 
Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (Department), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the 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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps 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, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the collection of 
data for Form ETA-232, Domestic Agricultural In-Season Wage Report and 
Form ETA-232A, Wage Survey Interview Record. Both forms exist under OMB 
Control No. 1205-0017, and both expire September 20, 2016. These forms 
are used by the State Workforce Agencies to collect wage information 
from agricultural employers.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before July 5, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Brian Pasternak, National 
Director of Temporary Programs, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, 
Box 12-200, Employment & Training Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. Telephone 
number: 202-693-3010 (this is not a toll-free number). Individuals with 
hearing or speech impairments may access the telephone number above via 
TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service at 1-
877-889-5627 (TTY/TDD). Fax: 202-693-2768. Email: 
[email protected] subject line: ETA-232. A copy of the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the 
office listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    This information collection is required by the Wagner-Peyser Act, 
codified at 20 CFR part 653, which covers the requirements for the 
acceptance and handling of intrastate and interstate job clearance 
orders seeking workers to perform agricultural or food processing work 
on a less than year-round basis. Section 653.501(d)(4) states, in 
pertinent part, that employers must assure that the ``wages and working 
conditions are not less than the prevailing wages and working 
conditions among similarly employed agricultural workers in the area of 
intended employment or the applicable Federal or State minimum wage, 
whichever is higher.''
    This collection is also required by regulations for the temporary 
employment of alien agricultural workers in the United States (20 CFR 
part 655, subpart B) promulgated under section 218 of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (INA), as amended, which require employers to pay 
covered workers at least the adverse effect wage rate in effect at the 
time the work is performed, the prevailing hourly wage or piece rate, 
the agreed-upon collective bargaining wage, or the legal Federal or 
State minimum wage rate, whichever is highest, unless special 
procedures apply to the occupation. See 20 CFR 655.120(a).
    The vehicle for establishing the prevailing wage rate is Form ETA-
232, The Domestic Agricultural In-Season Wage Report. This Report 
contains the prevailing wage finding based on data collected by the 
States from employers in a specific crop area using the Form ETA-232A, 
Wage Survey Interview Record. In addition, the State Workforce Agencies 
(SWAs) collect information from agricultural employers to determine 
prevailing, normal, accepted or common employment practices for a 
specific occupational classification as required by 20 CFR 
653.501(d)(3).

II. Review Focus

    The Department 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

[[Page 27176]]

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

    In order to meet its statutory responsibilities under the INA, the 
Department needs to extend an existing collection of information 
pertaining to wage rates for various crop activities.
    Type of Review: extension with revisions.
    Title: Domestic Agricultural In-Season Wage Report and Wage Survey 
Interview Record.
    OMB Number: 1205-0017.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profits and farms; state, 
local, or tribal governments.
    Form(s): ETA-232 and ETA-232A.
    Total Annual Respondents: 24,662.
    Annual Frequency: 129.
    Total Annual Responses: 27,658.
    Average Time per Response: 36 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 16,477.
    Total Annual Burden Cost for Respondents: 0.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the ICR; 
they will also become a matter of public record.

Portia Wu,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2016-10536 Filed 5-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-FP-P