[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 157 (Monday, August 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54126-54127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19399]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 
Workforce Information Grants to States (WIGS)

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed 
revision for the authority to conduct the information collection 
request (ICR) titled, ``Workforce Information Grants to States 
(WIGS).'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental 
efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all written comments received by 
October 14, 2016.

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 free by 
contacting Donald Haughton by telephone at 202-693-2784, TTY 877-889-
5627, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by email at 
[email protected].
    Submit written comments about, or requests for a copy of, this ICR 
by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and 
Training Administration, Office of Workforce Investment, 200 
Constitution Avenue NW., Room C-4510, Washington, DC 20210; by email: 
[email protected]; or by Fax 202-693-3015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Donald Haughton by telephone 
at 202-693-2784 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at 
[email protected].

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOL, as part of continuing efforts to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of 
information before submitting them to the OMB for final approval. This 
program helps to ensure 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 can be properly assessed.
    This collection of information is necessary to comply with the 
reporting requirements of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(WIOA) Section 308 (29 U.S.C. 491-2), which can be found at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-113publ128/pdf/PLAW-113publ128.pdf; and 20 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 651 and 652 (https://www.doleta.gov/wioa/Docs/wioa-regs-labor-final-rule.pdf).
    WIOA Section 308 requires the Secretary of Labor to oversee the 
development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of a nationwide 
Workforce and Labor Market Information System (workforce information) 
system; and to evaluate the performance of the system and recommend 
needed improvements, taking into consideration customer consultation 
results, with particular attention given to improvements needed at the 
state, regional and local levels. The WIGS information collection 
ensures the Secretary of Labor meets WIOA requirements, and the states 
complete grant deliverables such as state economic analyses or special 
workforce information/economic studies, and the annual performance 
report.
    The ETA makes use of the information collected from WIGS grantees 
primarily to serve four customer groups: (1) The public (including job 
seekers and employers); (2) labor market intermediaries who help 
individuals find a job or make career decisions (such as employment and 
school counselors, case managers at American Job Centers, and 
community-based organizations); (3) policymakers and employment and 
economic program planners and operators; and (4) miscellaneous other 
customers, including researchers, commercial data providers, and the 
news media.
    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

[[Page 54127]]

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 that does not display a valid 
Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the 
contact shown in the ADDRESSES section. Comments must be written to 
receive consideration, and they will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval of the final ICR. In order to help ensure 
appropriate consideration, comments should mention Workforce 
Information Grants to States (WIGS), OMB control number 1205-0417.
    Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this 
ICR and posted on the Internet, without redaction. The DOL encourages 
commenters not to include personally identifiable information, 
confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information 
in any comments.
    The DOL 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.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Title of Collection: Workforce Information Grants to States (WIGS).
    Form: N/A.
    OMB Control Number: 1205-0417.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 54.
    Frequency: Once.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 162
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 578 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 31,228 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $1,020,218.

Portia Wu,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-19399 Filed 8-12-16; 8:45 am]
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