[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12003-12004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06055]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Trade 
Adjustment Assistance Program Reserve Funding Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor's (DOL's) Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed 
revision for the authority to conduct the information collection 
request (ICR) titled, ``Trade Adjustment Assistance Program Reserve 
Funding Request.'' 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).

DATES: Consideration will be given to all written comments received by 
May 28, 2019.

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 Timothy Theberge, by telephone at (202) 693-3401 (this is 
not a toll-free number), TTY/TDD toll-free Federal Information Relay 
Service at 1-877-889-5627, 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 Trade Adjustment Assistance, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-5428, Washington, DC 20210; by email: 
[email protected]; or by Fax (202) 693-3584.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Theberge by telephone at (202) 
693-3401 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at 
[email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for final approval. This form helps to ensure requested 
data can be provided in the

[[Page 12004]]

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.
    Section 241 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Act), provides 
that: ``the Secretary shall from time to time certify to the Secretary 
of the Treasury for payment to each cooperating state the sums 
necessary to enable such State as agents of the United States to make 
payments provided for by this chapter.'' As such, states may request 
reserve funds to cover the costs of training, job search allowances and 
relocation allowances, employment and case management services, and 
state administration of these benefits before DOL issues the final 
distribution of state allocations. Reserve funds are distributed to 
states in accordance with 20 CFR 618.920 on an as-needed basis in 
response to requests to provide monies to those states that experience 
large, unexpected layoffs, or otherwise have financial needs that are 
not met by their initial allocation. These funds are requested using 
the Form ETA-9117. Section 236(a)(2)(D) of the Trade Act of 1974, as 
amended, authorizes this information collection.
    The current approved version of the collection is based on 
amendments made to the Act through the Trade Reform Act of 2002 (Pub. 
L. 107-210). Since that time, there have been three additional major 
amendments to the Act, most recently through the Trade Adjustment 
Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015 (Pub. L. 114-27). One of the 
major changes authorized funding for the provision of employment and 
case management services under Section 235 of the Act. The current 
collection does not take into account this authorized expenditure 
category. The revised collection will substitute information currently 
required on expenditures and obligations of funds for the job search 
allowances and relocation allowances under Section 237 and 238 of the 
Act, respectively, for information on expenditures and obligations 
under the Section 235 of the Act. The Department has also refined the 
layout of the form for clarity. The change will not affect the burden 
of this collection, and there is no additional cost to respondents.
    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 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 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 OMB control number 
1205-0275.
    Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this 
ICR and posted on the internet, without redaction. DOL encourages 
commenters not to include personally identifiable information, 
confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information 
in any comments.
    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: Trade Adjustment Assistance Program Reserve 
Funding Request.
    Form(s): ETA 9117.
    OMB Control Number: 1205-0275.
    Affected Public: State Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
    Frequency: Once.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 25.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 2 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 50 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $0.

Molly E. Conway,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2019-06055 Filed 3-28-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P