[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50475-50476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20743]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Trade 
Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Efforts To Improve Outcomes

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 
extension for the authority to conduct the information collection 
request (ICR) titled, ``Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Efforts to 
Improve Outcomes.'' 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 
October 25, 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 Robert Hoekstra, by telephone at 202-693-3522 (this is not a 
toll-free number), TTY 1-877-889-5627 (this is not a toll-free number), 
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: Robert Hoekstra by telephone at 202-
693-3522 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at 
[email protected].

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 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.
    On June 28, 2015, the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization 
Act of 2015 was signed into law. Under Section 239(j)(1)(c) of Title 
II, Chapter 2 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2271 et 
seq.), the Secretary is required to collect ``a description of efforts 
made to improve outcomes for workers . . .'' In addition to mandatory 
annual reporting, the Department collects these descriptions on a 
quarterly basis in order to track progress of efforts to improve 
outcomes and speed the identification of new state practices.
    The Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance (OTAA) is revising the 
ICR for Trade Activity Participant Report (TAPR) (OMB control number 
1205-0392). This ICR removes the collection requirement for the 
individual record reporting that constituted the bulk of the collection 
burden, but retains the quarterly reporting requirement of ``efforts 
made to improve outcomes''. Correspondingly, the collection title will 
be changed to ``Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Efforts to Improve 
Outcomes.'' Section 239(j)(1)(c) of Title II, Chapter 2 of the Trade 
Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2271 et seq.) authorizes this 
information collection. This collection is being modified significantly 
as to no longer require the submission of individual participant

[[Page 50476]]

records under the TAPR. The prior TAPR data constituted the bulk of the 
burden of this collection, reducing the estimated total burden from 
18,500 hours to 104 hours.
    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 
1205-0392.
    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 (TAA) Efforts to 
Improve Outcomes.
    Form: ETA-9173.
    OMB Control Number: 1205-0392.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 52.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 208.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.5 hours based on estimated 
times provided by states who are currently providing this more limited 
collection.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 104 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $0.

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

John Pallasch,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2019-20743 Filed 9-24-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P