[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 121 (Friday, June 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37821-37822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13571]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Form ED-840P, Petition by a Firm for Certification of 
Eligibility To Apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance, and Adjustment 
Proposals

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

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection, request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before August 23, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
via email to Miriam Nettles-Kearse, Lead Program Analyst, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, at [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control 
Number 0610-0091 in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit 
Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected 
information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Miriam Nettles-Kearse, Lead Program Analyst, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 849-0941 or 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. 2341-2356) (Trade Act), 
through a national network of non-profit and university-affiliated 
Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (TAACs), each of which serves a 
different geographic 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 whether a firm is eligible to 
participate in the TAAF 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, 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, to document the 
connection of increased imports to declining employment and sales or 
production, 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 Form ED-840P 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 certified as eligible for TAAF Program 
assistance following submission of Form ED-840P, firms must create an 
EDA-approved adjustment proposal in order to receive financial 
assistance under the TAAF Program. The adjustment proposal is each 
firm's business plan to remain competitive in the current global 
economy. Each adjustment proposal must meet certain requirements as set 
out in the Trade Act and EDA's regulation at 13 CFR 315.11. This notice 
also includes an estimate of the amount of time a firm spends to 
research and compile information for adjustment proposals.
    Finally, the statutory authorization for the TAAF program is 
sunsetting in two stages. First, on July 1, 2021, the TAAF program 
reverted to more limited eligibility criteria. Second, as of June 30, 
2022, assistance may not be provided to new firms. After that date, 
assistance may only be provided to firms that have previously submitted 
a petition under the TAAF program. EDA wishes to extend the current 
information collection for the TAAF program so that EDA may continue to 
review and approve adjustment proposals from certified firms, and in 
case the TAAF program is re-authorized by Congress.

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 
petition for certification 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 315.11. Both petitions for certification on Form ED-840P and 
adjustment proposals may be submitted electronically or via email to 
[email protected].

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0610-0091.
    Form Number(s): ED-840P.
    Type of Review: Extension of a current information collection.

[[Page 37822]]

    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300 (150 petitions for 
certification and 150 adjustment proposals).
    Estimated Time per Response: 53 hours for petitions for 
certification and 120 hours for adjustment proposals.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 25,950 (7,950 hours for 
petitions for certification and 18,000 for adjustment proposals).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,531,569 ($469,209 for 
petitions for certification and $1,062,360 for adjustment proposals; 
cost assumes application of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics third 
quarter 2021 mean hourly employer costs for employee compensation for 
professional and related occupations of $59.02).
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Chapters 3 and 5 of title II of the Trade Act of 
1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2341-2356).

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) 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 that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2022-13571 Filed 6-23-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-34-P