E7-24042. Proposed Extension of the Approval of Information Collection Requirements

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general 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 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 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, the Employment Standards Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection: Housing Occupancy Certificate—Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (WH-520). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the ADDRESSES section below on or before February 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone [phone], fax [phone], e-mail [e-mail]. Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background: The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) at 29 U.S.C. 1823(b)(1) and its regulations at 29 CFR 500.135(b) provide that any person who owns or controls a facility or real property to be used for housing migrant agricultural workers cannot permit any such worker to occupy the housing unless a copy of a certificate of occupancy from the state, local, or federal agency that conducted the housing safety and health inspection is posted at the site of the facility or real property. Form WH-520 is both an information gathering form and the certificate of occupancy that the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the Employment Standards Administration (ESA) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issues when the WHD is the agency conducting the safety and health inspection. This information collection is currently approved for use through June 30, 2008.

II. Review Focus: The Department of Labor 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 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: The Department of Labor seeks the approval for the extension of this currently approved information collection in order to carry out its responsibility to inspect and certify a migrant housing facility is meeting applicable safety and health standards under the law.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Employment Standards Administration.

Title: Housing Occupancy Certificate—Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act.

OMB Number: 1215-0158.

Agency Number: WH-520.

Affected Public: Farms.

Total Respondents: 100.

Total Annual Responses: 100.

Estimated Time per Response: 3 minutes.

Reporting: 1 minute (Recordkeeping burden for posting and filing).

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 7.

Frequency: On occasion.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.

Dated: December 7, 2007.

Hazel Bell,

Acting Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.