02-31766. Office of the Secretary Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, Labor.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a pre-clearance 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 [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 Civil Rights Center within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the collection of the Compliance Information Report—29 CFR part 31 (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act), Nondiscrimination—Disability—29 CFR part 32 (section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act), and Nondiscrimination—Workforce Investment Act—29 CFR part 37 (section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act). A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this notice. In addition, a copy of the ICR in alternate formats of large print and electronic file on computer disk are available upon request.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the ADDRESSES section below on or before February 18, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gregory T. Shaw, Civil Rights Center, [phone] (Voice) or [phone]/16 (TTY). Please note that these are not toll free telephone numbers.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be sent to Annabelle T. Lockhart, Director of the Civil Rights Center. Electronic mail is the preferred method of submittal of comments. Comments by electronic mail must be clearly identified as pertaining to the ICR and sent to [e-mail]. Brief comments (maximum of five pages), clearly identified as pertaining to the ICR, may be submitted by facsimile machine (Fax) to [phone]. Where necessary, hard copies of comments, clearly identified as pertaining to the ICR, may also be delivered to the Civil Rights Center Director at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Room N-4123, Washington, DC 20210. Because of problems with U.S. Postal Service mail delivery, the Civil Rights Center suggests that those submitting comments by means of the U.S. Postal Service should place those comments in the mail well before the deadline by which comments must be received.

Receipt of submissions, whether by U.S. Postal Service, e-mail, fax transmittal, or other means will not be acknowledged; however, the sender may request confirmation that a submission has been received, by telephoning the Civil Rights Center at the telephone numbers listed below.

Comments received will be available for public inspection during normal business hours at the above address. Persons who need assistance to review the comments will be provided with appropriate aids such as readers or print magnifiers. Copies of the ICR will be made available, upon request, in large print or electronic file on computer disk. Provision of the rule in other formats will be considered upon request. To schedule an appointment to review the comments and/or obtain the ICR in an alternate format contact the Civil Rights Center at [phone] (Voice) or [phone]/16 (TTY). Please note that these are not toll free telephone numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Compliance Information Report and its information collection is designed to ensure that programs or activities funded in whole or in part by the Department of Labor operate in a nondiscriminatory manner. The Report requires such programs and activities to collect, maintain and report upon request from the Department, race, sex, age and disability data for program applicants, eligible applicants, participants, terminees, applicants for employment and employees.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

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 a 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 an extension of the current OMB approval of the paperwork requirements in the Compliance Information Report. Extension is necessary to ensure nondiscrimination in programs or activities funded in whole or in part by the Department of Labor.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Civil Rights Center, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management.

Title: Compliance Information Report—29 CFR part 31 (Title VI), Nondiscrimination-Disability—29 CFR part 32 (section 504), Nondiscrimination-Job Training Partnership Act—29 CFR part 34 (section 167).

OMB Number: 1225-0077.

Affected public: State, local or Tribal governments.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.00.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $84,289.86.

Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be summarized and 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.

Signed at Washington, DC this 11th day of December, 2002.

Annabelle T. Lockhart,

Director, Civil Rights Center.