E8-4347. Agency Information Collection Activities: Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection With Non-Substantive Changes; Comment Request

ACTION:

60-day notice of information collection under review: Form ETA-9033A, Attestation by Employers Using Alien Crewmembers for Longshore Activities in the State of Alaska; OMB Control No. 1205-0352.

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 (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 and Training Administration is soliciting comments concerning Form ETA 9033A Attestation by Employers Using Alien Crewmembers for Longshore Activities in the State of Alaska. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this notice or at this Web site: http://www.doleta.gov/​OMBCN/​OMBControlNumber.cfm.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the addresses section below on or before May 5, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

William L. Carlson, Administrator, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, U.S. Department of Labor, Room C4312, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210; by phone at [phone] (this is not a toll-free number); by fax at [phone]; or by e-mail at [e-mail] subject line: Form 9033A.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The information collection is required by section 258 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1288). The INA has an exception to the general prohibition on the performance of longshore work by alien crewmembers for ports in the State of Alaska. Under this “Alaska exception”, before any employer may use alien crewmembers to perform longshore activities in the State of Alaska, it must submit an attestation to the Secretary of Labor containing the elements prescribed by the INA. The INA further requires that the Secretary of Labor make available for public examination in Washington, DC, a list of employers that have filed attestations and, for each of these employers, a copy of the employer's attestation and accompanying documentation received by the Secretary.

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

In order to meet its statutory responsibilities under the INA, the Department needs to extend an existing collection of information pertaining to employers seeking to use alien crewmembers to perform longshore activities in the State of Alaska. ETA has decreased its burden request because the number of applications has decreased during the last 3 years.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration.

Title: Attestations by Employers Using Alien Crewmembers for Longshore Activities in the State of Alaska.

OMB Number: 1205-0352.

Agency Number(s): Form ETA 9033A.

Recordkeeping: On occasion.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profits.

Total Respondents: 20.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 3.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): 0.

Comments submitted in response to this comment request 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: February 27, 2008.

William L. Carlson,

Administrator, Office of Foreign Labor Certification.