2012-9240. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; O*Net Data Collection Program

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, “O*Net Data Collection Program,” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

DATES:

Submit comments on or before May 18, 2012.

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 from the RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain,, on the day following publication of this notice or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or sending an email to [e-mail].

Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-ETA, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: [phone]/Fax: [phone] (these are not toll-free numbers), email: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Occupational Information Network (O*Net) Data Collection Program yields detailed characteristics of occupations and skills for over 800 occupations by obtaining information from job incumbents/occupational specialists on worker and job characteristics to populate the O*Net database. The O*Net database information is used for a wide range of purposes related to career counseling and development, curriculum design, human resources functions and workforce investment efforts. The data collection methodology includes contacting businesses/associations to gain their cooperation, and collecting information from employees of cooperating businesses/associations as well as occupational specialists. While not affecting public burdens, this ICR technically qualifies as a revision under the PRA. The agency has added a questionnaire comment box soliciting respondent feedback on the last page of the Background/Association Questionnaire and removed a question about apprenticeship from the Knowledge Questionnaire. The agency has also made minor editorial changes to cover materials, to be consistent with other DOL information collections.

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 the 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 if the collection of information does not display a valid OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection under OMB Control Number 1205-0421. The current OMB approval is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2012; however, it should be noted that existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For additional information, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on November 29, 2011 (76 FR 73680).

Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should reference OMB Control Number 1205-0421. The OMB 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.

Title of Collection: O*Net Data Collection Program.

OMB Control Number: 1205-0421.

Affected Public: Federal Government; Individuals or Households; Private Sector—Businesses or Other For-Profits, Farms, and Not-for-Profit Institutions; State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 25,168.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 26,287.

Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 13,671.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

Dated: April 12, 2012.

Michel Smyth,

Departmental Clearance Officer.