E8-13719. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

Agency: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Title: Patent Examiner Employment Application.

Form Number(s): N/A.

Agency Approval Number: 0651-0042.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Burden: 3,500 hours annually.

Number of Respondents: 7,000 responses per year.

Average Hours per Response: 30 minutes. The USPTO estimates that it will take the public approximately 30 minutes (0.50) to gather and prepare the necessary information, and submit the electronic employment application.

Needs and Uses: The Patent Examiner Employment Application, as administered through the USA Staffing system provided by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), is used by the public to apply for entry-level patent examiner positions in a user-friendly process. The USPTO uses the electronic transmission of this information to review and rate applicants on-line almost instantaneously. It is also used by the USPTO to expedite the hiring process by eliminating the time used in the mail distribution process, thereby streamlining labor and reducing costs.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Frequency: On occasion.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, [phone].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by any of the following methods:

E-mail: [e-mail]. Include “0651-0042 copy request” in the subject line of the message.

Fax: [phone], marked to the attention of Susan K. Fawcett.

Mail: Susan K. Fawcett, Records Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Customer Information Services Group, Public Information Services Division, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent on or before July 18, 2008 to David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

Dated: June 11, 2008.

Susan K. Fawcett,

Records Officer, USPTO, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Customer Information Services Group, Public Information Services Division.