2019-17827. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Trade Adjustment Assistance Program Reserve Funding Request

ACTION:

Notice of availability; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, “Trade Adjustment Assistance Program Reserve Funding Request,” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES:

The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives on or before September 19, 2019.

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 free of charge from the RegInfo.gov website at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAViewICR?​ref_​nbr=​201907-1205-008 (this link will only become active on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting Frederick Licari by telephone at 202-693-8073, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or sending an email to [e-mail].

Submit comments about this request by mail to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-ETA, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: [phone] (this is not a toll-free number); or by email: [e-mail]. Commenters are encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; or by email: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Frederick Licari by telephone at 202-693-8073, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or sending an email to [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This ICR seeks approval under the PRA for revisions to the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program Reserve Funding Request. Information collected using this form enables the Department to effectively provide financial information to stakeholders such as Congress, OMB, internal and external partners, and the public. States use the form to request additional funds for training costs, job search and relocation allowances, and employment and case management services for trade-affected workers. This information collection is a revision because the currently approved version of this collection is based on amendments made to the Trade Act of 1974 (Act) through the Trade Reform Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-210). Since that time, there have been three additional major amendments to the Act, most recently through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015 (Pub. L. 114-27). One of the major changes authorized funding for the provision of employment and case management services under Section 235 of the Act. The current collection does not take into account this authorized expenditure category. The Trade Act of 1974, as amended, Sections 236 (a)(2)(B)(i) and (a)(2)(D) authorizes this information collection. See 19 U.S.C. 2296(a)(2).

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 the OMB, under the PRA, approves it 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 that does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection under Control Number 1205-0275. The current approval is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2019; however, the DOL notes that existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB will receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. New requirements would only take effect upon OMB approval. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on March 29, 2019 (84 FR 12003).

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 thirty (30) days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1205-0275. 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: Trade Adjustment Assistance Program Reserve Funding Request.

OMB Control Number: 1205-0275.

Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 25.

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 50 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

Dated: August 6, 2019.

Frederick Licari,

Departmental Clearance Officer.