E6-15346. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a preclearance 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 the proposed extension of the collection for the Occupational Code Assignment (OCA) information.

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 or at this Web site: http://www.doleta.gov/​Performance/​guidance/​OMBControlNumber.cfm.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the ADDRESSES section below on or before November 14, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

Pam Frugoli, Office of Workforce Investment, Employment and Training Administration, Mail Stop 5-4231, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, Phone: [phone] (This is not a toll-free number), Fax: [phone], or e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Occupational Code Assignment form was developed as a public service to the users of the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), in an effort to help them in obtaining occupational codes and titles for jobs that they were unable to locate in O*NET.

The O*NET system classifies nearly all jobs in the United States economy. However, new specialties are constantly evolving and emerging. The use of the OCA is voluntary and is provided (1) as a uniform format to the public and private sector to submit information in order to receive assistance in identifying an occupational code, (2) to provide input to a database of alternative (lay) titles to facilitate searches for occupational information in the O*NET OnLine (http://online.onetcenter.org), O*NET Code Connector (http://www.onetcodeconnector.org), as well as America's Career InfoNet (http://www.acinet.org), and (3) to assist the O*NET system in identifying potential occupations that may need to be included in future O*NET data collection efforts.

The OCA process is designed to help the occupational information user relate an occupational specialty or a job title to an occupational code and title within the framework of the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) based O*NET system. The O*NET-SOC system consists of a database that organizes the work done by individuals into approximately 1,000 occupational categories. In addition, O*NET occupations have associated data on the importance and level of a range of occupational characteristics and requirements, including Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Tasks, and Work Activities. Since the O*NET-SOC system is based on the 2000 SOC system, identifying an O*NET-SOC code and title also facilitates linkage to national, state, and local occupational employment and wage estimates.

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

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration.

Title: Occupational Code Assignment.

OMB Number: 1205-0137.

Agency Form Number: ETA 741.

Affected Public: Federal government, state and local government, business or other for-profit/not-for-profit institutions, and individuals.

Total Respondents: 11.

Average Time per Request: 30 minutes for the OCA Part A; and 40 minutes for the OCA Part A and the OCA Request for Additional Information combined.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 6.42.

Summary of Annual Burden for the Occupational Code Assignment

Section	Total respondents	Frequency	Total responses	Average time per response	Burden
OCA-Part A	5.5	on occasion	5.5	1/2 hour	2.75 hrs.
OCA-Part A and OCA-Request for additional information	5.5	on occasion	5.5	.67 hour	3.67.
Totals			15		6.42 hrs.

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: August 28, 2006.

Gay M. Gilbert,

Administrator, Office of Workforce Investment, Employment and Training Administration.