2020-21752. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Reporting Process for Complaint of Employment Discrimination Used by Permanent Employees and ...

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, Office of Civil Rights, Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of Information collection, request for comment.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES:

To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before November 30, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments by email to [e-mail]. Please reference OMB Control Number 0694-0015 in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or specific questions related to collection activities should be directed to Paul Redpath, Office of Civil Rights, Chief, Program Implementation Division, phone [phone] or by email at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulations at 29 CFR 1614.106 require that a Federal employee or applicant for Federal employment alleging discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, or reprisal for protected activity must submit a signed statement that is sufficiently precise to identify the actions or practices that form the bases of the complaint. The individual completing the form is asked to identify the bureau at which the alleged discrimination took place, and whether the individual worked at that bureau at the time of the alleged discrimination. The individual completing the form is also asked to describe the alleged discriminatory action(s) as clearly as possible and include the date(s) and to articulate the basis or bases of the complaint (race, color, sex, etc.). Further, the individual completing the form is asked to identify the remedy(ies) sought for the alleged discrimination. Although complainants are not required to use the proposed form to file their complaints, the Office of Civil Rights strongly encourages its use to ensure efficient case processing and trend analyses of complaint activity.

II. Method of Collection

A paper form, signed by the complainant or his or her designated representative, must be submitted by mail or delivery service, email, in person, or by facsimile transmission.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0690-0015.

Form Number(s): CD-498, CD-498A.

Type of Review: Regular. Extension of a currently approved information collection.

Affected Public: Households and Individuals.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 600.

Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 300.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $579.

IV. Request for Comments

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,

Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Department of Commerce.