Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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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 collection of information

for the National Job Corps Study.

A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be

obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section

of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the

addressee section below on or before April 7, 1998.

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.

ADDRESSES: Daniel Ryan, Office of Policy and Research, Employment and

Training Administration, Room N-5637, 200 Constitution Ave., NW,

Washington, DC 20210, telephone 202-219-5782, extension 147 (this is

not a toll-free number). Internet address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The National Job Corps study is estimating the effects of their Job

Corps experience on participants' postprogram employment, earnings, and

related outcomes. It is also comparing the benefits and costs of the

program. ETA is sponsoring the study in fulfilment of its

responsibility to provide Congress and the public with information on

the effectiveness of ETA's programs.

II. Current Actions

ETA requests that previously granted OMB clearance to collect data

in support of the study be extended beyond the current expiration date

of the clearance. The extension is necessary to complete collection of

data through follow-up interviews conducted at 30 months after sample

intake, which will be used to assess interim program impacts, and

interviews conducted at 48 months after sample intake, which will be

used to assess longer term effects of participating in Job Corps.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration.

Title: Evaluation of the Impacts of the Job Corps on Participants'

Postprogram Labor Market and Related Behavior--Follow-up Questionnaire.

OMB Number: 1205-0360.

Affected Public: Individuals.

Cite/Reference/Form/etc: National Job Corps study follow-up

questionnaire.

Total Respondents: 13,491.

Frequency: Two times (during period of extension, total of 4

times).

Total Responses: 35,596.

Average Time per Response: 40 minutes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours:

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Hours per

Interview Administrations response Burden

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12-Month Follow-up............... *13,491 *.53 *7,150

30-Month Follow-up............... 11,979 .75 8,984

48-Month Follow-up............... 10,486 .75 7,865

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Total........................ 35,956 .67 23,999

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*Actual.

[[Page 6213]]

Total Burden Cost: The total estimate cost of the study is

$17,906,705. The cost of conducting baseline, 12-month, 30-month and

48-month interviews is $11,383,574.

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.

Gerard F. Fiala,

Administrator, Office of Policy and Research.

[FR Doc. 98-3052 Filed 2-5-98; 8:45 am]

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