Employment and Training Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to Section 10 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2 Sec. 10), notice is hereby given to announce an open virtual meeting of the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship (ACA) on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, which can be accessed from the Office of Apprenticeship's homepage: https://www.doleta.gov/oa/. The ACA is a discretionary committee established by the Secretary of Labor, in accordance with FACA, as amended in 5 U.S.C. App. 2, and its implementing regulations (41 CFR 101-6 and 102-3). All meetings of the ACA are open to the public. A virtual meeting of the ACA provides a cost savings to the government while still offering a venue that allows for public participation and transparency, as required by FACA.

The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the 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 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps 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, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the collection of data about Form ETA-9089, Application for Permanent Employment Certification (OMB Control Number 1205-0451), which expires August 31, 2014. The form is used in DOL's employment-based immigration program by employers to request permission to bring foreign workers to the United States as immigrants, and in the Department of Homeland Security's National Interest Waiver (NIW) program by individuals applying for a waiver of the job offer requirement if the waiver is deemed to be in the national interest.

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 collection 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 new collection of data on the ETA 9165, Supplemental Budget Request Activities. The new ETA 9165 will be used by the National and regional offices to monitor the progress of State Workforce Agencies in successfully implementing projects funded through Supplemental Budget Requests. This information will include the funded project title and purpose, the project timeline and milestones, and a narrative description of the project implementation status. It will also include explanations of any delays in implementation, proposals for addressing any problems that caused the delay and new project timelines if applicable, a self-reported designation of the implementation status (i.e. complete/ahead of schedule/on schedule/or behind schedule), and a discussion of identified technical assistance needs for the successful completion of the project.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $450 million in grant funds authorized for the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant Program. The TAACCCT program seeks to increase the number of workers who attain certificates, degrees, and other industry-recognized credentials, helping to meet President Obama's college graduation goal of increasing the percentage of adults with a post-secondary credential by 2020. The overarching goals of the program are to: (1) Increase attainment of degrees, certifications, certificates, diplomas, and other industry-recognized credentials that match the skills needed by employers to better prepare workers eligible for training under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Workers Program (``TAA-eligible workers'') of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, 19 U.S.C. 2271-2323, and other adults for high-wage, high-skill employment or re- employment in growth industry sectors; (2) introduce or replicate innovative and effective methods for designing and delivering instruction that address specific industry needs and lead to improved learning, completion, and other outcomes for TAA-eligible workers and other adults; and (3) demonstrate improved employment outcomes. The Department intends to make grant awards to eligible single institution applicants ranging from approximately $2,260,000 to $2,500,000, up to a total of approximately $150 million. Under this SGA, DOL intends to make approximately 15 to 25 grant awards to consortia of eligible institutions, up to a total of approximately $300 million in grant awards to consortium applicants. The Department will provide two tiers of funding for consortium grant awards, based on the number of institutions in the consortium. The complete SGA and any subsequent SGA amendments in connection with this solicitation are described in further detail on ETA's Web site at https://www.doleta.gov/grants/ or on https://www.grants.gov. The Web sites provide application information, eligibility requirements, review and selection procedures, and other program requirements governing this solicitation.

Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500-08) implementing procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of Labor, ETA, in accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d), gives final notice of the proposed construction of the Medical/Dental Building at the Tongue Point Job Corps Center, and that this project will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment. Public scoping was initiated with a notice in the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon on July 25, 2013. The scoping period extended for 30 days, ending on August 25, 2013. No public responses were received. No changes to the text of the environmental assessment (EA) have been made. Implementation of the selected alternative will not have significant impacts on the human environment. The determination is sustained by the analysis in the EA, agency consultation, the inclusion and consideration of public review, and the capability of mitigations to reduce or avoid impacts. Any adverse environmental impacts that could occur are no more than minor in intensity, duration and context and less-than-significant. As described in the EA, there are no highly uncertain or controversial impacts, unique or unknown risks, significant cumulative effects or elements of precedence. There are no previous, planned, or implemented actions, which in combination with the selected alternative would have significant effects on the human environment. Requirements of NEPA have been satisfied and preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.

Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500-08) implementing procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of Labor, ETA, in accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d), gives final notice of the proposed construction of the Phase II project at the Detroit Job Corps Center, and that this project will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment. Public scoping was initiated with a notice in the Southfield Sun in Detroit, Michigan on August 21, 2013. The scoping period extended for 30 days, ending on September 20, 2013. No public responses were received. No changes to the text of the environmental assessment (EA) have been made. Implementation of the selected alternative will not have significant impacts on the human environment. The determination is sustained by the analysis in the EA, agency consultation, the inclusion and consideration of public review, and the capability of mitigations to reduce or avoid impacts. Any adverse environmental impacts that could occur are no more than minor in intensity, duration and context and less-than-significant. As described in the EA, there are no highly uncertain or controversial impacts, unique or unknown risks, significant cumulative effects or elements of precedence. There are no previous, planned, or implemented actions, which in combination with the selected alternative would have significant effects on the human environment. Requirements of NEPA have been satisfied and preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.

Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. L. 92-463), as amended, and Section 166(h)(4) of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) [29 U.S.C. 2911(h)(4)], notice is hereby given of the next meeting of the Native American Employment and Training Council (Council), as constituted under WIA.

The U.S. Department of Labor's (the Department) Women's Bureau (WB) and Employment and Training Administration (ETA), announce the availability of approximately $1.8 million in grant funds authorized by the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Act of 1992, Public Law 102-530, 29 U.S.C. 2501 et seq. The Department plans to disburse Program Year (PY) 2013 and PY 2014 WANTO grant funds to up to four (4) community-based organization (CBO) grantees within the range of $400,000 to $650,000 for a 2-year grant period of performance. These grants are for the development and operation of innovative TA projects to improve outreach, recruitment, hiring, training, employment, and retention of women, women of color and women with disabilities in apprenticeships and nontraditional occupations. The complete SGA and any subsequent SGA amendments in connection with this solicitation are described in further detail on ETA's Web site at https://www.doleta.gov/grants/ or on https://www.grants.gov. The Web sites provide application information, eligibility requirements, review and selection procedures, and other program requirements governing this solicitation.