[Federal Register: November 20, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 225)]
[Notices]               
[Page 70321-70322]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20no08-42]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

 
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Trade 
Adjustment Assistance for Firms Program

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 70322]]

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 20, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Diane Rodriguez, Program Analyst, Performance and 
National Programs Division, Room 7009, Economic Development 
Administration, Washington, DC 20230, telephone (202) 482-4495, 
facsimile (202) 482-2838 (or via the Internet at 
drodriguez@eda.doc.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Economic Development Administration (EDA) administers the Trade 
Adjustment Assistance for Firms Program, which is authorized by 
chapters 3 and 5 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 
U.S.C. 2341 et seq.) (Trade Act). EDA certifies firms as eligible to 
apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), provides technical 
adjustment assistance to firms and other recipients, and provides 
assistance to organizations representing trade injured industries. In 
order to certify a firm as eligible to apply for TAA, EDA must verify: 
(1) A significant reduction in the number or proportion of the workers 
in the firm, a reduction in the workers' wage or work hours, or an 
imminent threat of such reductions; (2) sales or production of the firm 
have decreased absolutely, as defined in EDA's regulations, or sales or 
production, or both, of any article accounting for at least twenty-five 
(25) percent of the firm's sales or production have decreased 
absolutely; and (3) an increase in imports of articles like or directly 
competitive with those produced by the petitioning firm, which has 
contributed importantly to the decline in employment and sales or 
production of that firm. Additionally, the firm must demonstrate that 
U.S. customers have reduced or declined purchases from the firm in 
favor of buying imported items. EDA uses information collected from 
Form ED-840P, and its attachments, to determine if a firm is eligible 
to apply for TAA. The use of the form standardizes and limits the 
information collected as part of the certification process and eases 
the burden on applicants and reviewers alike.

II. Method of Collection

    The ED-840P form is downloadable from EDA's Web site at http://
www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/Directives.xml and can be e-mailed or 
submitted in hard copy to EDA.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0610-0091.
    Form Number(s): ED-840P.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,600.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: November 14, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-27558 Filed 11-19-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-34-P