82 FR 40140 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Participant Application, Participant Exit Questionnaire, Alumni Success Story Report

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 163 (August 24, 2017)

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.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 163 (Thursday, August 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40140-40141]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17976]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Participant 
Application, Participant Exit Questionnaire, Alumni Success Story 
Report

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 October 23, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, SABIT, Attn: Tracey Rollins, 1401 Constitution Ave. 
NW., 20230, (202) 482-0073, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Special American Business Internship Training (SABIT) Program 
of the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration 
(ITA), is a key element in the U.S. Government's efforts to support the 
economic transition of Eurasia (the former Soviet Union) and to support 
economic growth in other regions of the world, including Pakistan, 
South Asia, and the Middle East, et al. SABIT develops and implements 
two- to three-week training programs for groups of up to 20 business 
and government professionals from Eurasia and other regions. These 
professionals meet with U.S. government agencies, non-governmental 
organizations and private sector companies in order to learn about 
various business practices and principles. This unique private sector-
U.S. Government partnership was created in order to tap into the U.S. 
private sector's expertise and to assist developing regions in their 
transition to market-based economies while simultaneously boosting 
trade between the United States and other countries. Participant 
applications are needed to enable SABIT to find the most qualified 
participants for the training programs. Participant exit questionnaires 
provide insight as to what the participants have learned, and they are 
used to improve the content and administration of future programs. 
Alumni success story reports track the success of the program as 
regards to business ties between the U.S. and the countries SABIT 
covers.
    The closing date for participant applications is based upon the 
starting date of the program and is published with the application, on 
the program's English-language Web site at www.trade.gov/sabit, and 
also on the Russian-language Web site at www.sabitprogram.org, if 
applicable. Pursuant to section 632(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961, as amended, funding for the programs will be provided by the 
Agency for International Development (AID).
    The SABIT Program has revised the collection instruments. The 
instruments are very similar to those used by SABIT in past years. 
However, some wording has been changed to reflect the changing needs of 
SABIT over time. The changes are relatively minor and most of them are 
rephrasing of wording. Instructions for filling out the form, methods 
of submission, and the order of questions have been revised on the 
Participant Application. These revisions are not expected to increase 
the response time to complete the instruments.

II. Method of Collection

    Participant applications are available for download from the SABIT 
English and Russian language Web sites at www.trade.gov/sabit and 
www.sabitprogram.org. Applications may be sent to program candidates 
via email or fax upon request. Applications are collected via email. 
Participant exit questionnaires are given to program participants at 
the completion of programs in by email and are collected by email, 
although in rare situations, a paper questionnaire may be completed and 
submitted. Alumni success story reports are used internally by SABIT 
staff to record success information, but at times they may be sent to 
alumni to fill out and submit via email or fax.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0625-0225.
    Form Number(s): ITA-4143P-3.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,500.
    Estimated Time per Response: Participant application, 3 hours; 
participant exit questionnaire, 1 hour; alumni success story report, 1 
hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,000.
    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;

[[Page 40141]]

they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-17976 Filed 8-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-HE-P