82 FR 45895 - Labor Surplus Area Classification
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 189 (October 2, 2017)
Employment and Training Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 189 (October 2, 2017)
| Page Range | 45895-45896 | |
| FR Document | 2017-20977 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 189 (Monday, October 2, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 45895-45896] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-20977] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration Labor Surplus Area Classification AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to announce the annual list of labor surplus areas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. DATES: The annual list of labor surplus areas is effective October 1, 2017, for all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel Wright, Office of Workforce Investment, Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room C-4514, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693- 2870 (This is not a toll-free number) or email [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Labor's regulations implementing Executive Orders 12073 and 10582 are set forth at 20 CFR part 654, subpart A. These regulations require the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) to classify jurisdictions as labor surplus areas pursuant to the criteria specified in the regulations, and to publish annually a list of labor surplus areas. Pursuant to those regulations, ETA is hereby publishing the annual list of labor surplus areas. In addition, the regulations provide exceptional circumstance criteria for classifying labor surplus areas when catastrophic events, such as natural disasters, plant closings, and contract cancellations are expected to have a long-term impact on labor market area conditions, discounting temporary or seasonal factors. Eligible Labor Surplus Areas A Labor Surplus Area (LSA) is a civil jurisdiction that has a civilian average annual unemployment rate during the previous two calendar years of 20 percent or more above the average annual civilian unemployment rate for all states during the same 24-month reference period. ETA uses only official unemployment estimates provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in making these classifications. The average unemployment rate for all states includes data for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. LSA classification criteria stipulate a civil jurisdiction must have a ``floor unemployment rate'' of 6.0% or higher to be classified a LSA. Any civil jurisdiction that has a ``ceiling unemployment rate'' of 10% or higher is classified a LSA. Civil jurisdictions are defined as follows: 1. A city of at least 25,000 population on the basis of the most recently available estimates from the Bureau of the Census; or 2. A town or township in the States of Michigan, New Jersey, New York, or Pennsylvania of 25,000 or more population and which possess powers and functions similar to those of cities; or 3. All counties, except for those counties which contain any type of civil jurisdictions defined in ``1'' or ``2'' above; or 4. A ``balance of county'' consisting of a county less any component cities and townships identified in ``1'' or ``2'' above; or 5. A county equivalent which is a town in the States of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, or a municipio in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Procedures for Classifying Labor Surplus Areas The Department of Labor (DOL) issues the LSA list on a fiscal year basis. The list becomes effective each October 1, and remains in effect through the following September 30. The reference period used in preparing the current list was January 2014 through December 2016. The national average unemployment rate (including Puerto Rico) during this period is rounded to 5.12 percent. Twenty percent higher than the national unemployment rate during this period is rounded to 6.14 percent but 6.1453 percent (since 5 is the 3rd place behind the decimal) will be used for the unemployment qualifying rate. Therefore, areas included on the FY 2018 LSA list had an unemployment rate for the reference period of 6.1453 percent or higher. To ensure that all areas classified as labor surplus meet the requirements, when a city is part of a county and meets the unemployment qualifier as a LSA, that city is identified in the LSA list, the balance of county, not the entire county, will be identified as a LSA if the balance of county also meets the LSA unemployment criteria. The FY 2018 LSA list, statistical data on the current and some previous year's LSAs are available at ETA's LSA Web site http://www.doleta.gov/programs/lsa.cfm. Petition for Exceptional Circumstance Consideration The classification procedures also provide criteria for the designation of LSAs under exceptional circumstances criteria. These procedures permit the regular classification criteria to be waived when an area experiences a significant increase in unemployment which is not temporary or seasonal and which was not reflected in the data for the 2-year reference period. Under the program's exceptional circumstance procedures, LSA classifications can be made for civil jurisdictions, Metropolitan Statistical Areas or Combined Statistical Areas, as defined [[Page 45896]] by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. In order for an area to be classified as a LSA under the exceptional circumstance criteria, the state workforce agency must submit a petition requesting such classification to the Department of Labor's ETA. The current criteria for an exceptional circumstance classification are, (1) an area's unemployment rate is at least 6.1453 percent for each of the three most recent months; (2) a projected unemployment rate of at least 6.1453 percent for each of the next 12 months; and (3) documentation that the exceptional circumstance event has occurred. The state workforce agency may file petitions on behalf of civil jurisdictions, Metropolitan Statistical Areas, or Micropolitan Statistical Areas. The addresses of state workforce agencies are available on the ETA Web site at: http://www.doleta.gov/programs/lsa.cfm. State Workforce Agencies may submit petitions in electronic format to [email protected], or in hard copy to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Investment, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room C-4514, Washington, DC 20210, Attention Samuel Wright. Data collection for the petition is approved under OMB 1205-0207, expiration date March 31, 2018. Signed at Washington, DC Byron Zuidema, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training. [FR Doc. 2017-20977 Filed 9-29-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Notices 45895
pay. The proposed Consent Decree also DATES: The annual list of labor surplus and functions similar to those of cities;
requires the City to cooperate with EPA areas is effective October 1, 2017, for all or
and any parties performing cleanup states, the District of Columbia, and 3. All counties, except for those
work at the Site and to assist with Puerto Rico. counties which contain any type of civil
implementing any necessary land use FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: jurisdictions defined in ‘‘1’’ or ‘‘2’’
restrictions. Samuel Wright, Office of Workforce above; or
The publication of this notice opens Investment, Employment and Training 4. A ‘‘balance of county’’ consisting of
a period for public comment on the Administration, 200 Constitution a county less any component cities and
Consent Decree. Comments should be Avenue NW., Room C–4514, townships identified in ‘‘1’’ or ‘‘2’’
addressed to the Assistant Attorney Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: above; or
General, Environment and Natural 5. A county equivalent which is a
(202) 693–2870 (This is not a toll-free
Resources Division, and should refer to town in the States of Connecticut,
number) or email wright.samuel.e@
United States v. City of Cass Lake, D.J. Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, or a
dol.gov.
Ref. No. 90–11–3–06790/3. All municipio in the Commonwealth of
comments must be submitted no later SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Puerto Rico.
than thirty (30) days after the Department of Labor’s regulations
implementing Executive Orders 12073 Procedures for Classifying Labor
publication date of this notice. Surplus Areas
Comments may be submitted either by and 10582 are set forth at 20 CFR part
654, subpart A. These regulations The Department of Labor (DOL) issues
email or by mail:
require the Employment and Training the LSA list on a fiscal year basis. The
To submit Administration (ETA) to classify list becomes effective each October 1,
Send them to: jurisdictions as labor surplus areas and remains in effect through the
comments:
pursuant to the criteria specified in the following September 30. The reference
By email ....... pubcomment-ees.enrd@ regulations, and to publish annually a period used in preparing the current list
usdoj.gov. list of labor surplus areas. Pursuant to was January 2014 through December
By mail ......... Assistant Attorney General, those regulations, ETA is hereby 2016. The national average
U.S. DOJ—ENRD, P.O. unemployment rate (including Puerto
Box 7611, Washington, DC
publishing the annual list of labor
20044–7611. surplus areas. Rico) during this period is rounded to
In addition, the regulations provide 5.12 percent. Twenty percent higher
During the public comment period, exceptional circumstance criteria for than the national unemployment rate
the Consent Decree may be examined classifying labor surplus areas when during this period is rounded to 6.14
and downloaded at this Justice catastrophic events, such as natural percent but 6.1453 percent (since 5 is
Department Web site: https:// disasters, plant closings, and contract the 3rd place behind the decimal) will
www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. cancellations are expected to have a be used for the unemployment
We will provide a paper copy of the long-term impact on labor market area qualifying rate. Therefore, areas
Consent Decree upon written request conditions, discounting temporary or included on the FY 2018 LSA list had
and payment of reproduction costs. seasonal factors. an unemployment rate for the reference
Please mail your request and payment period of 6.1453 percent or higher. To
Eligible Labor Surplus Areas ensure that all areas classified as labor
to: Consent Decree Library, U.S. DOJ—
ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC A Labor Surplus Area (LSA) is a civil surplus meet the requirements, when a
20044–7611. jurisdiction that has a civilian average city is part of a county and meets the
Please enclose a check or money order annual unemployment rate during the unemployment qualifier as a LSA, that
for $17.75 (25 cents per page previous two calendar years of 20 city is identified in the LSA list, the
reproduction cost) payable to the United percent or more above the average balance of county, not the entire county,
States Treasury. For a paper copy annual civilian unemployment rate for will be identified as a LSA if the balance
without the exhibits and signature all states during the same 24-month of county also meets the LSA
pages, the cost is $8.00. reference period. ETA uses only official unemployment criteria. The FY 2018
unemployment estimates provided by LSA list, statistical data on the current
Randall M. Stone, the Bureau of Labor Statistics in making and some previous year’s LSAs are
Acting Assistant Section Chief, these classifications. The average available at ETA’s LSA Web site http://
Environmental Enforcement Section, unemployment rate for all states www.doleta.gov/programs/lsa.cfm.
Environment and Natural Resources Division. includes data for the Commonwealth of
[FR Doc. 2017–21040 Filed 9–29–17; 8:45 am] Puerto Rico. LSA classification criteria Petition for Exceptional Circumstance
BILLING CODE 4410–15–P stipulate a civil jurisdiction must have Consideration
a ‘‘floor unemployment rate’’ of 6.0% or The classification procedures also
higher to be classified a LSA. Any civil provide criteria for the designation of
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR jurisdiction that has a ‘‘ceiling LSAs under exceptional circumstances
unemployment rate’’ of 10% or higher is criteria. These procedures permit the
Employment and Training classified a LSA. regular classification criteria to be
Administration Civil jurisdictions are defined as waived when an area experiences a
follows: significant increase in unemployment
Labor Surplus Area Classification which is not temporary or seasonal and
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
1. A city of at least 25,000 population
AGENCY: Employment and Training on the basis of the most recently which was not reflected in the data for
Administration, Labor. available estimates from the Bureau of the 2-year reference period. Under the
ACTION: Notice. the Census; or program’s exceptional circumstance
2. A town or township in the States procedures, LSA classifications can be
SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is of Michigan, New Jersey, New York, or made for civil jurisdictions,
to announce the annual list of labor Pennsylvania of 25,000 or more Metropolitan Statistical Areas or
surplus areas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. population and which possess powers Combined Statistical Areas, as defined
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![45896 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Notices
by the U.S. Office of Management and (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are found, i.e., 29 CFR 2530.203–3. The
Budget. In order for an area to be invited. suspension notification must also
classified as a LSA under the DATES: The OMB will consider all inform the retiree or participant of the
exceptional circumstance criteria, the written comments that agency receives plan’s procedure for affording a review
state workforce agency must submit a on or before November 1, 2017. of the suspension of benefits. ERISA
petition requesting such classification to ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with section 203 authorizes this information
the Department of Labor’s ETA. The applicable supporting documentation; collection. See 29 U.S.C. 1103.
current criteria for an exceptional including a description of the likely This information collection is subject
circumstance classification are, respondents, proposed frequency of to the PRA. A Federal agency generally
(1) an area’s unemployment rate is at response, and estimated total burden cannot conduct or sponsor a collection
least 6.1453 percent for each of the three may be obtained free of charge from the of information, and the public is
most recent months; RegInfo.gov Web site at http:// generally not required to respond to an
(2) a projected unemployment rate of www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAView information collection, unless it is
at least 6.1453 percent for each of the ICR?ref_nbr=201707-1210-002 or by approved by the OMB under the PRA
next 12 months; and contacting Michel Smyth by telephone and displays a currently valid OMB
(3) documentation that the at 202–693–4129, TTY 202–693–8064, Control Number. In addition,
exceptional circumstance event has (these are not toll-free numbers) or by notwithstanding any other provisions of
occurred. The state workforce agency email at DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov. law, no person shall generally be subject
may file petitions on behalf of civil Submit comments about this request to penalty for failing to comply with a
jurisdictions, Metropolitan Statistical by mail to the Office of Information and collection of information that does not
Areas, or Micropolitan Statistical Areas. Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk display a valid Control Number. See 5
The addresses of state workforce Officer for DOL–EBSA, Office of CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL
agencies are available on the ETA Web Management and Budget, Room 10235, obtains OMB approval for this
site at: http://www.doleta.gov/programs/ 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC information collection under Control
lsa.cfm. State Workforce Agencies may 20503; by Fax: 202–395–5806 (this is Number 1210–0048.
submit petitions in electronic format to not a toll-free number); or by email: The DOL seeks to extend PRA
wright.samuel.e@dol.gov, or in hard OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov. authorization for this information
copy to the U.S. Department of Labor, Commenters are encouraged, but not collection for three (3) more years,
Employment and Training required, to send a courtesy copy of any without any change to existing
Administration, Office of Workforce comments by mail or courier to the U.S. requirements. The DOL notes that
Investment, 200 Constitution Avenue Department of Labor—OASAM, Office existing information collection
NW., Room C–4514, Washington, DC of the Chief Information Officer, Attn: requirements submitted to the OMB
20210, Attention Samuel Wright. Data Departmental Information Compliance receive a month-to-month extension
collection for the petition is approved Management Program, Room N1301, while they undergo review. For
under OMB 1205–0207, expiration date 200 Constitution Avenue NW., additional substantive information
March 31, 2018. Washington, DC 20210; or by email: about this ICR, see the related notice
DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov. published in the Federal Register on
Signed at Washington, DC
May 22, 2017 (82 FR 23303).
Byron Zuidema, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Interested parties are encouraged to
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment Michel Smyth by telephone at 202–693– send comments to the OMB, Office of
and Training. 4129, TTY 202–693–8064, (these are not Information and Regulatory Affairs at
[FR Doc. 2017–20977 Filed 9–29–17; 8:45 am] toll-free numbers) or by email at DOL_ the address shown in the ADDRESSES
BILLING CODE 4510–FN–P PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov. section within thirty (30) days of
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR publication of this notice in the Federal
seeks to extend PRA authority for the Register. In order to help ensure
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Suspension of Pension Benefits appropriate consideration, comments
Pursuant to Regulations 29 CFR should mention OMB Control Number
Office of the Secretary 2530.203–3 information collection. 1210–0048. The OMB is particularly
Employee Retirement Income Security interested in comments that:
Agency Information Collection Act (ERISA) section 203(a)(3)(B), 29
Activities; Submission for OMB • Evaluate whether the proposed
U.S.C. 1103(a)(3)(B), and its collection of information is necessary
Review; Comment Request; implementing regulations govern the
‘‘Suspension of Pension Benefits for the proper performance of the
circumstances under which a pension functions of the agency, including
Pursuant to Regulations 29 CFR plan may suspend pension benefit
2530.203–3’’ whether the information will have
payments to a retiree who returns to practical utility;
ACTION: Notice. work or of a participant who continues • Evaluate the accuracy of the
to work beyond normal retirement age. agency’s estimate of the burden of the
SUMMARY: On September 30, 2017, the In order for a plan to suspend benefits, proposed collection of information,
Department of Labor (DOL) will submit it must notify the affected retiree or including the validity of the
the Employee Benefits Security participant during the first calendar methodology and assumptions used;
Administration (EBSA) sponsored month or payroll period in which the • Enhance the quality, utility, and
information collection request (ICR) plan withholds payment that benefits
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
clarity of the information to be
titled, ‘‘Suspension of Pension Benefits are suspended. The notice must include collected; and
Pursuant to Regulations 29 CFR the specific reasons for such • Minimize the burden of the
2530.203–3,’’ to the Office of suspension, a general description of the collection of information on those who
Management and Budget (OMB) for plan provisions authorizing the are to respond, including through the
review and approval for continued use, suspension, a copy of the relevant plan use of appropriate automated,
without change, in accordance with the provisions, and a statement indicating electronic, mechanical, or other
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 where the applicable regulations may be technological collection techniques or
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Document Created: 2017-09-30 04:41:12
Document Modified: 2017-09-30 04:41:12
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | The annual list of labor surplus areas is effective October 1, 2017, for all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. | |
| Contact | Samuel Wright, Office of Workforce Investment, Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room C-4514, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693- 2870 (This is not a toll-free number) or email [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 45895 |
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