75838 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 244 / Friday, December 19, 2014 / Notices 

Information and Regulatory Affairs, 

Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL–ETA, 

Office of Management and Budget, 

Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., 

Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202– 

395–5806 (this is not a toll-free 

number); or by email: OIRA_

submission@omb.eop.gov. Commenters 

are encouraged, but not required, to 

send a courtesy copy of any comments 

by mail or courier to the U.S. 

Department of Labor—OASAM, Office 

of the Chief Information Officer, Attn: 

Departmental Information Compliance 

Management Program, Room N1301, 

200 Constitution Avenue NW., 

Washington, DC 20210; or by email: 

DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 

202–693–4129, TTY 202–693–8064, 

(these are not toll-free numbers) or by 

email at DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov. 

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR 

seeks to extend PRA authority for the 

Enhanced Transitional Jobs 

Demonstration information collection 

that consists of reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements. This 

reporting structure features 

standardized data collection for program 

participants and quarterly narrative, 

performance, and management 

information system report formats. 

Grantee organizations (e.g., State or 

local governments and faith-based and 

community organizations) or their subgrantees obtain and record needed 

information from program participants 

and report information quarterly to the 

ETA. Workforce Investment Act section 

136(f)(1) authorizes this information 

collection. See 29 U.S.C. 2871(f)(1). 

This information collection is subject 

to the PRA. A Federal agency generally 

cannot conduct or sponsor a collection 

of information, and the public is 

generally not required to respond to an 

information collection, unless it is 

approved by the OMB under the PRA 

and displays a currently valid OMB 

Control Number. In addition, 

notwithstanding any other provisions of 

law, no person shall generally be subject 

to penalty for failing to comply with a 

collection of information that does not 

display a valid Control Number. See 5 

CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL 

obtains OMB approval for this 

information collection under Control 

Number 1205–0485. 

OMB authorization for an ICR cannot 

be for more than three (3) years without 

renewal, and the current approval for 

this collection is scheduled to expire on 

December 31, 2014. The DOL seeks to 

extend PRA authorization for this 

information collection for three (3) more 

years, without any change to existing 

requirements. The DOL notes that 

existing information collection 

requirements submitted to the OMB 

receive a month-to-month extension 

while they undergo review. For 

additional substantive information 

about this ICR, see the related notice 

published in the Federal Register on 

June 25, 2014 (79 FR 36100). 

Interested parties are encouraged to 

send comments to the OMB, Office of 

Information and Regulatory Affairs at 

the address shown in the ADDRESSES

section within thirty (30) days of 

publication of this notice in the Federal 

Register. In order to help ensure 

appropriate consideration, comments 

should mention OMB Control Number 

1205–0485. The OMB is particularly 

interested in comments that: 

• 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 submission of 

responses. 

Agency: DOL–ETA. 

Title of Collection: Enhanced 

Transitional Jobs Demonstration. 

OMB Control Number: 1205–0485. 

Affected Public: Individuals or 

Households; State, Local, and Tribal 

Governments; and Private Sector—notfor-profit institutions. 

Total Estimated Number of 

Respondents: 3,007. 

Total Estimated Number of 

Responses: 6,028. 

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 

8,340 hours. 

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs 

Burden: $0. 

Dated: December 15, 2014. 

Michel Smyth, 

Departmental Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29685 Filed 12–18–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–FT–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Employment and Training 

Administration 

Notice of Availability of Funds and 

Funding Opportunity Announcement 

for the American Apprenticeship 

Initiative 

AGENCY: Employment and Training 

Administration, Labor. 

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity 

Announcement (FOA). 

Funding Opportunity Number: FOA– 

ETA–15–02. 

SUMMARY: The Employment and 

Training Administration (ETA), U.S. 

Department of Labor, announces the 

availability of approximately $100 

million in grant funds authorized by 

Section 414(c) of the American 

Competitiveness and Workforce 

Improvement Act of 1998 (ACWIA), as 

amended (codified at 29 U.S.C. 2916a), 

for the American Apprenticeship 

Initiative. 

These grants are financed by a user 

fee paid by employers to hire foreign 

workers into the United States under the 

H–1B nonimmigrant visa program. This 

initiative is intended to provide a 

catalyst in supporting a uniquely 

American Apprenticeship system that 

meets our country’s particular 

economic, industry and workforce 

needs. American Apprenticeships (also 

referred to as Registered 

Apprenticeships) are innovative workbased learning and post-secondary earnand-learn models that meet national 

standards for registration with the U.S. 

Department of Labor (or federally 

recognized State Apprenticeship 

Agencies). Grants funded by this 

initiative will support dynamic and 

sustainable public-private partnerships 

that: 

• Support the expansion of quality 

and innovative American 

Apprenticeship programs into highgrowth occupation(s) and industry(s), 

particularly those for which employers 

are using H–1B visas to hire foreign 

workers, and the related activities 

necessary to support such programs (see 

Appendix A or visit the Foreign Labor 

Certification Data Center); 

• Create career pathways that 

encompass American Apprenticeship 

and align with other post-secondary 

educational offerings; 

• Use strategies to significantly 

increase apprenticeship opportunities 

for job seekers and workers (particularly 

for women and other underrepresented 

populations in apprenticeship, 

including young men and women of 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 244 / Friday, December 19, 2014 / Notices 75839 

color, people with disabilities; lowskilled populations; and veterans, 

including transitioning service 

members); and 

• Leverage and develop public 

policies that increase demand for 

American Apprenticeship and support 

sustainability. 

The complete FOA and any 

subsequent FOA amendments in 

connection with this funding 

opportunity are described in further 

detail on ETA’s Web site at http://

www.doleta.gov/grants/ or on http://

www.grants.gov. The Web sites provide 

application information, eligibility 

requirements, review and selection 

procedures, and other program 

requirements governing this funding 

opportunity. 

DATES: The closing date for receipt of 

applications under this announcement 

is April 30, 2015. Applications must be 

received no later than 4:00:00 p.m. 

Eastern Time. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jeannette Flowers, 200 Constitution 

Avenue NW., Room N–4716, 

Washington, DC 20210; Telephone: 

202–693–3322. Sara Gallagher Williams 

is the Grant Officer for this FOA. 

Signed December 12, 2014 in Washington, 

DC. 

Eric D. Luetkenhaus, 

Grant Officer/Division Chief, Employment 

and Training Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29682 Filed 12–18–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–FN–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Employment and Training 

Administration 

Labor Certification Process for the 

Temporary Employment of Aliens in 

Agriculture in the United States: 2015 

Adverse Effect Wage Rates 

AGENCY: Employment and Training 

Administration, Department of Labor. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Employment and 

Training Administration (ETA) of the 

Department of Labor (Department) is 

issuing this notice to announce the 2015 

Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) for 

the employment of temporary or 

seasonal nonimmigrant foreign workers 

(H–2A workers) to perform agricultural 

labor or services. 

AEWRs are the minimum wage rates 

the Department has determined must be 

offered and paid by employers to H–2A 

workers and workers in corresponding 

employment for a particular occupation 

and area so that the wages of similarly 

employed U.S. workers will not be 

adversely affected. 20 CFR 655.100(b). 

In this notice, the Department 

announces the annual update of the 

AEWRs. 

DATES: Effective Date: This notice is 

effective December 19, 2014. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

William W. Thompson, Acting 

Administrator, Office of Foreign Labor 

Certification, U.S. Department of Labor, 

Room C–4312, 200 Constitution Avenue 

NW., Washington, DC 20210. 

Telephone: 202–693–3010 (this is not a 

toll-free number). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. 

Citizenship and Immigration Services of 

the Department of Homeland Security 

will not approve an employer’s petition 

for the admission of H–2A 

nonimmigrant temporary agricultural 

workers in the U.S. unless the petitioner 

has received from the Department an H– 

2A labor certification. The labor 

certification provides that: (1) There are 

not sufficient U.S. workers who are able, 

willing, and qualified and who will be 

available at the time and place needed 

to perform the labor or services involved 

in the petition; and (2) the employment 

of the foreign worker(s) in such labor or 

services will not adversely affect the 

wages and working conditions of 

workers in the U.S. similarly employed. 

8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), 1184(c)(1), 

and 1188(a); 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5). 

Adverse Effect Wage Rates for 2015 

The Department’s H–2A regulations at 

20 CFR 655.120(l) provide that 

employers must pay their H–2A workers 

and workers in corresponding 

employment at least the highest of: (i) 

The AEWR; (ii) the prevailing hourly 

wage rate; (iii) the prevailing piece rate; 

(iv) the agreed-upon collective 

bargaining wage rate, if applicable; or 

(v) the Federal or State minimum wage 

rate, in effect at the time the work is 

performed. 

Except as otherwise provided in 20 

CFR part 655, subpart B, the regionwide AEWR for all agricultural 

employment (except those occupations 

deemed inappropriate under the special 

procedure provisions of 20 CFR 

655.102) for which temporary H–2A 

certification is being sought is equal to 

the annual weighted average hourly 

wage rate for field and livestock workers 

(combined) in the State or region as 

published annually by the United States 

Department of Agriculture (USDA). 20 

CFR 655.120(c) requires that the 

Administrator of the Office of Foreign 

Labor Certification publish the USDA 

field and livestock worker (combined) 

wage data as AEWRs in a Federal 

Register notice. Accordingly, the 2015 

AEWRs to be paid for agricultural work 

performed by H–2A and U.S. workers 

on or after the effective date of this 

notice are set forth in the table below: 

TABLE—2015 ADVERSE EFFECT WAGE

RATES

State 2015 AEWRs 

Alabama ................................ $10.00 

Arizona .................................. 10.54 

Arkansas ............................... 10.18 

California ............................... 11.33 

Colorado ............................... 11.37 

Connecticut ........................... 11.26 

Delaware ............................... 11.29 

Florida ................................... 10.19 

Georgia ................................. 10.00 

Hawaii ................................... 12.98 

Idaho ..................................... 11.14 

Illinois .................................... 11.61 

Indiana .................................. 11.61 

Iowa ...................................... 12.62 

Kansas .................................. 13.59 

Kentucky ............................... 10.28 

Louisiana .............................. 10.18 

Maine .................................... 11.26 

Maryland ............................... 11.29 

Massachusetts ...................... 11.26 

Michigan ............................... 11.56 

Minnesota ............................. 11.56 

Mississippi ............................ 10.18 

Missouri ................................ 12.62 

Montana ................................ 11.14 

Nebraska .............................. 13.59 

Nevada ................................. 11.37 

New Hampshire .................... 11.26 

New Jersey ........................... 11.29 

New Mexico .......................... 10.54 

New York .............................. 11.26 

North Carolina ...................... 10.32 

North Dakota ........................ 13.59 

Ohio ...................................... 11.61 

Oklahoma ............................. 10.35 

Oregon .................................. 12.42 

Pennsylvania ........................ 11.29 

Rhode Island ........................ 11.26 

South Carolina ...................... 10.00 

South Dakota ........................ 13.59 

Tennessee ............................ 10.28 

Texas .................................... 10.35 

Utah ...................................... 11.37 

Vermont ................................ 11.26 

Virginia .................................. 10.32 

Washington ........................... 12.42 

West Virginia ........................ 10.28 

Wisconsin ............................. 11.56 

Wyoming ............................... 11.14 

Pursuant to the H–2A regulations at 

20 CFR 655.173, the Department will 

publish a separate Federal Register 

notice in early 2015 to announce (1) the 

allowable charges for 2015 that 

employers seeking H–2A workers may 

charge their workers for providing them 

three meals a day; and (2) the maximum 

travel subsistence reimbursement which 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES