Opinion ID: 452961
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Equitable Distribution Requirement

Text: 21 Appellants raise similar issues with regard to the equitable distribution requirement. 37 They contend that it was inequitable for the DOL not to include in the data base specific eligibility requirements: wage earners, SIC codes, public assistance participants, lower living standard income level, or dependents. Aside from the above-mentioned uncertainty in the accuracy of available data and the provision for on-going review procedures, we note that the DOL invoked the hold-harmless provision that cushioned the impact of the congressionally-mandated shift in data-base. 38 Hence, the Department did consider the past expectations of parties and the unfairness of abruptly shifting policies. The DOL continued, in an equitable fashion, to use an allocation formula that was applied uniformly among states, proportionate to the farmworker tally in each state. 22 With respect to the DOL's failure to include all eligibility factors, the DOL has never used a data-base that precisely identified the groups of persons eligible to receive services. As a practical matter, this is an impossible task. The Census Bureau does not maintain data on the number of seasonal and migrant farmworkers. The 1980 Census household data does not indicate whether income is earned on a seasonal basis rather than a year-round basis, and does not show if reported earnings were actually received from working in the reported occupation. 39 23 The DOL's continued use of a poverty level factor of $3000 was reasonable. Given the time constraints, the DOL chose to use this factor as an appropriate approximation of eligible beneficiaries--those below 70 percent of the lower living standard income level or on public assistance. The district court noted that the DOL was following precedent that previously had not been challenged. 40 24 Similarly, regarding dependents of eligible farmworkers, the district court correctly concluded that the DOL's decision to use the number of farmworkers as an approximation for the proportional number of dependents was reasonable. Dependents could qualify for only 15 percent of grant funds for non-training supportive services. 41 The district court found that there is no basis for assuming that dependents would be more concentrated in particular geographical areas. 42 25