This ICR extension is approved for 3 years. Sensitive questions regarding job applicant disabilities are not approved. OMB recommends that the Agency continue to work with relevant Federal Agencies to identify an appropriate survey on applicant disabilities such that the data will offer practical utility and also minimize the use of sensitive questions. Before resubmission of this ICR for extension, the Agency should revisit estimates of burden taking into account the EZhire platform for information collection.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
07/31/2011
36 Months From Approved
07/31/2008
32,590
0
32,590
15,209
0
15,209
0
0
0
The purpose of this information collection request is to seek approval to use the Environmental Protection Agency's EZhire, vacancy announcement and job application system to collect gender, race, national origin, and disability information from employees within the agency and outside job applicants. All job applicants, whether internal or external, would be asked to complete, on a voluntary basis, an Applicant Background Questionnaire: Race, National Origin, Gender, and Disability Demographics. This information is not currently being collected nor being reported to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Therefore, EPA is not in compliance with regulations which require the submission of race, national origin, gender, and disability data for various reporting purposes.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Management Directive 715, requires agencies to maintain a system that collects and maintains accurate information on the race, national origin, gender and disability of agency employees in accordance with 29 CFR 1614.601; maintain a system that tracks applicant flow data, which identifies applicants by race, national origin, gender, and disability status and disposition of all applications and maintain a tracking system of recruitment activities to permit analyses of these efforts in any examination of potential barriers to equality of opportunity. Management Directive 715 requires agencies to conduct an internal review and analysis of the effects of all current and proposed policies, practices, procedures and conditions that directly or indirectly, relate to the employment of individuals with disabilities based on their race, national origin, gender and disabilities. EPA must collect and evaluate the information and data necessary to make an informed assessment about the extent to which the Agency is meeting its responsibility to provide employment opportunities for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, especially those with targeted disabilities.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.