[Federal Register: December 21, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 244)]
[Notices]               
[Page 70433-70434]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21de98-109]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment Standards Administration

 
Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Employment Standards Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning three information collections of the Office of 
Workers' Compensation Programs, Office of Longshore and Harbor

[[Page 70434]]

Workers' Compensation: (1) Certification of Funeral Expenses (LS-265); 
(2) Payment of Compensation Without Award (LS-206); and (3) Notice of 
Controversion of Right to Compensation (LS-207). Copies of the proposed 
information collection requests can be obtained by contacting the 
office listed below in the addressee section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before February 22, 1999. The Department 
of Labor is particularly interested in comments which:
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> 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 submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: Contact Ms. Patricia Forkel at the U.S. Department of Labor, 
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room S-3201, Washington, D.C. 20210, 
telephone (202) 693-0339. The Fax number is (202) 219-6592. (These are 
not toll-free numbers.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs administers the 
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. The Act provides 
benefits to workers of the United States or in an adjoining area 
customarily used by an employer in loading, unloading, repairing, or 
building a vessel. In addition, several acts extend Longshore Act 
coverage to certain other employees. Section 9(a) of the Act provides 
that reasonable funeral expenses not to exceed $3,000 shall be paid in 
all compensable death cases. Form LS-265 has been provided for use in 
submitting the funeral expenses for payment.
    Under section 14(b) & (c) of the Longshore Act, a self-insured 
employer or insurance carrier is required to pay compensation within 14 
days after the employer has knowledge of the injury or death of the 
employee. Upon making the first payment, the employer or carrier shall 
immediately notify the Longshore district director of the payment. Form 
LS-206 has been designated as the proper form on which report of first 
payment is to be made.
    Pursuant to Section 14(d) of the Act, if an employer controverts 
the right to compensation he/she shall file with the Longshore deputy 
commissioner in the affected compensation district on or before the 
fourteenth day after he has knowledge of an alleged injury or death, a 
notice, in accordance with a form prescribed by the Secretary of Labor, 
stating that the right to compensation is controverted. LS-207 is used 
for this purpose.

II. Current Actions

    The Department of Labor (DOL) seeks extension of approval for these 
three information collections in order to carry out its responsibility 
to meet the statutory requirements to provide compensation or death 
benefits under the Act to workers covered under the Act.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Certification of Funeral Expenses.
    OMB Number: 1215-0027.
    Agency Number: LS-265.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Total Respondents: 195.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 195.
    Average Time Per Response for Reporting: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 49.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $68.00.

    Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Payment of Compensation Without Award.
    OMB Number: 1215-0022.
    Agency Number: LS-206.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Total Respondents: 900.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 27,000.
    Average Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 6,750.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $10,057.50.

    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Notice of Controversion of Right to Compensation.
    OMB Number: 1215-0023.
    Agency Number: LS-207.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Total Respondents: 900.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 18,000.
    Average Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,500.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $6,705.00.

    Dated: December 15, 1998.
Margaret J. Sherrill,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-33744 Filed 12-18-98; 8:45 am]
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