Proposed Collection; Comment Request [Notices] [04/14/2000]
Proposed Collection; Comment Request [04/14/2000]
Volume 65, Number 73, Page 20203-20204
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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 the proposed extension collection of the following:
(1) Notice of Termination, Suspension, Reduction or Increase in Payment
Benefits (CM-908); and (2) Economic Survey Schedule (WH-1). 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
ADDRESSES section below on or before June 13, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U. S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone
(202) 693-0339 (this is not a toll-free number), fax (202) 693-1451.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Notice of Termination, Suspension, Reduction, or Increase in
Benefit Payments
I. Background
The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. Under the Act, responsible
coal mine operators or their representatives must provide benefit
payments to eligible coal miners and dependents of coal miners who have
contracted pneumoconiosis. Responsible operators who pay benefits are
required to report any changes in the benefit amount, and the reasons
for the change, to the Department of Labor.
II. Review Focus
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.
III. Current Actions
The Department of Labor seeks the extension of approval to collect
this information in order to carry out its responsibility to ensure
that Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation regulations are
followed and that the new benefit amount is accurate and timely.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Notice of Termination, Suspension, Reduction or Increase in
Benefit Payments.
OMB Number: 1215-0064.
Agency Number: CM-908.
Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
Total Respondents: 325.
Frequency: On occasion.
Total Responses: 9,000.
Average Time per Response: 12 minutes.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,800.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $3.
Economic Survey Schedule
I. Background
Sections 5, 6(a)(3) and 8 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA),
administered by the Wage and Hour Division, provide that covered,
nonexempt employees in American Samoa may be paid a minimum wage rate
established by a special industry committee. The committee is to
recommend to the Secretary of Labor the highest minimum wage rate (not
to exceed the rate required under section 6(a)(1) of the FLSA) that it
determines, having due regard to economic and competitive conditions,
will not substantially curtail employment in the industry and will not
give any industry in American Samoa a competitive advantage over any
other industry in the United States outside of American Samoa. The
Secretary of Labor must submit to the industry committee economic data
to enable the committee to recommend the industry wage rates. The
Economic Survey Schedule (WH-1) is a voluntary use form completed by
employers in American Samoa to disclose certain economic data
concerning their establishment.
II. Review Focus
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;
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<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.
III. Current Actions
The Department of Labor seeks the extension of approval to collect
this information in order to gather information necessary to prepare
the required economic report to be used by the committee to set
industry wage rates in American Samoa.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Economic Survey Schedule.
OMB Number: 1215-0028.
Agency Number: WH-1.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; State, Local or
Tribal Government.
Total Respondents: 50.
Frequency: Biennially.
Total Responses: 50.
Average Time per Response: 45 minutes.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 38.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a
matter of public record.
Dated: April 7, 2000.
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. 00-9339 Filed 4-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-P
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