Proposed Collection; Comment Request [Notices] [12/19/2001]
Proposed Collection; Comment Request [12/19/2001]
Volume 66, Number 244, Page 65512-65513
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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 following information collections: (1) Pre-
Hearing Statement (LS-18); (2) Overpayment Recovery Questionnaire
(OWCP-20); (3) Claim for Continuance of Compensation (CA-12).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addressee section below by February 19, 2002.
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, E-
mail: pforkel@fenix2.dol-esa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Pre-Hearing Statement (LS-18)
I. Background
The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs administers the
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. The Act provides
benefits to workers injured in maritime employment on the navigable
waters of the United States or in an adjoining area customarily used by
an employer in loading, unloading, repairing, or building a vessel.
Title 20, CFR 702.217 provides for the referral of claims under the
Longshore Act for formal hearings. This section provides that, before a
case is transferred to the Office of Administrative Law Judges, the
district director shall furnish each of the parties or their
representatives with a copy of a pre-hearing statement form. Each party
shall, within 21 days of receipt, complete it and return it to the
district director. Upon receipt, the district director shall transmit
the form to the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge.
II. Review Focus
The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments
which:
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 submissions of responses.
III. Current Actions
The Department of Labor seeks the approval of the extension of this
information collection in order to carry out its responsibility to
prepare cases for formal hearings under the Act.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Pre-Hearing Statement.
OMB Number: 1215-0085.
Agency Number: LS-18.
Affected Public: Individuals or households; Businesses or other
for-profit.
Frequency: On occasion.
Total Annual Respondents/Responses: 6,800.
Time Per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,088.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $2,595.50.
Overpayment Recovery Questionnaire (OWCP-20)
Background
Both the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act (30 U.S.C. 923(b)
and 20 CFR 725.544(c) and the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (5
U.S.C. 8129(b) and 20 CFR 10.320-10.324) provide for the recovery,
waiver, compromise, or termination of overpayment of benefits to
beneficiaries. The OWCP-20 collects information used to ascertain the
financial condition of the beneficiary who has been overpaid to
determine if the concealment or improper transfer of assets, and to
identify and consider present and potential income and current assets
for enforced collection proceedings. The form also provides a means for
the beneficiary to explain why he/she is not at fault for the
overpayment.
II. Review Focus
The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments
which:
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
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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 for this
information collection in order to carry out its responsibility under
the law to resolve overpayments under the Acts.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Overpayment Recovery Questionnaire.
OMB Number: 1215-0144.
Agency Number: OWCP-20.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Frequency: On occasion.
Total Annual Respondents/Responses: 4,500.
Time Per Response: 45-75 minutes, average 1 hour.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,500.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $1,665.
Claim for Continuance of Compensation (CA-12)
I. Background
Under 5 U.S.C. 8133, Federal Employees' Compensation Act, and 20
CFR 10.410, eligible dependents of deceased Federal employees receive
compensation benefits on account of the employee's death. The OWCP
monitors death benefits for criteria which qualify the beneficiary as
the employee's dependent under law. The CA-12 is designated for this
purpose.
II. Review Focus
The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments
which:
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 submissions of responses.
III. Current Actions
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Claim for Continuance of Compensation.
OMB Number: 1215-0154.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Frequency: Annually.
Total Annual Respondents/Responses: 5,900.
Time Per Response: 5 minutes.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 492.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $2,006.
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: December 7, 2001.
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. 01-31211 Filed 12-18-01; 8:45 am]
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