Proposed Collection; Comment Request [Notices] [07/18/2002]
Proposed Collection; Comment Request [07/18/2002]
Volume 67, Number 138, Page 47407-47408
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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
[[Page 47408]]
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, Office of Workers'
Compensation Programs (OWCP) is soliciting comments concerning the
proposed collection entitled Representative Fee Request. A copy of the
proposed information collection request 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 September 16, 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, fax (202) 693-1451, EMail pforkel@fenix2.dol-esa.gov.
Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or
EMail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Individuals filing for compensation benefits with the Office of
Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) may be represented by an attorney
or other representative. The representative is entitled to request a
fee for services under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA)
and under the Longhshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LSHWC).
The fee must be approved by the OWCP before any demand for payment can
be made by the representative. This information collection request sets
forth the criteria for the information which must be presented by the
respondent in order to have the fee approved by the OWCP. The
information collection does not have a particular form or format; the
respondent may present the information in any format which is
convenient and which meets all the required information criteria. The
information collection is currently approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for use through December 2002.
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 an extension of approval to collect
this information in order to carry out its responsibility to approve
representative fees under the two Acts. OWCP has reestimated the burden
hours per response for FECA representatives only, from 90 minutes to 60
minutes. There is no change in the requirements or method of collection
since the last clearance.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Titles: Representative Fee Request.
OMB Number: 1215-0078.
Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; individuals or
households.
Total Respondents/Responses: 10,000.
Total Hours: 7,850.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operation/maintenance): $16,427.
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: July 11, 2002.
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. 02-18061 Filed 7-17-02; 8:45 am]
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