Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[11/21/2003]
Volume 68, Number 225, Page 65740
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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 collection: Claim for Reimbursement of
Benefit Payments and Claims Expense Under the War Hazards Compensation
Act (CA-278). A copy of the proposed information collection request can
be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses
section of this Notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addresses section below on or before January 20, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 693-0418, FAX (202) 693-1451, Email bell.hazel@dol.gov. Please
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, FAX, or Email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
I. Background: The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)
is the federal agency responsible for administration of the War Hazards
Compensation Act (WHCA), 42 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. Under section 1704(a)
of the WHCA, an insurance carrier or self-insured who has paid workers'
compensation benefits to or on account of a Federal contractors'
employee (or certain other selected persons) performing work outside of
the United States for a war-risk hazard may seek reimbursement for
benefits paid (plus claims expense) out of the Employees Compensation
Fund established by the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) at 5
U.S.C. 8147. The information collected by Form CA-278 is used by OWCP
staff to process requests for reimbursement of WHCA benefit payments
and claims expense that are submitted by insurance carriers and self-
insureds. The information is also used by OWCP to decide whether it
should opt to pay ongoing WHCA benefits directly to the injured worker.
II. Review Focus: The Department of Labor is particularly
interested in comments which:
[sbull] 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;
[sbull] 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;
[sbull] Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information
to be collected; and
[sbull] 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 approval to
collect this information in order to carry out its responsibility to
reimburse insurance carriers and self-insureds who meet the statutory
requirements of the War Hazards Compensation Act (WHCA) for
reimbursement.
Type of Review: New Collection.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Claim for Reimbursement of Benefit Payments and Claims
Expense Under the War Hazards Compensation Act.
OMB Number: 1215-.
Agency Number: CA-278.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Total Respondents: 20.
Total Responses: 80.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 40.
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: November 17, 2003.
Bruce Bohanon,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-29078 Filed 11-20-03; 8:45 am
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