ESA Federal Register Notice

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]
BILLING CODE 4510-CH-P