Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[03/06/2007]
Volume 72, Number 43, Page 9976-9977
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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: Energy Employees
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act Forms (EE-1 English and
EE-1 Spanish, EE-2 English and EE-2 Spanish, EE-3 English and EE-3
Spanish, EE-4 English and EE-4 Spanish, EE-7 English and EE-7 Spanish,
EE-8, EE-9, EE-10, EE-12, EE-13, EE-20). 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
addresses section below on or before May 7, 2007.
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, e-mail bell.hazel@dol.gov. Please
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or e-
mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
I. Background
The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) is the primary
agency responsible for the administration of the Energy Employees
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 as amended
(EEOICPA or Act), 42 U.S.C. 7384 et seq. The Act provides for timely
payment of compensation to covered employees and, where applicable,
survivors of such employees, who sustained either ``occupational
illnesses'' or ``covered Illnesses'' incurred in the performance of
duty for the Department of Energy and certain of its contractors and
subcontractors. The Act sets forth eligibility criteria for claimants
for compensation under Part B and Part E of the Act, and outlines the
various elements of compensation payable from the Fund established by
the Act. The information collected is used to obtain demographic,
factual and medical information needed to determine entitlement to
benefits under the EEOICPA. Before benefits may be paid, the case files
must contain medical and employment evidence showing the claimant's
eligibility. The eight forms listed below are reporting requirements
under the Act and are required to determine a claimant's eligibility
for compensation and to receive benefits under the EEOICPA. The forms
reporting requirements are: EE-1, Claim for Benefits Under Energy
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act is used to file
notice of claim under Part B and/or E of the EEOICPA, and is to be
completed by the living current or former employee; EE-2, Claim for
Survivor Benefits Under Energy Employees Occupational Illness
Compensation Program Act is used by the survivor of a covered employee
to file notice of claim under Part B and/or E of the EEOICPA; EE-3,
Employment History for Claim Under Energy Employees Occupational
Illness Compensation Program Act is used to gather factual information
regarding the employee's work history; EE-4, Employment History
Affidavit for Claim Under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness
Compensation Program Act is used to support the claimant's employment
history by affidavit; EE-7, Medical Requirements Under the Energy
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act informs an
employee, survivor or physician of the medical evidence needed to
establish a diagnosis of a covered condition; EE-8, Letter to Claimant
is sent with enclosure EN-8 to obtain information on the employees'
smoking history when lung cancer due to radiation is claimed; EE-9,
Letter to Claimant is sent with enclosure EN-9 to obtain information
concerning the race or ethnicity of the employee when skin cancer is
claimed; EE-10, Claim for Additional Wage-Loss and/or Impairment Under
the EEOICPA is used by the covered Part E employee who has received an
award for wage-loss and/or impairment due to ``covered illness'' to
claim for subsequent calendar year of wage-loss and/or any additional
impairment; EE-12, Letter to covered Part B and E employees receiving
medical benefits, sent with enclosure EN-12 and is used to collect
updated information about settlements or awards in litigation and state
workers' compensation benefits that impact continuing entitlement; EE-
13, Letter to state workers' compensation authorities, sent with
enclosure EN-13 and is used to identify covered Part E employees
receiving medical benefits who have also been awarded state workers'
compensation for their covered illnesses; and EE-20, Letter to Claimant
is sent with enclosure EN-20 to verify acceptance of payment on
approved claims. This information collection is currently approved for
use through August 31, 2007.
[[Page 9977]]
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 approval for the revision of this
information collection in order to carry out its responsibility to
determine a claimant's eligibility for compensation under the EEOICPA.
Type of Review: Revision.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Energy Employee Occupational Illness Compensation Act Forms
(various).
OMB Number: 1215-0197.
Agency Number: EE-1 English and EE-1 Spanish, EE-2 English and EE-2
Spanish, EE-3 English and EE-3 Spanish, EE-4 English and EE-4 Spanish,
EE-7 English and EE-7 Spanish, EE-8, EE-9, EE-10, EE-12, EE-13, EE-20.
Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit.
Total Respondents: 78,587.
Total Responses: 79,062.
Time per Response: 5 minutes to 8 hours.
Frequency: As needed.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 35,447.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $4,419.
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.
Ruben Wiley,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-3867 Filed 3-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CR-P
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