Proposed Collection; Comment Request [10/25/2002]
Volume 67, Number 207, Page 65606-65607
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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: ``Notice of Final Payment
or Suspension of Compensation Benefits'' (LS-208). 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 December 24, 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, e-mail pforkel@fenix2.dol-esa.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) administers the
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA). 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 employee in loading, unloading, repairing, or
building a vessel. Under section 14(g) of the Act, the employer or the
employer's insurance carrier must file a report of the compensation
paid to a claimant at the time final payment is made. The Act requires
that the form must be filed within sixteen days of the final payment of
compensation with the District Director in the compensation district in
which the injury occurred. This information collection is currently
approved for use through April 30, 2003.
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 extension of approval to collect
this information in order to carry out its responsibility to notify
OWCP district offices that payment of compensation benefits has been
stopped or suspended in a case. The report is required by law. The
report is necessary for OWCP to determine whether benefits have been
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suspended in a case and to effectively manage the case file and verify
that the injured worker has received all benefits to which he/she is
entitled under the Act. There is no change in the substance or method
of collection since the last OMB approval.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Notice of Final Payment or Suspension of Compensation
Benefits.
OMB Number: 1215-0024.
Agency Number: LS-208.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Total Respondents: 500.
Total Responses: 18,950.
Frequency: On occasion.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,738.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $10,890.
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: October 21, 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. 02-27210 Filed 10-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CF-P
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