Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[01/22/2004]
Volume 69, Number 14, Page 3178-3179
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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, EE-2, EE-3,
EE-4, EE-7, EE-8, EE-9, 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
addressee section below on or before March 22, 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) administers the
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000
(EEOICPA), 42 U.S.C. 7384 et seq. The Act provides for the timely,
uniform, and adequate compensation of covered employees and, where
applicable, survivors of such employees, suffering from 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 covered employees for compensation under the
program and outlines the elements of compensation payable from the
Fund. The information collected is used to obtain demographic, factual
and medical information necessary to determine entitlement to benefits
under the EEOICPA. 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 the EEOICPA, and is to be completed by
the living current or former employer; 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 the EEOICPA; EE-3, Employment History for Claim
Under Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act is
used to gather 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
employee's smoking history when lung cancer 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; 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 July 31, 2004.
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 for the extension in order
to carry out its responsibility to determine a claimant's eligibility
for compensation under the EEOICPA.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Energy Employee Occupational Illness Compensation Act Forms
(various).
[[Page 3179]]
OMB Number: 1215-0197.
Agency Number: EE-1, EE-2, EE-3, EE-4, EE-7, EE-8, EE-9, EE-20.
Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit.
Total Respondents: 50,019.
Total Responses: 50,019.
Time per Response: 5 to 60 minutes.
Frequency: As needed.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 22,495.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $12,742.
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: January 15, 2004.
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. 04-1310 Filed 1-21-04; 8:45 am
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