Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[01/11/2006]
Volume 71, Number 7, Page 1772-1773
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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
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proposed collection: Request for Earnings Information (LS-426). 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 March 13, 2006.
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) administers the
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) (33 U.S.C. 901
et seq.), and its extensions the Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities
Act, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Defense Base Act.
These Acts provide compensation benefits to injured workers. The
Secretary of Labor is authorized, under the Act, to make rules and
regulations to administer the Act and its extensions. Pursuant to the
LHWCA, injured employees shall receive compensation in an amount equal
to 66\2/3\ per centum of their average weekly wage. Form LS-426,
Request for Earnings Information is used by district offices to collect
wage information from injured workers to assure payment of compensation
benefits to injured workers at the proper rate. This information is
needed for determination of compensation benefits in accordance with
Section 10 of the LHWCA. This information collection is currently
approved for use through July 31, 2006.
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 approval of the extension of this
information collection in order to carry out its responsibility to
assure payment of compensation benefits to injured workers at the
proper rate.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Titles: Request for Earnings Information.
OMB Number: 1215-0112.
Agency Numbers: LS-426.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Total Respondents: 1,600.
Total Annual Responses: 1,600.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 400.
Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
Frequency: On Occasion.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $672.00.
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 5, 2006.
Sue Blumenthal,
Acting Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control,
Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration
and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-148 Filed 1-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CF-P
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