Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[01/18/2007]
Volume 72, Number 11, Page 2308-2309
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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: Securing Financial
Obligations under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act
and its Extension (LS-276, LS-275-IC and LS-275-SI). 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 19, 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 Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) requires
covered employers to secure the payment of compensation under the Act
and its extensions by purchasing insurance from a carrier authorized by
the Secretary of Labor to write Longshore Act insurance, or by becoming
authorized self-insured employers (33 U.S.C. 932 et seq.). Each
authorized insurance carrier (or carrier seeking authorization) is
required to establish annually that its Longshore obligations are fully
secured either through an applicable state guaranty (or analogous)
fund, a deposit of security with the Division of Longshore and Harbor
Workers' Compensation (DLHWC), or a combination of both. Similarly,
each authorized self-insurer (or employer seeking authorization) is
required to fully secure its Longshore Act obligations by depositing
security with DLHWC. These requirements are designed to assure the
prompt and continued payment of compensation and other benefits by the
responsible carrier or self-insurer to injured workers and their
survivors. Forms LS-275, Application for Security Deposit
Determination; LS-275-IC, Agreement and Undertaking (Insurance
Carrier); and LS-275-SI, Agreement and Undertaking (Self-insured
Employer) are used to cover the submission of information by insurance
carriers and self-insured employers regarding their ability to meet
their financial obligations under the Longshore Act and its extensions.
This information collection is currently approved for use through June
30, 2007.
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,
[[Page 2309]]
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
ensure that a carrier's LHWCA obligations are sufficiently secured and,
if necessary, to deposit security in an amount set by OWCP. This
procedure will ensure the prompt and continued payments of compensation
and medical benefits to injured workers and help protect the Longshore
special funds assets from consequences flowing from insurance carriers'
insolvencies.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Titles: Request for Earnings Information.
OMB Number: 1215-0204.
Agency Numbers: LS-276; LS-275-IC and LS-275-SI.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit
institution.
Total Respondents: 566.
Total Annual responses: 647.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 434.
Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour to 15 minutes.
Frequency: On Occasion and Annually.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $287.89.
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 11, 2007.
Hazel M. Bell,
Acting Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control,
Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration
and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-559 Filed 1-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CF-P
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