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ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, “Claim for Reimbursement of Benefit Payments and Claims Expense Under the War Hazards Compensation Act,” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES:

The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives on or before February 17, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free of charge from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAViewICR?​ref_​nbr=​201609-1240-003 or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or sending an email to DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.

Submit comments about this request by mail or courier to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-OWCP, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202-395-5806 (this is not a toll-free number); or by email: OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov. Commenters are encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; or by email: DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or sending an email to DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.

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Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This ICR seeks approval under the PRA for revisions to the Claim for Reimbursement of Benefit Payments and Claims Expense Under the War Hazards Compensation Act (WHCA), Form CA-278, information collection. The OWCP is responsible for administering the WHCA (42 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). WHCA section 104(a) (42 U.S.C. 1704(a)) provides that an insurance carrier or self-insured who has paid workers' compensation benefits to or on account of any person for a war-risk hazard may seek reimbursement for benefits paid (plus expenses) out of the Federal Employees' Compensation Fund. See also 5 U.S.C. 8147. Insurance carriers and the self-insured file a Form CA-278 to request reimbursement. Regulations implementing the WHCA permit the OWCP to collect the information needed to consider the reimbursement request of an insurance carrier or self-insured. See 20 CFR 61.101 and 61.104. This Start Printed Page 5608information collection has been classified as a revision, because of clarifications to a statement about accommodations available to persons with disabilities who file the form. WHCA section 104(a) authorizes this information collection. See 42 U.S.C. 1704(a).

This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection under Control Number 1240-0006. The DOL notes that existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB remain in effect while they undergo review. New requirements would only take effect upon OMB approval. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on October 12, 2016 (81 FR 70443).

Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section within thirty (30) days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1240-0006. The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:

• 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 submission of responses.

Agency: DOL-OWCP.

Title of Collection: Claim for Reimbursement of Benefit Payments and Claims Expense Under the War Hazards Compensation Act.

OMB Control Number: 1240-0006.

Affected Public: Private Sector—businesses or other for-profits.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 7.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 345.

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 173 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $542.

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