[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62221-62222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29847]


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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 extension collections of: (1) Notice 
of Final Payment or Suspension of Compensation Benefits (Longshore and 
Harbor Workers' Compensation Act); and (2) Work Experience and Career 
Exploration Programs, Regulations 29 CFR Part 570.35a (Fair Labor 
Standards Act). A copy of the proposed information collection requests 
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 January 18, 2000.

ADDRESSEE: Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U. S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., N.W., Room S-3201, Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0339 (this is not a toll-free number), fax (202) 693-1451.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notice of Final Payment or Suspension of Compensation Benefits

I. Background

    The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the 
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. 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 its insurance carrier 
must file a report of the compensation paid to a claimant at the time 
final payment is made. Filing of the report is mandatory and failure to 
do so is subject to a civil penalty. This form is used to notify OWCP 
that payment of compensation benefits has been stopped or suspended in 
a case.

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 manage the case file and verify that the injured 
worker has received all benefits that he/she is entitled to receive 
under the Act.
    Type of Review: Extension.

[[Page 62222]]

    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Notice of Final Payment or Suspension of Compensation 
Benefits.
    OMB Number: 1215-0024.
    Agency Number: LS-208.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Total Respondents: 500.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 19,350.
    Average Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,838.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $10,070.

Work Experience and Career Exploration Program (WECEP)

I. Background

    Section (3)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes a 
minimum age of 16 for most nonagricultural employment, but allows the 
employment of 14 and 15 year olds in occupations other than 
manufacturing and mining if the Secretary of Labor determines such 
employment is confined to periods which will not interfere with their 
schooling and to conditions which will not interfere with their health 
and well-being. Subpart C of Regulations, 29 CFR Part 570, Child Labor 
Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation, sets forth the 
employment standards for 14 and 15 year olds (Child Labor Reg. 3). 
Section 570.35a of these regulations permits employment of 14 and 15 
year olds under conditions otherwise prohibited by child Labor Reg. 3 
pursuant to a school-supervised and school-administered Work Experience 
and Career Exploration Program (WECEP) which meets the stated 
requirements. In order to utilize the WECEP provisions of Child Labor 
Reg. 3, section 570.35 of the regulations require a State Educational 
Agency to file an application for approval of a State WECEP program as 
one not interfering with schooling or with the health and well-being of 
the minors involved and therefore not constituting oppressive child 
labor. Section 570.35a(b)(3)(vi) of the regulations requires each 
student participating in a WECEP to execute a written training 
agreement signed by the teacher-coordinator, the employer and the 
student and signed or otherwise consented to by the student's parent or 
guardian.

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

    State educational agencies are required to file applications for 
approval of WECEP which provide exceptions to the child labor 
regulations issued under the Fair Labor Standards Act. State 
educational agencies are also required to maintain certain records with 
respect to approved WECEP programs. The Department of Labor seeks the 
extension of the collection of information in order to carry out its 
responsibility to determine that regulatory tests for approval of the 
program have been met, and to document the validity of the WECEP 
program as one which is structured to provide training for the student.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Work Experience and Career Exploration Programs (WECEP), 29 
CFR Part 570.35A.
    OMB Number: 1215-0121.
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government, Individuals or 
households.
    Total Respondents: 14,014.
    Frequency: Recordkeeping; Biennial Reporting.
    Total Responses: 14,0140.

Average Time per Response

    Reporting, WECEP Application--2 hours.
    Reporting, Written Training Agreement--1 hour.
    Recordkeeping, WECEP Program Information,--1 hour.
    Recordkeeping, Filing of WECEP Record and Training Agreement--\1/2\ 
minute.
    Estimated Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: 7,145 
hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $2.52.
    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: November 9, 1999.
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. 99-29847 Filed 11-15-99; 8:45 am]
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