[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54071-54072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22764]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Office of the Secretary; Submission for OMB Review; Comment 
Request

August 30, 2000.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). A copy of 
each individual ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be 
obtained by calling the Department of Labor. To obtain documentation 
for BLS, ETA, PWBA, and OASAM contact Karin Kurz (202) 219-5096 ext. 
159 or by E-mail to [email protected]). To obtain documentation for 
ESA, MSHA, OSHA, and VETS contact Darrin King (202) 219-5096 ext. 151 
or by E-Mail to [email protected]).
    Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for BLS, DM, ESA, ETA, MSHA, OSHA, 
PWBA, or VETS, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, 
DC 20503 (202) 395-7316), within 30 days from the date of this 
publication in the Federal Register.
    The OMB 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 submission of responses.

    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Business Confidential Data Request.
    OMB Number: 1205-0197.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Form Number: ETA-9014.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Number of Respondents: 1,500.
    Total Annual Responses: 1,500.
    Estimated Time Per respondent: 3 Hours.
    Total Burden: 4,500 Hours.
    Total annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0.
    Description: Statutory requirements under the Trade Act of 1974, as 
amended, require business confidential data in order to make timely 
determinations as to whether imports have contributed to workers 
separations and thus eligibility for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Business Confidential Data Request Oil and Gas Drilling and 
Exploration Oilfield Services.
    OMB Number: 1205-0272.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Form Number: ETA-9018.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Number of Respondents: 75.
    Total Annual Responses: 75.
    Estimated Time Per respondent: 3 Hours.
    Total Burden: 225 Hours.
    Total annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0.

[[Page 54072]]

    Description: Statutory requirements under the Trade Act of 1974, as 
amended, require business confidential data in order to make timely 
determinations as to whether imports have contributed to workers 
separations and thus eligibility for Trade Adjustment assistance.

    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Customer Survey.
    OMB Number: 1205-0190.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Form Number: ETA-8562.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Number of Respondents: 2,220.
    Total Annual Responses: 2,220.
    Estimated Time Per respondent: 107 Minutes.
    Total Burden: 3,951 Hours.
    Total annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0.
    Description: Information required for the Secretary of Labor to 
make determinations of eligibility for petitioning worker groups to 
apply for adjustment assistance under the Trade Act of 1974.

    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.
    Title: Annual Report for Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements 
(MEWA) and Certain Entities Claiming Exception (Form M-1).
    OMB Number: 1210-0116.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households; business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Form Number: Form M-1.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Number of Respondents: 2,678.
    Total Annual Responses: 2,678.
    Total Burden: 874 Hours.
    Total annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $394,000.
    Description: Section 101(g) (h) \1\ of the Employee Retirement 
Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) authorizes the Secretary of Labor 
to require annual reporting by certain multiple employer welfare 
arrangements for the purpose of determining the extent of their 
compliance with Part 7 of ERISA. Part 7 includes Group Health Plan 
Portability, Access, and Renewability Requirements of ERISA enacted by 
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) 
and certain other statutes. HIPAA amended ERISA to provide for, among 
other things, improved portability and continuity of health insurance 
coverage. The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-204) 
(MHPA), was enacted on September 26, 1996. MHPA amended ERISA to 
provide parity in the application of annual and lifetime dollar limits 
for certain mental health benefits with such dollar limits on medical 
and surgical benefits. The Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act 
of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-204) (Newborns' Act) also was enacted on September 
26, 1996. The Newborns' Act amended ERISA to provide new protections 
for mothers and their newborn children with regard to the length of 
hospital stays in connection with childbirth. The Women's Health and 
Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA) (Pub. L. 105-277) was enacted on 
October 21, 1998. WHCRA amended ERISA to provide individuals new rights 
for reconstructive surgery in connection with a mastectomy. All of the 
foregoing provisions are set forth in Part 7 of Subtitle B of Title I 
of ERISA. Section 734 of ERISA authorizes the Secretary to promulgate 
regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the 
provisions of Part 7 and to promulgate any interim final rules as the 
Secretary determines are appropriate to carry out Part 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Section 1421(d)(1) of the Small Business Job Protection Act 
of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-188) created a new section 101(g) of ERISA 
relating to Simple Retirement Accounts. Subsequently, section 
101(e)(1) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 
of 1996 (HIPAA) also created a new section 101(g) of ERISA relating 
to reporting by multiple employer welfare arrangements MEWA 
reporting, is cited here as section 101(g) {h} of ERISA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On February 11, 2000, PWBA published an Interim Final Reporting 
Rule and the Annual Report for Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements 
and Certain Entities Claiming Exception (Form M-1) (65 FR 7152). On 
that day, PWBA also published an Interim Final Rule for the Assessment 
of Civil Penalties under Section 502(c)(5) of ERISA and an Interim Rule 
Governing Procedures for Administrative Hearings Regarding the 
Assessment of Civil Penalties under Section 502(c)(5) of ERISA (Interim 
Final Penalty Rules, 65 FR 7181). The Department submitted the 
information collection request (ICR) included in the Interim Final 
Reporting Rule of OMB using emergency procedures, and received approval 
through August 31, 2000 under OMB control number 1210-0116. The ICR has 
now been submitted to OMB for an extension of this approval.

Ira L. Mills,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-22764 Filed 9-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M