[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 55 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13195-13196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6866]


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

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment Standards Administration


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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, Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs (OWCP) is soliciting comments concerning the 
following proposed collections: (1) FECA Medical Report Forms and Claim 
for Compensation (CA-16b, CA-17b, CA-20, CA-1090, CA-1303, CA-1305, CA-
1306, CA-1314, CA-1316, CA-1331, CA-1332, CA-1336, OWCP-5a, OWCP-5b, 
OWCP-5c, and CA-7); and (2) Rehabilitation Action Report (OWCP-44). 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 May 20, 2002.

ADDRESSES: 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, fax (202) 693-1451, EMail esa.gov">[email protected]esa.gov. 
Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or 
e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

FECA Medical Report Forms (CA-16b, CA-17b, CA-20, CA-1090, CA-1303, 
CA-1305, CA-1331, CA-1332, QCM letters, OWCP-5a, OWCP-5b, OWCP-5c), 
and Claim for Compensation (CA-7)

I. Background

    The Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) provides for the 
payment of benefits for wage loss and/or for permanent impairment to a 
scheduled member, arising out of a work related injury or disease. 
Before compensation may be paid, the case file must contain medical 
evidence showing that the claimant's disability is causally related to 
the claimant's federal employment. As a particular claim ages, there is 
continuing need for updated information to support continuing benefits. 
The FECA Medical Report Forms collect medical information from 
physicians which is necessary to determine entitlement to benefits 
under the Act. Form CA-7, Claim for Compensation, requests information 
from the injured worker regarding pay rate, dependents, earnings, dual 
benefits, and third-party information. This information collection is 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget for use through August 
2002.

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 approval of this information 
collection request in order to carry out its statutory responsibility 
to compensate injured employees under the provisions of the Act. The 
OWCP has carefully reviewed usage of these forms and has determined 
that three forms formerly included as part of this OMB clearance 
number, (CA-1306, CA-1314, and CA-1316,) have not been used in the past 
year and are obsolete. These forms have been eliminated. The CA-1336 
formerly approved as part of this information collection request has 
been replaced by the QCM Letters. In addition, the CM-1090, the OWCP 
5a, 5b, and 5c have been revised.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title(s): Claim for Compensation, FECA Medical Reports.
    OMB Number: 1215-0103.
    Agency Number(s): CA-16b, CA-17b, CA-20, CA-1090, CA-1303, CA-1305, 
CA-1331, CA-1087, QCM letters, OWCP-5a, OWCP-5b, OWCP-5c), and Claim 
for Compensation (CA-7).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; businesses or other 
for-profit; Federal government.
    Frequency: As needed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average
                              Form                                    No. of        minutes per    Burden hours
                                                                    respondents      response
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA-7............................................................             400              13              87
CA-16b..........................................................         130,000               5          10,833
CA-17b..........................................................          60,000               5           5,000
CA-20...........................................................          65,000               5           5,417
CA-1090.........................................................             200              10              34
CA-1303.........................................................           2,000              20             667
CA-1305.........................................................              10              20               3
CA-1331.........................................................             200               5              17

[[Page 13196]]

 
CA-1332.........................................................             200              30             100
QCM letters.....................................................           1,000               5              83
OWCP-5a.........................................................           7,000              15           1,750
OWCP-5b.........................................................           5,000              15           1,250
OWCP-5c.........................................................          15,000              15           3,750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Responses: 286,010.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 28,991.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $105,824.

Rehabilitation Action Report (OWCP 44)

I. Background

    The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the 
Federal Employees' Compensation Act. Section 8104(a) of the Act 
provides that eligible injured workers are furnished vocational 
rehabilitation services. The costs of these services are paid from the 
Employees' Compensation Fund. The Rehabilitation Action Report (OWCP-
44) is submitted by a rehabilitation counselor to report transition 
periods in the vocational rehabilitation process and to request prompt 
adjudicatory action. The form gives prompt notification of key events 
requiring action in the vocational rehabilitation process. The form is 
currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget OMB for use 
through August 2002.

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 an extension of approval to collect 
this information in order to gather information to enable OWCP to make 
timely, informed decisions about rehabilitation services for an injured 
worker. There is no change to the form since the last approval.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Rehabilitation Action Report.
    OMB Number: 1215-0182.
    Agency Number: OWCP-44.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; individuals or 
households.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Respondents: 7,000.
    Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 3,500.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operation/maintenance): $0.
    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: March 15, 2002.
Gary D. Thayer,
Director, Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, 
Administration and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-6866 Filed 3-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CH-P