[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65606-65607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27210]


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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: ``Notice of Final Payment 
or Suspension of Compensation Benefits'' (LS-208). 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 December 24, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0339, fax (202) 693-1451, e-mail esa.gov">[email protected]esa.gov. 
Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or 
e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Background

    The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the 
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA). 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 the 
employer's insurance carrier must file a report of the compensation 
paid to a claimant at the time final payment is made. The Act requires 
that the form must be filed within sixteen days of the final payment of 
compensation with the District Director in the compensation district in 
which the injury occurred. This information collection is currently 
approved for use through April 30, 2003.

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 notify 
OWCP district offices that payment of compensation benefits has been 
stopped or suspended in a case. The report is required by law. The 
report is necessary for OWCP to determine whether benefits have been

[[Page 65607]]

suspended in a case and to effectively manage the case file and verify 
that the injured worker has received all benefits to which he/she is 
entitled under the Act. There is no change in the substance or method 
of collection since the last OMB approval.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Notice of Final Payment or Suspension of Compensation 
Benefits.
    OMB Number: 1215-0024.
    Agency Number: LS-208.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Total Respondents: 500.
    Total Responses: 18,950.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,738.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $10,890.
    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: October 21, 2002.
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. 02-27210 Filed 10-24-02; 8:45 am]
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