[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 14 (Thursday, January 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3178-3179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1310]


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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: Energy Employees 
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act Forms (EE-1, EE-2, EE-3, 
EE-4, EE-7, EE-8, EE-9, EE-20). A copy of the proposed information 
collection request 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 March 22, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0418, fax (202) 693-1451, Email [email protected]. Please 
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or Email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Background

    The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the 
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 
(EEOICPA), 42 U.S.C. 7384 et seq. The Act provides for the timely, 
uniform, and adequate compensation of covered employees and, where 
applicable, survivors of such employees, suffering from illnesses 
incurred in the performance of duty for the Department of Energy and 
certain of its contractors and subcontractors. The Act sets forth 
eligibility criteria for covered employees for compensation under the 
program and outlines the elements of compensation payable from the 
Fund. The information collected is used to obtain demographic, factual 
and medical information necessary to determine entitlement to benefits 
under the EEOICPA. The eight forms listed below are reporting 
requirements under the Act and are required to determine a claimant's 
eligibility for compensation and to receive benefits under the EEOICPA. 
The forms reporting requirements are: EE-1, Claim for Benefits Under 
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act is used 
to file notice of claim under the EEOICPA, and is to be completed by 
the living current or former employer; EE-2, Claim for Survivor 
Benefits Under Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation 
Program Act is used by the survivor of a covered employee to file 
notice of claim under the EEOICPA; EE-3, Employment History for Claim 
Under Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act is 
used to gather information regarding the employee's work history; EE-4, 
Employment History Affidavit for Claim Under the Energy Employees 
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act is used to support the 
claimant's employment history by affidavit; EE-7, Medical Requirements 
Under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program 
Act informs an employee, survivor or physician of the medical evidence 
needed to establish a diagnosis of a covered condition; EE-8, Letter to 
Claimant is sent with enclosure EN-8 to obtain information on the 
employee's smoking history when lung cancer is claimed; EE-9, Letter to 
Claimant is sent with enclosure EN-9 to obtain information concerning 
the race or ethnicity of the employee when skin cancer is claimed; and 
EE-20, Letter to Claimant is sent with enclosure EN-20 to verify 
acceptance of payment on approved claims. This information collection 
is currently approved for use through July 31, 2004.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    [sbull] 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 for the extension in order 
to carry out its responsibility to determine a claimant's eligibility 
for compensation under the EEOICPA.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Energy Employee Occupational Illness Compensation Act Forms 
(various).

[[Page 3179]]

    OMB Number: 1215-0197.
    Agency Number: EE-1, EE-2, EE-3, EE-4, EE-7, EE-8, EE-9, EE-20.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit.
    Total Respondents: 50,019.
    Total Responses: 50,019.
    Time per Response: 5 to 60 minutes.
    Frequency: As needed.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 22,495.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $12,742.
    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: January 15, 2004.
Bruce Bohanon,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-1310 Filed 1-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CR-P