[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 223 (Friday, November 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 67761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25685]


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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: Pre-Hearing Statement (LS-
18). 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 January 18, 2005.

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, e-mail [email protected]. Please 
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or e-
mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Background

    The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs 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 employer in loading, unloading, repairing, or building a vessel. 
Title 20, CFR 702.317 provides for the referral of claims under the 
Longshore Act for formal hearings. This section provides that, before a 
case is transferred to the Office of Administrative Law Judges, the 
district director shall furnish each of the parties or their 
representatives with a copy of a pre-hearing statement form. Each party 
shall, within 21 days after receipt of each form, complete it and 
return it to the district director. Upon receipt of the forms, the 
district director, after checking them for completeness and after any 
further conferences that, in his/her opinion, are warranted, shall 
transmit the forms to the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge. 
The LS-18 is used to refer cases to the Office of the Administrative 
Law Judges for formal hearings under the Act. This information 
collection is currently approved for use through May 31, 2005.

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 approval of the extension of this 
information collection in order to carry out its responsibility to 
prepare cases for formal hearings under the Act.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Pre-Hearing Statement.
    OMB Number: 1215-0085.
    Agency Number: LS-18.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit.
    Total Respondents: 5,400.
    Total Annual Responses: 5,400.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 864.
    Time Per Response: 10 minutes.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Burden Cost (Capital/Startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (Operating/Maintenance): $2,220.75.
    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 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. 04-25685 Filed 11-18-04; 8:45 am]
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