[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1772-1773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-148]


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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

[[Page 1773]]

proposed collection: Request for Earnings Information (LS-426). 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 March 13, 2006.

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 (OWCP) administers the 
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) (33 U.S.C. 901 
et seq.), and its extensions the Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities 
Act, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Defense Base Act. 
These Acts provide compensation benefits to injured workers. The 
Secretary of Labor is authorized, under the Act, to make rules and 
regulations to administer the Act and its extensions. Pursuant to the 
LHWCA, injured employees shall receive compensation in an amount equal 
to 66\2/3\ per centum of their average weekly wage. Form LS-426, 
Request for Earnings Information is used by district offices to collect 
wage information from injured workers to assure payment of compensation 
benefits to injured workers at the proper rate. This information is 
needed for determination of compensation benefits in accordance with 
Section 10 of the LHWCA. This information collection is currently 
approved for use through July 31, 2006.

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 
assure payment of compensation benefits to injured workers at the 
proper rate.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Titles: Request for Earnings Information.
    OMB Number: 1215-0112.
    Agency Numbers: LS-426.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Total Respondents: 1,600.
    Total Annual Responses: 1,600.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 400.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $672.00.
    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 5, 2006.
Sue Blumenthal,
Acting Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, 
Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration 
and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-148 Filed 1-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CF-P