[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9166-9167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2455]


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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: Regulations Governing the 
Administration of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act 
(ESA-100, LS-200, LS-201, LS-203, LS-204, LS-262, LS-267, LS-271, LS-
274, LS-513). 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 April 24, 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), 
as amended (20 CFR 702.162, 702.174, 702.175, 20 CFR 702.242, 20 CFR 
702.285, 702.321, 702.201, and 702.111) as it pertains to the provision 
of 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, as 
well as coverage extended to certain other employees. The Longshore Act 
administration requirements include: Payment of compensation liens 
incurred by Trust Funds; certification of exemption and reinstatement 
of employers who are engaged in the building, repairing, or dismantling 
of exclusively small vessels; settlement of cases under the Act; 
reporting of earnings by injured claimants receiving benefits under the 
Act; filing applications for relief under second injury provisions; 
and, maintenance of injury reports under the Act. This information 
collection is currently approved for use through December 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

[[Page 9167]]

technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.
    III. Current Actions: The Department of Labor (DOL) seeks extension 
of approval to collect this information in order to carry out its 
responsibility to insure that Longshore beneficiaries are receiving 
appropriate benefits.
    Failure to request this information, there would be no way to 
insure beneficiaries are receiving the correct amount of benefits.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Regulations Governing the Administration of the Longshore 
and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.
    OMB Number: 1215-0160.
    Agency Number: (ESA-100, LS-200, LS-201, LS-203, LS-204, LS-262, 
LS-267, LS-271, LS-274, LS-513).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, Businesses or other 
for-profit.
    Total Respondents: 185,716.
    Total Responses: 185,716.
    Frequency: On Occasion and Annually.
    Type of Response: Recordkeeping and Reporting.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 71,376.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $66,571.

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                                                                                      Average
                     Information collection                           Annual       response time   Annual burden
                                                                     responses        (hours)          hours
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LS-200, Report of Earnings......................................          18,000            0.17           2,440
LS-200, Report of Earnings with no earnings information to                 3,600               0               0
 report.........................................................
Liens (702.162).................................................              10             0.5               5
Certifications (702.174)........................................               5            0.75               4
Reinstatements (702.175)........................................               2             0.5               1
Settlement Applications (702.242)...............................           5,040               2          10,080
Section 8(f) Payments (702.321).................................             485               5           2,425
ESA-100 (LS) Annual Report......................................          42,000            0.02             840
LS-271, Application for Self-insurance..........................              20               2              40
LS-274, Report of Injury Experience of Self-Insured Employer....             619               1             619
LS-201, Notice of Employee's Injury of Death....................           5,040            0.25           1,260
LS-513, Report of Payments......................................             619             0.5             309
LS-267, Claimant's Statement....................................           1,456           0.033              48
LS-203, Employee's Claim for Compensation.......................          11,340            0.25           2,835
LS-204, Attending Physician's Supplementary Report..............         100,800             0.5          50,400
LS-262, Claim for Death Benefits................................             280            0.25              70
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................         185,716  ..............          71,376
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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating maintenance): $66,571.
    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: February 15, 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. E6-2455 Filed 2-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CF-P