[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 11 (Thursday, January 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2308-2309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-559]


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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: Securing Financial 
Obligations under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act 
and its Extension (LS-276, LS-275-IC and LS-275-SI). 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 19, 2007.

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 Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) requires 
covered employers to secure the payment of compensation under the Act 
and its extensions by purchasing insurance from a carrier authorized by 
the Secretary of Labor to write Longshore Act insurance, or by becoming 
authorized self-insured employers (33 U.S.C. 932 et seq.). Each 
authorized insurance carrier (or carrier seeking authorization) is 
required to establish annually that its Longshore obligations are fully 
secured either through an applicable state guaranty (or analogous) 
fund, a deposit of security with the Division of Longshore and Harbor 
Workers' Compensation (DLHWC), or a combination of both. Similarly, 
each authorized self-insurer (or employer seeking authorization) is 
required to fully secure its Longshore Act obligations by depositing 
security with DLHWC. These requirements are designed to assure the 
prompt and continued payment of compensation and other benefits by the 
responsible carrier or self-insurer to injured workers and their 
survivors. Forms LS-275, Application for Security Deposit 
Determination; LS-275-IC, Agreement and Undertaking (Insurance 
Carrier); and LS-275-SI, Agreement and Undertaking (Self-insured 
Employer) are used to cover the submission of information by insurance 
carriers and self-insured employers regarding their ability to meet 
their financial obligations under the Longshore Act and its extensions. 
This information collection is currently approved for use through June 
30, 2007.

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,

[[Page 2309]]

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 
ensure that a carrier's LHWCA obligations are sufficiently secured and, 
if necessary, to deposit security in an amount set by OWCP. This 
procedure will ensure the prompt and continued payments of compensation 
and medical benefits to injured workers and help protect the Longshore 
special funds assets from consequences flowing from insurance carriers' 
insolvencies.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Titles: Request for Earnings Information.
    OMB Number: 1215-0204.
    Agency Numbers: LS-276; LS-275-IC and LS-275-SI.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institution.
    Total Respondents: 566.
    Total Annual responses: 647.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 434.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour to 15 minutes.
    Frequency: On Occasion and Annually.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $287.89.
    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 11, 2007.
Hazel M. Bell,
Acting Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, 
Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration 
and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-559 Filed 1-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CF-P