[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9976-9977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3867]


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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 English and 
EE-1 Spanish, EE-2 English and EE-2 Spanish, EE-3 English and EE-3 
Spanish, EE-4 English and EE-4 Spanish, EE-7 English and EE-7 Spanish, 
EE-8, EE-9, EE-10, EE-12, EE-13, 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 
addresses section below on or before May 7, 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 Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) is the primary 
agency responsible for the administration of the Energy Employees 
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 as amended 
(EEOICPA or Act), 42 U.S.C. 7384 et seq. The Act provides for timely 
payment of compensation to covered employees and, where applicable, 
survivors of such employees, who sustained either ``occupational 
illnesses'' or ``covered 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 claimants 
for compensation under Part B and Part E of the Act, and outlines the 
various elements of compensation payable from the Fund established by 
the Act. The information collected is used to obtain demographic, 
factual and medical information needed to determine entitlement to 
benefits under the EEOICPA. Before benefits may be paid, the case files 
must contain medical and employment evidence showing the claimant's 
eligibility. 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 Part B and/or E of the EEOICPA, and is to be 
completed by the living current or former employee; 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 Part B and/or E of the EEOICPA; EE-3, 
Employment History for Claim Under Energy Employees Occupational 
Illness Compensation Program Act is used to gather factual 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 employees' 
smoking history when lung cancer due to radiation 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; EE-10, Claim for Additional Wage-Loss and/or Impairment Under 
the EEOICPA is used by the covered Part E employee who has received an 
award for wage-loss and/or impairment due to ``covered illness'' to 
claim for subsequent calendar year of wage-loss and/or any additional 
impairment; EE-12, Letter to covered Part B and E employees receiving 
medical benefits, sent with enclosure EN-12 and is used to collect 
updated information about settlements or awards in litigation and state 
workers' compensation benefits that impact continuing entitlement; EE-
13, Letter to state workers' compensation authorities, sent with 
enclosure EN-13 and is used to identify covered Part E employees 
receiving medical benefits who have also been awarded state workers' 
compensation for their covered illnesses; 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 August 31, 2007.

[[Page 9977]]

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 approval for the revision of this 
information collection in order to carry out its responsibility to 
determine a claimant's eligibility for compensation under the EEOICPA.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Energy Employee Occupational Illness Compensation Act Forms 
(various).
    OMB Number: 1215-0197.
    Agency Number: EE-1 English and EE-1 Spanish, EE-2 English and EE-2 
Spanish, EE-3 English and EE-3 Spanish, EE-4 English and EE-4 Spanish, 
EE-7 English and EE-7 Spanish, EE-8, EE-9, EE-10, EE-12, EE-13, EE-20.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit.
    Total Respondents: 78,587.
    Total Responses: 79,062.
    Time per Response: 5 minutes to 8 hours.
    Frequency: As needed.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 35,447.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $4,419.
    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.

Ruben Wiley,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
 [FR Doc. E7-3867 Filed 3-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CR-P