[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20720-20721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8114]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment Standards Administration


Proposed Extension of the Approval of Information Collection 
Requirements

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 its proposal to extend OMB approval of the 
following information collection: FECA Medical Report Forms (CA-16, CA-
17, CA-20, CA-1087, CA-1090, CA-1303, CA-1305, CA-1331, CA-1332, QCM 
Letters, OWCP-5a, OWCP-5b, and OWCP-5c) and Claim for Compensation (CA-
7). 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 June 16, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Mr. Steven Andoseh, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0373, 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 Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), (5 U.S.C. 
8101, et seq.), which provides for the payment of benefits for wage 
loss and/or permanent impairment arising from work related injury or 
disease to a scheduled member. The act outlines the elements of pay to 
be included in an individual's pay rate, and sets forth various other 
criteria for determining eligibility and amount of benefits, including 
augmentation of basic compensation for individuals with dependents. The 
act also requires reports of any earnings during a period for which 
compensation is claimed, prohibits concurrent receipt of FECA benefits 
and benefits from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and certain 
Veterans Administration (VA) benefits, and mandates that money 
collected from a liable third party found responsible for the injury 
for which compensation has been paid be applied to benefits paid or 
payable. Medical evidence is required to show that the claimant's 
disability is causally related to the claimant's federal employment. As 
each claim ages, there is a continuing need for updated information to 
support continuing benefits. The FECA Medical Report Forms collect 
medical information from physicians that are necessary to determine 
entitlement to benefits under the act. The CA-7, Claim for Compensation 
requests information from the injured worker regarding pay rate, 
dependents, earnings, dual benefits, and third party information. This 
information collection is currently approved for use through October 
31, 2008.
    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 
for the extension of this currently approved information collection in 
order to carry out its statutory responsibility to compensate injured 
employees under the provisions of the Act.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: FECA Medical Reports, Claim for Compensation.
    OMB Number: 1215-0103.
    Agency Numbers: CA-7, CA-16, CA-17, CA-20, CA-1087, CA-1090, CA-
1303, CA-1305, CA-1331, CA-1332, QCM Letters, OWCP-5a, OWCP-5b, and 
OWCP-5c.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households; Business or other for-
profit; Federal Government.

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                                                                                   Avg. time per
                            Form No.                                 Number of       response      Burden hours
                                                                     responses         (hrs)
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Burden Estimates:

[[Page 20721]]

 
    CA-7........................................................             400             .22              87
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                                              Medical Report Forms
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CA-16...........................................................         124,800             .08           9,984
CA-17...........................................................          57,600             .08           4,608
CA-20...........................................................          76,800             .08           6,144
CA-1332.........................................................             480             .50             240
CA-1090.........................................................             300             .17              51
CA-1303.........................................................           3,200             .33           1,056
CA-1305.........................................................              10             .33               3
CA-1331/CA-1087.................................................             250             .08              20
QCM-Letters.....................................................           1,500             .08             120
OWCP-5a.........................................................           7,200             .25           1,800
OWCP-5b.........................................................           1,500             .25             375
OWCP-5c.........................................................          17,000             .25           4,250
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total: Medical..............................................         290,640          .09858          28,651
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Total...................................................         291,040          .09874          28,738
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    Total Respondents: 291,040.
    Total Annual Responses: 291,040.
    Average Time per Response: 5.92 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 28,738.
    Frequency: As Needed.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $128,058.
    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: April 10, 2008.
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. E8-8114 Filed 4-15-08; 8:45 am]
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