[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18887-18888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8408]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation; 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 Office of Workers' Compensation (OWCP) 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 June 14, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Mr. Vincent Alvarez, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0372, fax (202) 693-1378, 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-276, 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 
September 30, 2010.

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

[[Page 18888]]

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 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: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    Title: Request for Earnings Information.
    OMB Number: 1240-0005.
    Agency Number: LS-276, LS-275-IC and LS-275-SI.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institution.
    Total Respondents: 572.
    Total Annual Responses: 651.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 436.5.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes to 60 minutes.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $169.52.
    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 2, 2010.
Vincent Alvarez,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 
U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2010-8408 Filed 4-12-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CF-P