[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 27, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 30183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12150]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Proposed Extension of Existing 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 Programs is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed collection: Rehabilitation Action 
Report (OWCP-44). 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 July 28, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Yoon Ferguson, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave. NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0701, fax (202) 693-1447, Email [email protected]. Please 
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or Email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Background: The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) 
administers the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and the 
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA). These acts 
provide vocational rehabilitation services to eligible workers with 
disabilities. Section 8104(a) of the FECA and Sec.  939(c) of the LHWCA 
provide that eligible injured workers are to be furnished vocational 
rehabilitation services, and Sec.  8111(b) of the FECA and Sec.  908(g) 
of the LHWCA provide that persons undergoing such vocational 
rehabilitation receive maintenance allowances as additional 
compensation. Form OWCP-44 is used to collect information necessary to 
decide if maintenance allowances should continue to be paid. Form OWCP-
44 is submitted to OWCP by contractors hired to provide vocational 
rehabilitation services. Form OWCP-44 gives prompt notification of key 
events that may require OWCP action in the vocational rehabilitation 
process. This information collection is currently approved for use 
through September 30, 2014.
    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 ascertain the status of a rehabilitation case and to expedite 
adjudicatory claims action based on events arising from a 
rehabilitation effort.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    Title: Rehabilitation Action Report.
    OMB Number: 1240-0008.
    Agency Number: OWCP-44.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; State, Local, or 
Tribal Government.
    Total Respondents: 4,775.
    Total Annual Responses: 4,775.
    Average Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 797.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    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: May 20, 2014.
Yoon Ferguson,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, US 
Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2014-12150 Filed 5-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CR-P