[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 159 (Monday, August 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48770-48771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19441]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Equal Access to Justice Act

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed extension of the information collection request 
(ICR) for applicants to obtain awards in administrative proceedings 
subject to the Equal Access to Justice Act.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by October 17, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail to the U.S. Department of 
Labor/Office of the Solicitor Attn: Raymond E. Mitten, Jr., 200 
Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-2420, Washington, DC 20210. Comments 
also may be sent by email to [email protected]. Written comments 
limited to 10 pages or fewer may be transmitted by facsimile to (202) 
693-5538 (this is not a toll-free number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Raymond E. Mitten, Jr., 
Counsel for FOIA Appeals, Paperwork Reduction Act, & Federal Records 
Act, Division of Management and Administrative Legal Services, Office 
of the Solicitor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20210, 
telephone (202) 693-5523 (this is not a toll-free number). Copies of 
the referenced ICR are available in Room N-1301, U.S. Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. A copy of the 
ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained free of 
charge by calling the Michel Smyth at (202) 693-4129 (this is not a 
toll-free number) or sending an email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Background: The Equal Access to Justice Act provides for the 
award of fees and expenses to certain parties involved in 
administrative proceedings with the United States. The statute 
requires, at 5 U.S.C. sec. 504(a)(2), that a party seeking an award of 
fees and other expenses in a covered administrative proceeding must 
submit to the agency an application which shows that the party is the 
prevailing party and is eligible to receive an award under the Act. DOL 
regulations implementing the Equal Access to Justice Act contain a 
subpart specifying the contents of applications for an award, 29 CFR 
part 16, subpart B. The DOL is currently proposing no changes to the 
information collection requirements.
    II. Desired Focus of Comments: The DOL, as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-
clearance 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 (44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)(A)). The 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 the 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The 
DOL 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 48771]]

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 submission of responses.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will become a matter 
of public record. They will also be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the final 
information collection request that will be accessible through the 
Internet. The DOL encourages commenters not to include sensitive 
personal information (e.g., a social security number), confidential 
business data (e.g., a bank account number or trade secret), or other 
sensitive statements/information in any comments.
    III. Current Action: This notice requests an extension of the 
current OMB approval of the paperwork requirements for the contents of 
applications for an award under the Equal Access to Justice Act.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    Agency: DOL-DM.
    Title: Equal Access to Justice Act.
    OMB Control Number: 1225-0013.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households; Private Sector--
businesses or other for-profits, farms, and not-for-profit 
institutions; and State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Number of Respondents: 10.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total responses: 10.
    Average time per response: 5 hours.
    Estimated total burden hours: 50 hours.
    Total annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total annualized costs (operation and maintenance): $0.

    Dated: August 11, 2014.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Office.
[FR Doc. 2014-19441 Filed 8-15-14; 8:45 am]
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