[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 70443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24632]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Division of Federal Employees' Compensation; 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: Claim for Reimbursement of 
Benefit Payments and Claims Expense Under the War Hazards Compensation 
Act (CA-278). 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 December 12, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Yoon Ferguson, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave. NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone/fax 
(202) 354-9647, 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) is the federal 
agency responsible for administration of the War Hazards Compensation 
Act (WHCA), 42 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. Under section 1704(a) of the WHCA, 
an insurance carrier or self-insured who has paid workers' compensation 
benefits to or on account of any person for a war-risk hazard may seek 
reimbursement for benefits paid (plus expenses) out of the Employment 
Compensation Fund for the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) at 
5 U.S.C. 8147. Form CA-278 is used by insurance carriers and the self-
insured to request reimbursement. The information collected is used by 
OWCP staff to process requests for reimbursement of WHCA benefit 
payments and claims expense that are submitted by insurance carriers 
and self-insureds. The information is also used by OWCP to decide 
whether it should opt to pay ongoing WHCA benefits directly to the 
injured worker. This information collection is currently approved for 
use through December 31, 2016.

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 extension of approval to collect this 
information in order to carry out its responsibility to reimburse 
insurance carriers and self-insureds who meet the statutory 
requirements of the War Hazards Compensation Act (WHCA) for 
reimbursement.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    Title: Claim for Reimbursement of Benefit Payments and Claims 
Expense Under the War Hazards Compensation Act.
    OMB Number: 1240-0006.
    Agency Number: CA-278.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Total Respondents: 345.
    Total Responses: 345.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 173.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $542.
    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: October 4, 2016.
Yoon Ferguson,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 
U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2016-24632 Filed 10-11-16; 8:45 am]
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