[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 105 (Monday, June 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33201-33202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11664]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 
Application for Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act Pre-
Hearing Statement

AGENCY: Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation, Office 
of Workers' Compensation Programs, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments 
concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the 
information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Pre-Hearing Statement.'' 
This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

DATES: Consideration will be given to all written comments received by 
July 31, 2020.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained for free by 
contacting Anjanette Suggs by telephone at 202-

[[Page 33202]]

354-9660 or by email at [email protected].
    Submit written comments about this ICR by mail or courier to the 
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 
Room S3323, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; or by 
email at [email protected]. Please note that comments submitted 
after the comment period will not be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anjanette Suggs by telephone at 202-
354-9660 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOL, as part of continuing efforts to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of 
information before submitting them to the OMB for final approval. This 
program helps to ensure 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 can be properly assessed.
    The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs administers the 
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. The Act provides 
benefits to workers' injured in maritime employment on the navigable 
waters of the United States or in an adjoining area customarily used by 
an employer in loading, unloading, repairing, or building a vessel. In 
addition, several acts extend the Longshore Act's coverage to certain 
other employees.
    Title 20, CFR 702.317 provides for the referral of claims under the 
Longshore Act for formal hearings. This Section provides that before a 
case is transferred to the Office of Administrative Law Judges the 
district director shall furnish each of the parties or their 
representatives with a copy of a pre-hearing statement form. The form 
LS-18 is used to refer the case for formal hearing under the Act. Each 
party shall, within 21 days after receipt of each form, complete it and 
return it to the district director. Upon receipt of the forms, the 
district director, after checking them for completeness and after any 
further conferences that, in his/her opinion, are warranted, shall 
transmit them to the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge with 
all available evidence which the parties intend to submit at the 
hearing.
    Legal authority for this information collection is found at 33 
U.S.C. 939.
    Regulatory authority is found at 20 CFR 702.317.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless the OMB under the PRA approves it and displays a 
currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that 
does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 
1320.6.
    Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the 
contact shown in the ADDRESSES section. Written comments will receive 
consideration, and summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval of the final ICR. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB No. 1240-0036.
    Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this 
ICR and posted on the internet, without redaction. The DOL encourages 
commenters not to include personally identifiable information, 
confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information 
in any comments.
    The DOL is particularly interested in comments that:
     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 submission of responses.
    Agency: DOL-Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, DLHWC.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Title of Collection: Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act 
Pre-Hearing Statement.
    Form: LS-18, Pre-Hearing Statement.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0036.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,800.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 3,800.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 646 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $1,102.

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-11664 Filed 5-29-20; 8:45 am]
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