[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 25, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75377-75378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26008]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Workers' Compensation Programs


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 
Rehabilitation Action Report (OWCP-44)

AGENCY: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments 
concerning a proposed revision for the authority to conduct the 
information collection request (ICR) titled, Rehabilitation Action 
Report (OWCP-44). 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 
January 25, 2021.

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 free by 
contacting Anjanette Suggs by telephone at 202-354-9660 or by email at 
[email protected].
    Submit written comments about, or requests for a copy of, 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; by email: [email protected].

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.
    Background: The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) is 
the agency responsible for administration of the Longshore and Harbor 
Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) and the Federal Employees' 
Compensation Act (FECA). 33 U.S.C. 939 (LHWCA) and 5 U.S.C. 8104 (FECA) 
authorize OWCP to pay for approved vocational rehabilitation services 
to eligible workers with work-related disabilities. 5 U.S.C. 8111(b) of 
the FECA and 33 U.S.C. 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 February 28, 2021.
    For LHWCA, 20 CFR 702.506 and 20 CFR 702. 507, and for FECA, 20 CFR 
10.518 and 20 CFR 10.519, authorizes this information collection. 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# 1240-0008.
    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.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Title of Collection: Rehabilitation Action Report.
    Agency Form Number: OWCP-44.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0008.
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government, Businesses or 
other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,299.
    Frequency: Occasionally.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 3,299.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 550 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $296, 910.00.


[[Page 75378]]


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

Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 
U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2020-26008 Filed 11-24-20; 8:45 am]
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