[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 212 (Friday, November 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61323-61324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24272]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 
Request for Electronic Service of Orders--Waiver of Certified Mail 
Requirement

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

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, ``Request for Electronic 
Service of Orders--Waiver of Certified Mail Requirement.'' 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 4, 2022.

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 202-354-9660 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.
    The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA), at 33 
U.S.C. 919(e), requires that any order rejecting or making an LHWCA 
award (the compensation order) be filed in the appropriate district 
director's office of

[[Page 61324]]

the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), and that copies be 
sent by registered or certified mail to the claimant and the employer. 
The implementing regulations at 20 CFR 702.349(b) allow parties and 
their representatives to waive certified mail service and consent to 
electronic service instead. The compensation order notifies Employers/
Carriers that payment of LHWCA compensation is due within 10 days of 
filing. If compensation is not paid within that time frame, an 
additional 20% in compensation must be paid [see LHWCA 914(f)].
    The information collected will be used by OWCP to more efficiently 
serve compensation orders by email instead of by registered or 
certified mail. Form LS-801 will be completed by the employer/insurance 
carrier and/or an authorized representative and forwarded to the 
District Director indicating waiver of service by registered or 
certified mail and designation of receipt by email instead. The LS-802 
will be completed by the claimants and/or an authorized representative 
and forwarded to the District Director indicating waiver of service by 
registered or certified mail and designation of receipt by email 
instead. This information collection is currently approved for use 
through April 30, 2022.
    Legal authority for this information collection is found at 33 
U.S.C. 919(e).
    Regulatory authority is found at 20 CFR 702.349(b) .
    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. 1240-0053.
    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, DFELHWC.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Title of Collection: Request for Electronic Service of Orders--
Waiver of Certified Mail Requirement.
    Form: LS-801, LS-802, Waiver of Service by Registered or Certified 
Mail for Employers and/or Insurance Carriers, Waiver of Service by 
Registered or Certified Mail for Claimants and Authorized 
Representatives.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0053.
    Affected Public: Private Sector.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,240.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 9,240.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 767 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $0.

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

Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-24272 Filed 11-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CF-P