[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 213 (Friday, November 4, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66750-66751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24014]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Peace 
Corps Volunteer Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment (CA-15)

AGENCY: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of Federal 
Employees', Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation--DFELHWC-FECA

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, Peace Corps Volunteer 
Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment (CA-15). 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 3, 2023.

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 Office of Management and 
Budget (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 Department of Labor (DOL) is requesting an approval of an 
information collection as a result of the Sam Farr and Nick Castle 
Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 (Farr-Castle), which modified various 
aspects of the Peace Corps, including changes to the provision of 
health care to volunteers.
    Peace Corps Volunteers are in the performance of duty while abroad 
during the period of Peace Corps service for purposes of FECA coverage. 
An injury sustained outside the United States during service is deemed 
proximately caused by such service, unless the injury or illness was 
proximately caused by willful misconduct, intention to bring about 
injury or death, or intoxication.
    Under the provisions of the FECA, 5 U.S.C. 8142 of the FECA 
provides that,
    (a) For the purpose of this section, ``volunteer'' means--
    (1) a volunteer enrolled in the Peace Corps under section 2504 of 
title 22;
    (2) a volunteer leader enrolled in the Peace Corps under section 
2505 of title 22; and
    (3) an applicant for enrollment as a volunteer or volunteer leader 
during a period of training under section 2507(a) of title 22 before 
enrollment.
    Entitlement to disability compensation payments does not commence 
until the day after the date of termination of service as a volunteer. 
5 U.S.C. 8142(b).
    Farr-Castle--directs the Secretary of the Department of Labor to 
authorize the Director of the Peace Corps to furnish medical benefits 
to a volunteer, who is injured during the volunteer's period of 
service, for a period of 120 days following the termination of such 
service if the Director certifies that the volunteer's injury probably 
meets the requirements set forth in 5 U.S.C. 8142(c)(3).

[[Page 66751]]

    To this end, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) 
and the Peace Corps collaborated on this form which authorizes medical 
treatment for recently terminated Peace Corps volunteers who require 
medical treatment for injuries/exposure sustained in the performance of 
their volunteer service. Issuance of this form is solely at the 
discretion of the Peace Corps and bridges the gap between the 
occurrence of an initial injury and/or disease exposure and the actual 
adjudication of a claim by OWCP. This form helps to ensure that 
recently terminated volunteers receive prompt medical care, without 
delay, for a period of 120 days following separation from service. The 
collection of this information is authorized under 5 CFR 1320.3(c)(3), 
and 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 be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval of the final ICR. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB-1240-0059.
    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: Extension without changes.
    Title of Collection: Peace Corps Volunteer Authorization for 
Examination and/or Treatment].
    Form: CA-15.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0059.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households or physician/physician 
staff.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 252.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 252.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.25 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 63 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $159.00.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-24014 Filed 11-3-22; 8:45 am]
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