[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 19 (Monday, January 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5926-5927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01781]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Claim 
for Reimbursement of Benefit Payments and Claims Expense Under the War 
Hazards Act (CA-278)

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

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, ``Claim for Reimbursement 
of Benefit Payments and Claims Expense under the War Hazards Act. (CA-
278)''. 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 
March 31, 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 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.
    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 of 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 July 31, 2023. 5 CFR 1320.3(c)(3) 
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 1240-0006.
    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,

[[Page 5927]]

e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Agency: DOL--Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Title of Collection: Claim for Reimbursement of Benefit Payments 
and Claims Expense under the War Hazards Compensation Act.
    Form: CA-278.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0006.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,264.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 1,264.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 632.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $2,427.00.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-01781 Filed 1-27-23; 8:45 am]
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