[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60712-60713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19024]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Proposed Extension of Existing Collection; Longshore and Harbor 
Workers' Compensation Act Pre-Hearing Statement (LS-18)

AGENCY: Division of Federal Employees', Longshore and Harbor Workers' 
Compensation (DFELHWC), Office of Workers' Compensation Programs 
(OWCP), Department of Labor.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-
clearance request for comment to provide the general public and Federal 
agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of 
information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 
This request helps to ensure that: 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 on respondents can be properly 
assessed. OWCP/DFELHWC is soliciting comments on the information 
collection for ``Pre-Hearing Statement (LS-18).''

DATES: Consideration will be given to all written comments received by 
November 6, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comment as follows. Please note that late, 
untimely filed comments will not be considered.
    Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the 
following way:

[[Page 60713]]

     Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit DOL-OWCP/DFELHWC, Office 
of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of Federal Employees' 
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation, U.S. Department of Labor, 
200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S3323, Washington, DC 20210.
     OWCP/DFELHWC will post your comment as well as any 
attachments, except for information submitted and marked as 
confidential, in the docket at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Anjanette Suggs, Office of 
Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of Federal Employees', 
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation, OWCP/DFELHWC at 
[email protected] (email); or (202) 354-9660.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    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. The form LS-18 is used to refer the 
case for formal hearing under the Act. Any party seeking referral to 
the Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) shall 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 OALJ 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.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    The OWCP/DFELHWC is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Longshore and Harbor 
Workers' Compensation Act Pre-Hearing Statement (LS-18).''
    OWCP/DFELHWC 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 OWCP/DFELHWC's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used in the estimate.
     Suggest methods to 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.
    Background documents related to this information collection request 
are available at https://regulations.gov and at DOL-OWCP/DFELHWC 
located at 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S3323, Washington, DC 20210. 
Questions about the information collection requirements may be directed 
to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this notice.

III. Current Actions

    This information collection request concerns the ``Pre-Hearing 
Statement (LS-18).'' OWCP/DFELHWC has updated the data with respect to 
the number of respondents, responses, burden hours, and burden costs 
supporting this information collection request from the previous 
information collection request.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: DOL-Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of 
Federal Employees', Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation, OWCP/
DFELHWC.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0036.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Number of Respondents: 3,800.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 3,800.
    Annual Burden Hours: 646 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $1,102.
    OWCP Form: Form LS-18, Pre-Hearing Statement.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized in 
the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the 
proposed information collection request; they will become a matter of 
public record and will be available at https://www.reginfo.gov.
    Authority:
    44 U.S.C. 3506(C)(2)(A).

Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-19024 Filed 9-1-23; 8:45 am]
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