[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 29 (Monday, February 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9868-9869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02746]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs

[OMB Control No. 1240-0060]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; 1240-0060 Division 
of Energy Employees Occupational Illness (DEEOIC) Authorization Forms

AGENCY: Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation, 
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, (OWCP/DEEOIC), Labor.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, 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

[[Page 9869]]

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. Currently, the OWCP/DEEOIC is soliciting comments on 
the information collection for DEEOIC Authorization Forms, EE-22, EE-
24, EE-26, EE-28, EE-30, EE-32.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before April 12, 2024.

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:
     Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit DOL-OWCP/DEEOIC, Office 
of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of Energy Employees 
Occupational Illness Compensation, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave. NW, Room S3323, Washington, DC 20210.
     OWCP/DEEOIC 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: Anjanette Suggs, Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs, at [email protected] (email) or (202) 354-
9660 (voice).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) is the primary 
agency responsible for administration of the Energy Employees 
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000, as amended 
(EEOICPA), 42 U.S.C. 7384 et seq. EEOICPA provides for the payment of 
compensation to covered employees and, where applicable, survivors of 
deceased employees, who sustained either an ``occupational illness'' or 
a ``covered illness'' in the performance of duty for the Department of 
Energy and certain of its contractors and subcontractors. One element 
of the compensation provided to covered employees is medical benefits 
for the treatment of their occupational or covered illnesses that are 
accepted as compensable. OWCP contracts with a private sector bill 
processing agent that handles many of the tasks associated with paying 
bills for medical treatment provided to covered employees under 
EEOICPA. This bill processing agent uses an automated system that 
matches incoming bills with the authorized medical treatment of covered 
employees before it issues payments, and a provider of medical 
treatment, supplies or services to covered employees must provide the 
bill processing agent with information necessary for creation of an 
authorization within the agent's automated system before a bill can be 
paid. The collection of this information is authorized by 20 CFR 
30.400(a) and (c), 30.403, 30.404(b) and 30.700. The information 
collections in this ICR collect demographic, factual and medical 
information that OWCP and/or its bill processing agent needs to process 
bills for medical treatment, supplies or services.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    OWCP is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to the DEEOIC Authorization Forms, EE-22, EE-24, EE-
26, EE-28, EE-30, EE-32. OWCP/DEEOIC is particularly interested in 
comments that:
     Evaluate whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of OWCP/DEEOIC/s estimate of the 
burden related to the information collection, 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 information collection 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/DEEOIC located 
at 200 Constitution Avenue NW, 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 OWCP/DEEOIC 
Authorization Forms (EE-22, EE-24, EE-26, EE-28, EE-30, EE-32 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 a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of 
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (OWCP/DEEOIC).
    OMB Number: 1240-0060.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business.
    Number of Respondents: 12,890.
    Frequency: Varies by form.
    Number of Responses: 66,770.
    Annual Burden Hours: 11,129 hours.
    DEEOIC Forms, EE-22, EE-24, EE-26, EE-28, EE-30, EE-32. DEEOIC 
Authorization Forms.
    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.

Anjanette Suggs,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-02746 Filed 2-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CR-P