[Federal Register: February 24, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 36)]
[Notices]               
[Page 9110-9111]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24fe05-123]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment Standards Administration

 
Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program 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 Employment Standards Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed collection: Rehabilitation Action 
Report (OWCP-44). A copy of the proposed information collection request 
can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES 
section of this Notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before April 25, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0418, fax (202) 693-1451, E-mail bell.hazel@dol.gov. Please 
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or E-
mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 9111]]

I. Background

    The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the 
Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and the Longshore and Harbor 
Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA). These Acts provide vocational 
rehabilitation services to eligible workers with disabilities. Section 
8104(a) of the FECA and Section 939(c) of the LHWCA provides that 
eligible injured workers are to be furnished vocational rehabilitation 
services, and Section 8111(b) of the FECA and Section 908(g) of the 
LHWCA provide that persons undergoing such vocational rehabilitation 
receive maintenance allowances as additional compensation. Form OWCP-44 
is used to collect information necessary to decide if maintenance 
allowances should continue to be paid. This information collection is 
currently approved for use through August 31, 2005.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
     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 submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

    The Department of Labor seeks the approval of the extension of this 
information collection in order to gather information to enable OWCP 
rehabilitation specialist to make informed decisions on formal 
rehabilitation services for the disabled worker.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Titles: Rehabilitation Action Plan.
    OMB Number: 1215-0182.
    Agency Numbers: OWCP-44.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; State, local or 
tribal government.
    Total Respondents: 7,000.
    Total Annual responses: 7,000.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,169.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: February 17, 2005.
Sue Blumenthal,
Acting Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, 
Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration 
and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-3494 Filed 2-23-05; 8:45 am]