[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18887-18888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8408]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation; 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 Office of Workers' Compensation (OWCP) is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed collection: Securing Financial
Obligations under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act
and its Extension (LS-276, LS-275-IC and LS-275-SI). 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 June 14, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Mr. Vincent Alvarez, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone
(202) 693-0372, fax (202) 693-1378, E-mail [email protected].
Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or
E-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) requires
covered employers to secure the payment of compensation under the Act
and its extensions by purchasing insurance from a carrier authorized by
the Secretary of Labor to write Longshore Act Insurance, or by becoming
authorized self-insured employers (33 U.S.C. 932 et seq). Each
authorized insurance carrier (or carrier seeking authorization) is
required to establish annually that its Longshore obligations are fully
secured either through an applicable State guaranty (or analogous)
fund, a deposit of security with the Division of Longshore and Harbor
Workers' Compensation (DLHWC), or a combination of both. Similarly,
each authorized self-insurer (or employer seeking authorization) is
required to fully secure its Longshore Act obligations by depositing
security with DLHWC. These requirements are designed to assure the
prompt and continued payment of compensation and other benefits by the
responsible carrier or self-insurer to injured workers and their
survivors. Forms LS-276, Application for Security Deposit
Determination; LS-275-IC, Agreement and Undertaking (Insurance
Carrier); and LS-275-SI, Agreement and Undertaking (Self-insured
Employer) are used to cover the submission of information by insurance
carriers and self-insured employers regarding their ability to meet
their financial obligations under the Longshore Act and its extensions.
This information collection is currently approved for use through
September 30, 2010.
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
[[Page 18888]]
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 for the extension of
this currently-approved information collection in order to carry out
its responsibility to ensure that a carrier's LHWCA obligations are
sufficiently secured and, if necessary, to deposit security in an
amount set by OWCP. This procedure will ensure the prompt and continued
payments of compensation and medical benefits to injured workers and
help protect the Longshore special funds assets from consequences
flowing from insurance carriers' insolvencies.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
Title: Request for Earnings Information.
OMB Number: 1240-0005.
Agency Number: LS-276, LS-275-IC and LS-275-SI.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit
institution.
Total Respondents: 572.
Total Annual Responses: 651.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 436.5.
Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes to 60 minutes.
Frequency: Annually.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $169.52.
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: April 2, 2010.
Vincent Alvarez,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs,
U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2010-8408 Filed 4-12-10; 8:45 am]
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