[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 54 (Monday, March 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15341-15342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6543]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection 
Extension; Comment Request; Equal Access to Justice Act

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed extension of the information collection request (ICR) for 
applicants to obtain awards in administrative proceedings subject to 
the Equal Access to Justice Act.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by May 20, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments may to be submitted by mail to the Department of 
Labor/Office of the Solicitor, Attn: Raymond E. Mitten, Jr., 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-2428, Washington, DC 20210. Comments 
also may be sent by e-mail to [email protected]. Written 
comments limited to 10 pages or fewer may be transmitted by facsimile 
to (202) 693-5538.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raymond E. Mitten, Jr., Counsel for 
Administrative Law, Division of Management and Administrative Legal 
Services, Office of the Solicitor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 693-5523. Copies of the 
referenced information collection request are available in room N-1301, 
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20210. A copy of the ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may 
be obtained by calling the Department of Labor. To obtain 
documentation, contact Michel Smyth at (202) 693-4129 or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Background: The Equal Access to Justice Act provides for the 
award of fees and expenses to certain parties involved in 
administrative proceedings with the United States. The statute 
requires, at 5 U.S.C. 504(a)(2), that a party seeking an award of fees 
and other expenses in a covered administrative proceeding must submit 
to the agency ``an application which shows that the party is the 
prevailing party and is eligible to receive an award'' under the Act. 
The Department of Labor's regulations implementing the Equal Access to 
Justice Act contain a subpart which specifies the contents of 
applications for an award, 29 CFR part 16, subpart B.

[[Page 15342]]

    II. Desired Focus of Comments: The Department of Labor, as part of 
its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, 
conducts a pre-clearance 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. 3505(c)(2)(A)]. The 
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 the collection requirements on respondents can be properly 
assessed. 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 submission of responses.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and may be included in the request for OMB approval of the final 
information collection request. The comments will become a matter of 
public record.
    III. Current Action: This notice requests an extension of the 
current Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the paperwork 
requirements for the contents of applications for an award under the 
Equal Access to Justice Act.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    Agency: Department of Labor.
    Title: Equal Access to Justice Act.
    OMB Control Number: 1225-0013.
    Affected Public: Individuals or household; Private section--
businesses or other for-profits, not-for-profit institutions; State, 
Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Number of Respondents: 10.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 10.
    Average Time per Response: 5 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 50 hours.
    Total Annualized Capital and Startup Costs: $0.
    Total Annualized Operation and Maintenance Costs: $0.

    Dated: March 15, 2011.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Office.
[FR Doc. 2011-6543 Filed 3-18-11; 8:45 am]
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