[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39066-39067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14161]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Proposed
Extension of Existing 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(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 address section of this Notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addresses section below on or before August 15, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Ms. Yoon Ferguson, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Ave. NW., Room S-3233, Washington, DC 20210 telephone/fax
(202) 354-9647, Email [email protected]. Please use only one method
of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or Email).
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 October 31, 2016.
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
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
[[Page 39067]]
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: 569.
Total Annual Responses: 686.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 472.
Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes to 60 minutes.
Frequency: Annually.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $343.
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: June 9, 2016.
Yoon Ferguson
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, US
Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2016-14161 Filed 6-14-16; 8:45 am]
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