2010-1642. Division of Federal Employees' Compensation; Proposed Extension of the Approval of Information Collection Requirements

ACTION:

Notice.

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 Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Death Gratuity Forms (CA-40, CA-41, and CA-42). 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 March 29, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

Mr. Vincent Alvarez, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone [phone], fax [phone], e-mail [e-mail]. Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Background

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, Public Law 110-181, was enacted on January 28, 2008. Section 1105 of Public Law 110-181 amended the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) creating a new section 8102a effective upon enactment. This section established a new FECA death gratuity benefit for eligible beneficiaries of Federal employees and Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI) employees who die from injuries incurred in connection with service with an Armed Force in a contingency operation. Section 8102a also permits agencies to authorize retroactive payment of the death gratuity for employees who died on or after October 7, 2001, in service with an Armed Force in the theater of operations of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Form CA-40 requests the information necessary from the employee to accomplish this variance. Form CA-41 provides the means for those named beneficiaries and possible recipients to file claims for those benefits and requests information from such claimants so that OWCP may determine their eligibility for payment. Furthermore, the statute and regulations require agencies to notify OWCP immediately upon the death of a covered employee. CA-42 provides the means to accomplish this notification and requests information necessary to administer any claim for benefits resulting from such a death. This information collection is currently approved for use through May 31, 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 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 extension of approval to collect this information in order to carry out its responsibility to meet the statutory requirements of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. The information contained in these forms is used by the Division of Federal Employees' Compensation to determine entitlement to benefits under the Act, to verify dependent status, and to initiate, continue, adjust, or terminate benefits based on eligibility criteria.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

Title: Death Gratuity Forms.

OMB Number: 1215-0206.

Agency Number: CA-40, CA-41, and CA-42.

Affected Public: Individuals or household; Federal Government.

Total Respondents: 2,635.

Total Responses: 2,635.

Form	Time to complete (min)	Frequency of response	Number of respondents	Number of responses	Hours burden
CA-40 (Individual Respondent)	15	1	2,600	2,600	650
CA-41 (Individual Respondent)	15	1	25	25	6.25
CA-42 (Agency Respondent)	20	1	10	10	3.33
Totals			2,635	2,635	659.58

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 659

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $12.

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: January 22, 2010.

Vincent Alvarez,

Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Department of Labor.