03-29078. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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 Employment Standards Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Claim for Reimbursement of Benefit Payments and Claims Expense Under the War Hazards Compensation Act (CA-278). 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 January 20, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone [phone], FAX [phone], Email [e-mail]. Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, FAX, or Email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Background: The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) is the federal agency responsible for administration of the War Hazards Compensation Act (WHCA), 42 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. Under section 1704(a) of the WHCA, an insurance carrier or self-insured who has paid workers' compensation benefits to or on account of a Federal contractors' employee (or certain other selected persons) performing work outside of the United States for a war-risk hazard may seek reimbursement for benefits paid (plus claims expense) out of the Employees Compensation Fund established by the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) at 5 U.S.C. 8147. The information collected by Form CA-278 is used by OWCP staff to process requests for reimbursement of WHCA benefit payments and claims expense that are submitted by insurance carriers and self-insureds. The information is also used by OWCP to decide whether it should opt to pay ongoing WHCA benefits directly to the injured worker.

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 approval to collect this information in order to carry out its responsibility to reimburse insurance carriers and self-insureds who meet the statutory requirements of the War Hazards Compensation Act (WHCA) for reimbursement.

Type of Review: New Collection.

Agency: Employment Standards Administration.

Title: Claim for Reimbursement of Benefit Payments and Claims Expense Under the War Hazards Compensation Act.

OMB Number: 1215-.

Agency Number: CA-278.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Total Respondents: 20.

Total Responses: 80.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 40.

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: November 17, 2003.

Bruce Bohanon,

Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.