2010-19400. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 2, 2010.

The Department of Labor (DOL) hereby announces the submission of the following public information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35). A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation; including, among other things, a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain or by contacting Linda Watts Thomas on 202-693-4223 (this is not a toll-free number)/e-mail mail to: [e-mail].

Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Department of Labor—Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: [phone]/Fax [phone] (these are not toll-free numbers), e-mail: [e-mail] within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal Register. In order to ensure the appropriate consideration, comments should reference the applicable OMB Control Number (see below).

The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:

(1) 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;

(2) 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;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) 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.

Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

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

OMB Control Number: 1240-0006.

Agency Form Number: CA-278.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Cost to Federal Government: $111,288.00.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 269.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 269.

Total Burden Hours: 135.

Total Hour Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $557.

Description: 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 any person for a war-risk hazard may seek reimbursement for benefits paid (plus expenses) out of the Employment Compensation Fund for the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) at 5 U.S.C. 8147. Form CA-278 is used by insurance carriers and the self-insured to request reimbursement. The information collected 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.

For additional information, see related notice published in the Federal Register on March 15, 2010 (Vol. 75 page 12271).

August 2, 2010.

Linda Watts Thomas,

Acting Departmental Clearance Officer.