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 Employment Standards Administration is soliciting comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection: Rehabilitation Action Report (OWCP-44). A copy of the 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 April 21, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Mr. Steven M. Andoseh, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 693-0373, fax (202) 693-1451, E-mail andoseh.steven@dol.gov. Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or E-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA). These acts provide vocational rehabilitation services to eligible workers with disabilities. Section 8104(a) of the FECA and § 939(c) of the LHWCA provide that eligible injured workers are to be furnished vocational rehabilitation services, and § 8111(b) of the FECA and § 908(g) of the LHWCA provide that persons undergoing such vocational rehabilitation receive maintenance allowances as additional compensation. Form OWCP-44 is used to collect information necessary to decide if maintenance allowances should continue to be paid. Form OWCP-44 is submitted to OWCP by contractors hired to provide vocational rehabilitation services. Form OWCP-44 gives prompt notification of key events that may require OWCP action in the vocational rehabilitation process. This information collection is currently approved for use through September 30, 2008.

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 ascertain the status of a rehabilitation case and to expedite adjudicatory claims action based on events arising from a rehabilitation effort.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Employment Standards Administration.

Title: Rehabilitation Action Report.

OMB Number: 1215-0182.

Agency Number: OWCP-44.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; State, Local, or Tribal Government.

Total Respondents: 7,000.

Total Annual Responses: 7,000.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,169.

Time per Response: 10 minutes.

Frequency: On occasion.

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

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.00.

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.