81 FR 39066 - Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Proposed Extension of Existing Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 115 (June 15, 2016)

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.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39066-39067]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[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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