Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act Pre-Hearing Statement (LS-18)
The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance request for comment to provide the general public a...
The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance request for comment to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request 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, OWCP is soliciting comments on the information collection for Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act Pre-Hearing Statement.
DATES:
All comments must be received on or before October 19, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
You may submit comments as follows. Please note that late, untimely filed comments will not be considered.
Electronic Submissions:
Submit electronic comments in the following way:
Federal eRulemaking Portal:www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments for WCPO-2026-0496. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to
www.regulations.gov
will be posted to the docket with no changes. Because your comment will be made public, you are responsible for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such as your or anyone else's Social Security number or confidential business information.
If your comment includes confidential information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comments as a written/paper submission.
Written/Paper Submissions:
Submit written/paper submissions in the following way:
Mail/Hand Delivery:
Mail or visit DOL-OWCP, Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation, 200 Constitution Avenue, Room S-3524NW, Washington, DC 20210.
OWCP will post your comments as well as any attachments, except for information marking confidential, in the docket atwww.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contact Anjanette Suggs by telephone at 202-354-9660 or by email at
suggs.anjanette@dol.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA). LHWCA
( printed page 53669)
provides benefits to workers injured in maritime employment on the navigable waters of the United States or in an adjoining area customarily used by an employer in loading, unloading, repairing, or building a vessel. In addition, several Acts extend the Longshore Act's coverage to certain other employees.
The Secretary of Labor has authority to make rules and regulations to establish procedures which are necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of the Act. 33 U.S.C. 939, 944. The Secretary has delegated that authority to the Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs. Secretary's Order 10-2009; Public Law 111-5 803, 123 Stat. 115, 187 (2009).
Title 20, CFR 702.317 provides for the referral of claims under the Longshore Act for formal hearings. The form LS-18 is used to refer the case for formal hearing under the Act. Any party seeking referral to the Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) shall complete it and return it to the district director. Upon receipt of the forms, the district director, after checking them for completeness and after any further conferences that, in his/her opinion, are warranted, shall transmit them to the OALJ with all available evidence which the parties intend to submit at the hearing. Legal authority for this information collection is found at 33 U.S.C. 939. Regulatory authority is found at 20 CFR 702.317.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
OWCP is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection request (ICR) titled, “Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act Pre-Hearing Statement (LS-18). OWCP/DLHWC is particularly interested in comments that:
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.
Suggest methods to 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 submission of responses.
Documents related to this information collection request are available at
regulations.gov
and at DOL-OWCP/DLHWC located at 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S-3524, Washington, DC 20210. Questions about the information collection requirements may be directed to the person listed in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
section of this notice.
III. Current Actions
This information collection request concerns the Pre-Hearing Statement (LS-18). OWCP has updated the data with respect to the number of respondents, responses, burden hours, and burden costs supporting this information collection request from the previous information collection request.
Type of Review:
Extension without change of currently approved collection.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the proposed information collection request; they will become a matter of public record and will be available at [
www.reginfo.gov] (
www.reginfo.gov).
www.regulations.gov
33 U.S.C. 939
Title 20, CFR
regulations.gov
www.reginfo.gov