Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Requests for District Director Action

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, “Requests for District Director Action.” This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

DATES:

Consideration will be given to all written comments received by January 6, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free by contacting Anjanette Suggs by telephone at 202-354-9660 or by email at suggs.anjanette@dol.gov.

Submit written comments about, or requests for a copy of, this ICR by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation, Division of Workers' Compensation, Room S3323, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; by email: suggs.anjanette@dol.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Anjanette Suggs by telephone at 202-354-9660 or by email at suggs.anjanette@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The DOL, as part of continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information before submitting them to the OMB for final approval. This program helps to ensure 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 can be properly assessed.

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 becoming authorized self-insured employers. 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 is currently approved through December 31, 2019. 33 U.S.C. 932 et seq. authorizes this information collection.

This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless the OMB under the PRA approves it and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.

Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the contact shown in the ADDRESSES section. Written comments will receive consideration, and summarized and included in the request for OMB approval of the final ICR. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB No. 1240-0005.

Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this ICR and posted on the internet, without redaction. The DOL encourages commenters not to include personally identifiable information, confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information in any comments.

The DOL 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.
• 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.

Agency: DOL—Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

Type of Review: Extension Without Changes.

Title of Collection: Securing Financial Obligations under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act and its Extensions.

Form: LS-276, LS-275(IC), LS-275(SI).

OMB Control Number: 1240-0005.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 694.5.

Frequency: Annually.

Total Estimated Annual Responses: 694.5.

Estimated Average Time per Response: 15 minutes to 60 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 478.75 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $11,126.15.

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).