Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Rehabilitation Action Report

ACTION:

Notice of availability; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Office of the Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)-sponsored 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 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES:

The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives on or before March 19, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) if the information will be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (4) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (5) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Anthony May by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The OWCP is the agency responsible for administration of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) and the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). 33 U.S.C. 939 (LHWCA) and 5 U.S.C. 8104 (FECA) authorize OWCP to pay for approved vocational rehabilitation services to eligible workers with work-related disabilities. 5 U.S.C. 8111(b) of the FECA and 33 U.S.C. 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 February 28, 2021. For LHWCA, 20 CFR 702.506 and 20 CFR 702. 507, and for FECA, 20 CFR 10.518 and 20 CFR 10.519, authorize this information collection. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on November 25, 2020 (85 FR 75377).

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 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 OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.

DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.

Agency: DOL-OWCP.

Title of Collection: Rehabilitation Action Report.

OMB Control Number: 1240-0008.

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

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,299.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 3,299.

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 550 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).