Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment Standards Administration

Proposed 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(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 the proposed extension of two information

collections: (1) Labor Organization and Auxiliary Reports and (2)

Request of examination and/or treatment (LS-1). A copy of the proposed

information collection requests (ICR) and/or the reporting forms can be

obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section

of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the

addressee section below on or before August 13, 1999. 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 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.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U.S. Department of Labor, 200

Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-

0339 (this is not a toll-free number). Fax number: (202) 693-1451.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Office Labor-Management Standards administers the Labor-

Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as amended (LMRDA).

The LMRDA provides for the disclosure of information on the financial

transactions and administrative practices of labor organizations, and

under certain circumstances, reporting by labor organization officers

and employees, employers, labor relations consultants, and surety

companies. The reporting provisions implement a basic tenet of the

LMRDA, the guarantee of democratic procedures and safeguards within

labor organizations that are designed to protect the basic rights of

union members

II. Current Actions

The Department of Labor is seeking extension of the approval of the

collection of information to be used by union members to help self-

govern their unions, by the general public, and as research material

for both outside researchers and within the Department of Labor. The

information is also used to assist DOL and other government agencies in

detecting improper practices on the part of labor organizations, their

officers and/or representatives, and is used by Congress in oversight

and legislative functions.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Employment Standards Administration.

Title: Labor Organization and Auxiliary Reports.

OMB Number: 1215-0188.

Agency Numbers: LM-1, LM-2, LM-3, LM-4, LM-10, LM-15, LM-15A, LM-

16, LM-20, LM-21, S-1.

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; individuals or

households; business or other for-profit.

Total Respondents: 33,652.

Frequency: (As indicated in the burden hours summary chart)

Total Burden Hours (Reporting and Recordkeeping) Summary:

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Total Total Average Time per Burden (in

Cite/reference respondents Frequency responses response hours)

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Form LM-1....................... 358 Annually........... 358 55 minutes........ 328

Form LM-2....................... 6,005 Annually........... 6,005 15.25 hours....... 91,576

Form LM-3....................... 14,234 Annually........... 14,234 6.75 hours........ 96,080

Form LM-4....................... 9,285 Annually........... 9,285 .86 hours......... 7,975

Form LM-10...................... 211 Annually........... 211 35 minutes........ 123

Form LM-15...................... 389 As Necessary....... 389 1.83 hours........ 712

Form LM-15A..................... 81 Semi-Annually...... 81 22 minutes........ 30

Form LM-16...................... 82 As Necessary....... 82 21 minutes........ 29

Form LM-20...................... 254 As Necessary....... 254 22 minutes........ 93

Form LM-21...................... 64 Annually........... 64 35 minutes........ 37

Form LM-30...................... 64 Annually........... 64 35 minutes........ 37

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Form S-1........................ 89 Annually........... 89 35 minutes........ 52

Simplified Annual Report Format. 2,536 Annually........... 2,536 12 minutes........ 507

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Totals...................... 33,652 ................... 33,652 .................. 197,589

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

Total Burden Cost (operation/maintenance): $0.

I. Background

The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs administers the

Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. The Act 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 employee in loading, unloading, repairing or building a vessel. In

addition, several acts extend coverage to certain other employees.

Under section 7 of the Longshore Act, the employer/insurance carrier is

responsible for furnishing medical care for the injured employee for

such period of time as the injury or recovery period may require. Form

LS-1 serves two purposes: it authorizes the medical care and provides a

vehicle for the treating physician to report the findings, treatment

given and anticipated physical condition of the employee.

II. Current Actions

The Department of Labor seeks extension of approval to collect

information on Form LS-1 to verify that proper medical treatment as

been authorized and to determine the severity of a claimant's injuries

and thus his/her entitlement to compensation benefits which they are

responsible by law to provide if a claimant is medically unable to work

as a result of a work-related injury. If the information were not

collected, verification of authorized medical care and entitlement to

compensation benefits would not be possible.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Employment Standards Administration.

Title: Request for Examination and/or Treatment.

OMB Number: 1215-0066.

Agency Number: LS-1.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Total Respondents: 16,500.

Frequency: On Occasion.

Total Responses: 115,500.

Total Burden Hours: (reporting): 124,740.

Total Burden Costs (capital/start-up): $0.

Total Burden Costs (operation/maintenance): $41,580.00.

Comments submitted in response to this comment request 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 7, 1999.

Margaret J. Sherrill,

Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Office of

Management, Administration and Planning, Employment Standards

Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-14848 Filed 6-10-99; 8:45 am]

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