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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 102957-102958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29866]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs

Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Attorney 
Acknowledgement/Instructions Relating to Representative Fee 
Applications; OMB Control No. 1240-0049

AGENCY: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of Federal 
Employees' Compensation, (OWCP/DFEC) Labor.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: 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, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of 
Federal Employees' Compensation, (OWCP/DFEC) is soliciting comments on 
the information collection for Attorney Acknowledgement/Instructions 
Relating to Representative Fee Applications, CA-143/CA-155.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before February 18, 2025.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comment 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: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments for WCPO-2024-0021-
0001. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to 
https://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 comment as a 
written/paper submission.
    Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the 
following way:
     Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit DOL-OWCP/DFEC, Office of 
Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of Federal Employees' 
Compensation, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room 
S-3323, Washington, DC 20210.
     OWCP/DFEC will post your comment as well as any 
attachments, except for information submitted and marked as 
confidential, in the docket at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anjanette Suggs, Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs, Division of Federal Employees' Longshore, and 
Harbor Workers' Compensation, OWCP/DFELHWC, at [email protected] 
(email); (202) 354-9660.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Division of Federal Employees' Compensation (DFEC) administers 
the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). A Federal employee who 
sustains a work-related injury is entitled to receive compensation 
under the FECA. Under 5 U.S.C. 8127(a) and in accordance with 20 CFR 
10.700 and 702.131, a claimant may authorize an attorney or other 
individual to represent his or her interests in any proceeding before 
the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). Under 5 U.S.C. 
8127(b) and in accordance with 20 CFR 10.702 and 702.132, fees for 
representatives' services must first be approved by the Secretary. The 
representative is entitled to request a fee for services under 20 CFR 
10.700-703 (Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA)). The fee must 
be approved by the OWCP before any demand for payment can be made by 
the representative.
    See: https://www.dol.gov/owcp/dfec/regs/statutes/feca.htm.
    eCFR: 20 CFR part 10--Claims for Compensation Under the Federal 
Employees' Compensation Act, as Amended.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    OWCP/DFEC is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
information collection related to the Attorney Acknowledgement/
Instructions Relating to Representative Fee Applications. OWCP/DFEC is 
particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of OWCP/DFEC's estimate of the 
burden related to the information collection, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used in the estimate;
     Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the information collection 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.
    Background documents related to this information collection request 
are available at https://regulations.gov and at DOL-OWCP/DFEC located 
at 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S-3323, Washington, DC 20210. 
Questions about the information collection requirements

[[Page 102958]]

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 Attorney 
Acknowledgement/Instructions Relating to Representative Fee 
Applications, CA-143/CA-155. OWCP/DFEC 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, with change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of 
Federal Employees' Compensation, OWCP/DFEC.
    OMB Number: 1240-0049.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--Business or other For-profits.
    Number of Respondents: 6,328.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 6,328.
    Annual Burden Hours: 3,164 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $1,107,400.00.
    OWCP/DFEC 1240-0049: OWCP/DFEC Attorney Acknowledgement/
Instructions Relating to Representative Fee Applications.
    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 https://www.reginfo.gov.

Anjanette Suggs,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-29866 Filed 12-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CH-P
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