Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation (DLHWC)

AUGUST 25, 2014

TO: INSURANCE CARRIERS, SELF-INSURED EMPLOYERS UNDER THE LONGSHORE AND HARBOR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ACT (LHWCA), AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS

SUBJECT: Consolidation of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation (DLHWC) District Office in Baltimore, MD with the District Office in Norfolk, VA

The DLHWC Baltimore District Office will physically close on September 30, 2014, and the Longshore Fourth Compensation District will be consolidated into the Longshore Fifth Compensation District, with the district office located in Norfolk, VA. This restructuring is made in accordance with 33 U.S.C. § 939(b) and 20 CFR § 702.102(a) and will result in a more efficient allocation of limited resources within the Longshore Program.

Prior to the physical closure of the Baltimore District Office, the case work will transition to the Norfolk District Office for maximum efficiency. Therefore, effective September 1, 2014, the Longshore Fifth Compensation District in Norfolk, VA has jurisdiction over past and future cases under the LHWCA, and its extensions, arising in the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. The physical address for the Norfolk District Office is provided below, but reference #4 and #5 for mailing instructions:

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs
Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Federal Building, Room 212
200 Granby Mall
Norfolk, VA 23510

1) All cases currently under the jurisdiction of the Baltimore District Office will be electronically transferred to the Norfolk District Office effective September 1, 2014; transfer of the physical cases will be accomplished in phases prior to the physical closure of the office.

2) All cases previously created within Baltimore’s jurisdiction will be created with the assigned jurisdiction of Norfolk effective September 1, 2014.

3) All telephonic inquiries concerning cases previously under the jurisdiction of Baltimore should be directed to the Norfolk District Office at (757) 441-3071 effective September 1, 2014.

4) All forms submitted for the creation of a new case should still be submitted to the DLHWC Central Case Create site (see Industry Notice #144) in New York City at the following address:

U. S. Department of Labor
Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs
Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
201 Varick Street, Room 740
Post Office Box 249
New York, NY 10014-0249

5) After a case has been created, all case-specific mail should still be sent to the DLHWC Central Mail Receipt site in Jacksonville at the following address:

U. S. Department of Labor
Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs
Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
400 West Bay Street, Suite 63A, Box 28
Jacksonville, FL 32202

All questions concerning the processing of claims under this restructuring should be directed to the Norfolk District Office at (757) 441-3071.

Antonio A. Rios
Director, Division of
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation