[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 59619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-22329]



[[Page 59619]]

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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 collection: (1) Comparability of 
Current Work to Coal Mine Employment; (2) Coal Mine Employment 
Affidavit; (3) Affidavit of Deceased Miner's Condition. A copy of the 
proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting 
the office listed below in the addresses section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before December 6, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0418, fax (202) 693-1451, e-mail [email protected]. Please 
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or e-
mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Black Lung Benefits Act of 1977, as amended, 30 U.S.C. 901 et 
seq., provides for the payment of benefits to coal miners who have 
contracted black lung disease as a result of coal mine employment, and 
their dependents and survivors. Once a miner has been identified as 
having performed non-coal mine work subsequent to coal mine employment, 
the miner or the miner's survivor is asked to complete a CM-913 to 
compare coal mine work to non-coal mine work. This employment 
information along with medical information is used to establish whether 
the miner is totally disabled due to black lung disease caused by coal 
mine employment. The CM-918 is an affidavit used to gather coal mine 
employment evidence only when primary evidence, such as pay stubs, W-2 
forms, employer and union records, and Social Security records are 
unavailable or incomplete. The CM-1093 is an affidavit form for 
recording lay medical evidence, used in survivors' claims in which 
there is no medical evidence that addresses the miner's pulmonary or 
respiratory condition. This information collection is currently 
approved for use through April 30, 2005.

II. Review Focus

    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 through 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.

III. Current Actions

    The Department of Labor seeks the approval of the extension of this 
information collection in order to carry out its responsibility to 
determine eligibility for black lung benefits.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Titles: (1) Comparability of Current Work to Coal Mine Employment; 
(2) Coal Mine Employment Affidavit; (3) Affidavit of Deceased Miner's 
Condition.
    OMB Number: 1215-0056.
    Agency Numbers: CM-913, CM-918, CM-1093.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.

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                                                                                     Time per
                              Forms                                    Total       response  (in   Burden hours
                                                                     responses       minutes)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CM-913..........................................................           1,350              30             675
CM-918..........................................................              75              10              13
CM-1093.........................................................              75              20              25
                                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................................           1,500  ..............             713
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    Total Respondents: 1,500.
    Total Annual responses: 1,500.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 713.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Burden Cost (Capital/Startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (Operating/Maintenance): $600.00.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice 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: September 28, 2004.
Bruce Bohanon,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-22329 Filed 10-4-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CN-P