[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 247 (Monday, December 27, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77271-77272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28189]


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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: Report of Changes That May 
Affect Your Black Lung Benefits (CM-929). 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 February 25, 2005.

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 Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 as amended, 30 
U.S.C. 941, and 20 CFR 725.533(e) authorizes the Division of Coal Mine 
Workers' Compensation (DCMWC) to pay compensation to coal miner 
beneficiaries. Once a miner or survivor is found eligible for benefits, 
the primary beneficiary is requested to report certain changes that may 
affect black lung benefits. The CM-929 is used to help determine 
continuing eligibility of primary beneficiaries receiving black lung 
benefits from the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. The CM-929 is 
completed by the beneficiary to report factors that may affect his or 
her benefits, including income, marital status, receipt of state 
workers' compensation and dependents' status. This information 
collection is currently approved for use through June 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 
verify the accuracy of information in the beneficiary's claims file, 
and to identify changes in the beneficiary's status, to ensure that the 
amount of compensation being paid the beneficiary is accurate.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Titles: Report of Changes That May Affect Your Black Lung Benefits.
    OMB Number: 1215-0084.
    Agency Numbers: CM-929.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Total Respondents: 51,000.
    Total Annual Responses: 51,000.

[[Page 77272]]

    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,505.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 to 8 minutes.
    Frequency: Biennially.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    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: December 20, 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. 04-28189 Filed 12-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CR-P