[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70616-70617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24041]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment Standards Administration


Proposed Revision of the Approval of Information Collection 
Requirements

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 its proposal to extend OMB approval of the 
information collection: Report of Changes that May Affect Your Black 
Lung Benefits (CM-929 and CM-929P). 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 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Mr. Steven Andoseh, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0373, 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. 936, 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 benefits. To ensure 
that there is a review and update of all claims paid from the Black 
Lung Disability Trust Fund, and from Social Security cases transferred 
to the Department of Labor under the Black Lung Consolidation of 
Administrative Responsibilities Act of 2002, and to help the 
beneficiary comply with the need to report certain changes, the CM-929 
is sent to all appropriate primary beneficiaries. The CM-929 is printed 
by the Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC) computer 
system with information specific to each beneficiary, such as name, 
address, number of dependents on record, state workers' compensation 
information, and amount of current benefits. The beneficiary reviews 
the information and certifies that the information is current, or 
provides updated information. The form includes a warning about 
potential consequences of failure to report changes. DCMWC uses 
Information Collection OMB 1215-0173, Forms CM-623 and CM-623S, to 
monitor a representative payee's use of funds paid on a beneficiary's 
behalf. This is an annual reporting requirement and, while the 
information collected on OMB 1215-0084 and 1215-0173 is different, the 
same payees complete both forms, and the same DCMWC claims examiner 
reviews them. Therefore, DCMWC proposes to incorporate the CM-929 into 
the CM-623 and CM-623S in those cases that appropriately are now sent 
both forms. This new, composite form is entitled CM-929P, and will 
allow respondents to verify information to DCMWC once annually instead 
of twice, as is now required. This information collection is currently 
approved for use through June 30, 2008.
    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 approval for 
the revision of this currently approved information collection in order 
to verify the accuracy of information in the beneficiary's claims file, 
to identify changes in the beneficiary's status, and to ensure that the 
amount of compensation being paid the beneficiary is accurate.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Report of Changes That May Affect Your Black Lung Benefits.
    OMB Number: 1215-0084.
    Agency Number: CM-929 and CM-929P.
    Affected Public: Individuals and Not-for-profit institutions.

[[Page 70617]]



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                                                                           Number of         Number of
                  Title                           Form number             respondents        responses        Avg. time per response      Burden hours
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Reporting Burden:.......................
Report of Changes That May Affect Your    CM-929.....................            60,900            60,900  5-8 min....................             5,489
 Black Lung Benefits.
Report of Changes That May Affect Your    CM-929P 9,100..............             9,100         6-80 min.  9,889......................
 Black Lung Benefits.
    Total...............................  70,000.....................            70,000           13 min.  15,378.....................
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    Total Respondents: 70,000.
    Total Annual responses: 70,000.
    Average Time per Response: 13 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 15,378.
    Frequency: Annually.
    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 12, 2007.
Hazel Bell,
Acting Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, 
Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration 
and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-24041 Filed 12-11-07; 8:45 am]
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