[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 49 (Monday, March 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13669-13670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5826]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation; Proposed Extension 
of Existing 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 pre-clearance 
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

[[Page 13670]]

understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents 
can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
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 May 13, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Mr. Vincent Alvarez, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0372, fax (202) 693-1447, Email [email protected]. 
Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or 
Email).

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 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 
1240-0020, 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 1240-
0028 and 1240-0020 is different, the same payees complete both forms 
and the same DCMWC claims examiner reviews them. Therefore, DCMWC 
incorporated the CM-929 into the CM-623 and CM-623S in those cases that 
appropriately had been sent both forms. This composite form is entitled 
CM-929P, and allows 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, 2011.

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 for the extension 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.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Title: Report of Changes That May Affect Your Black Lung Benefits.
    OMB Number: 1240-0028.
    Agency Number: CM-929 and CM-929P.
    Affected Public: Individuals and not-for-profit institutions.

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                                                   Frequency of      Number of       Number of
             Form              Time to complete      response       respondents      responses     Hours burden
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CM-929.......................  5-8 min.........  Annually.......          55,000          55,000           4,858
CM-929P......................  6-80 min........  Annually.......           7,150           7,150           7,769
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    Totals...................  13 min..........  ...............          62,150          62,150          12,627
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    Total Respondents: 62,150.
    Total Annual Responses: 62,150.
    Average Time per Response: 13 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 12,627.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $439,212.
    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: March 7, 2011.
Vincent Alvarez,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, US 
Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2011-5826 Filed 3-11-11; 8:45 am]
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