[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 169 (Wednesday, August 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54256-54257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22292]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Claim Adjudication Process for Alleged 
Presence of Pneumoconiosis

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the revised Office 
of Workers' Compensation Programs sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) titled, ``Claim Adjudication Process for Alleged Presence 
of Pneumoconiosis,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 30, 2011.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the 
RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, on the 
day following publication of this notice or by contacting Michel Smyth 
by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or 
sending an e-mail to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the U.S. Department of 
Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Office of Management 
and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 202-395-6929/
Fax: 202-395-6881 (these are not toll-free numbers), e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 
202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulation 20 CFR part 718 specifies that 
certain information relative to the medical condition of a claimant who 
is alleging the presence of pneumoconiosis be obtained as a routine 
function of the claim adjudication process. The medical specifications 
in the regulations have been formatted in a variety of forms to promote 
efficiency and accuracy in gathering the required data. These forms 
were designed to meet the need to gather medical evidence.
    This ICR has been characterized as a revision. The Patient 
Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 contained two provisions 
that affected the Black Lung Benefits Act. In addition, the OWCP has 
made some formatting changes to the forms associated with this 
information collection; however, those cosmetic changes are not 
expected to change the burden.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the 
collection of information does not display a valid OMB Control Number. 
See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this 
information collection under OMB Control Number 1240-0023. The current 
OMB approval is scheduled to expire on

[[Page 54257]]

August 31, 2011; however, it should be noted that existing information 
collection requirements submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month 
extension while they undergo review. For additional information, see 
the related notice published in the Federal Register on February 23, 
2011 (76 FR 10070).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should reference OMB Control Number 1240-0023. 
The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
     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 submission of responses.
    Agency: Office of Worker Compensation Programs.
    Title of Collection: Claim Adjudication Process for Alleged 
Presence of Pneumoconiosis.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0023.
    Affected Public: Private sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 24,000.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 24,000.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 5,840.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: August 25, 2011.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-22292 Filed 8-30-11; 8:45 am]
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