[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36576-36577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14862]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Notice of Termination, Suspension, Reduction, 
or Increase in Benefit Payments

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of 
Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) revision titled, ``Notice of Termination, Suspension, 
Reduction, or Increase in Benefit Payments,'' to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995.

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 19, 2012.

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 email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-OWCP, Office of 
Management and Budget, Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, 
Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 202-395-6929/Fax: 202-395-6881 (these 
are not toll-free numbers), email: [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coal mine operators, their representatives, 
or their

[[Page 36577]]

insurers who have been identified as responsible for paying Black Lung 
benefits to an eligible miner or an eligible surviving dependent of the 
miner, are called Responsible Operators (ROs). ROs who pay benefits are 
required to report any change in the benefit amount to the Division of 
Coal Mine Workers' Compensation within the OWCP. Form CM-908, when 
properly completed and submitted, notifies the agency of the change in 
the beneficiary's benefit amount and the reason for the change. Federal 
Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 as amended, section 432 (30 U.S.C. 
942) and regulations 20 CFR 725.621 necessitate this information 
collection.
    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 1240-0030. The current 
OMB approval is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2012; however, it 
should be noted that existing information collection requirements 
submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they 
undergo review. New requirements would only take effect after OMB 
approval. This ICR is classified as a revision, because the OWCP has 
made certain changes for Form CM-908; however, those changes are not 
expected to change respondent burden. For example, the OWCP has added 
the DOL seal and removed a reference to the no longer existent 
Employment Standards Administration. In addition, the OWCP has added a 
notice that additional assistance is available for respondents with 
disabilities and improved accessibility for such persons who access the 
form on the Internet. The OWCP has also added some functionality to 
ensure consistency and accuracy for some responses. For additional 
information, see the related notice published in the Federal Register 
on March 7, 2012 (77 FR 13636).
    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 1240-0030. 
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: DOL-OWCP.
    Title of Collection: Notice of Termination, Suspension, Reduction, 
or Increase in Benefit Payments.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0030.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 325.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 5,000.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 1,000.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $4,800.

    Dated: June 13, 2012.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-14862 Filed 6-18-12; 8:45 am]
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