[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56869-56870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22631]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Authorization for Release of Medical 
Information for Black Lung Benefits

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, ``Authorization for Release of Medical 
Information for Black Lung Benefits,'' 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 October 15, 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, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 
20503, Fax: 202-395-6881 (this is not a toll-free number), 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].

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Black Lung Benefits Act as Amended, 30 
U.S.C. 901 et seq., and regulations 20 CFR 725.405 require that all 
relevant medical evidence be considered before a decision can be made 
regarding a claimant's eligibility for black lung benefits; 
consequently, a person who files such a claim may submit medical 
information to the OWCP, Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation to 
help develop the claim. Form CM-936 gives the claimant's consent for 
the release of that medical information by any physician, hospital, 
agency, or other organization to the OWCP.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. This ICR has 
been characterized as a revision, because the OWCP has reformatted 
elements of Form CM-936 (e.g., replaced an obsolete logo with the DOL 
Seal, updated the OMB Control Number, added a notice on rights for 
persons with disabilities, and removed references to the no longer 
existent Employment Standards Administration).
    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 
Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB 
approval for this information collection under Control Number 1240-
0034. The current approval is scheduled to expire on November 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. For additional information, see the related 
notice published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2012 (77 FR 32140).
    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 mention OMB Control Number 1240-0034. 
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,

[[Page 56870]]

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: Authorization for Release of Medical 
Information for Black Lung Benefits.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0034.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 900.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 900.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 75.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: September 6, 2012.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-22631 Filed 9-13-12; 8:45 am]
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