[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4976-4977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01843]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Operator Controversion, Operator Response, 
Operator Response to Schedule for Submission of Additional Evidence, 
and Operator Response to Notice of Claim

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of 
Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) revision titled, ``Operator Controversion, Operator 
Response, Operator Response to Schedule for Submission of Additional 
Evidence, and Operator Response to Notice of Claim,'' 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 March 3, 2014.

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 free of charge 
from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201309-1240-004 (this link will only become active 
on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting 
Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are 
not toll-free numbers) or sending an email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request by mail or courier 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; by Fax: 202-395-6881 (this is not a toll-free 
number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters are 
encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments 
by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the 
Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance 
Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210; or by email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or sending an 
email to [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks OMB approval under the PRA to 
revise the Operator Controversion, Operator Response, Operator Response 
to Schedule for Submission of Additional Evidence (Form CM-2970), and 
Operator Response to Notice of Claim (Form CM-2970a) information 
collection to include information about how a respondent with a 
disability may contact the OWCP in order to receive assistance in 
completing the form. There is no change to the information collected 
from the public.
    The OWCP, Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC) 
administers the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), which 
provides benefits to coal miners totally disabled due to 
pneumoconiosis, and their surviving dependents. When the DCMWC makes a 
preliminary analysis of a claimant's eligibility for benefits, and if a 
coal mine operator has been identified as potentially liable for 
payment of those benefits, the responsible operator is notified of the 
preliminary analysis. Regulations require that a coal mine operator be 
identified and notified of potential liability as early in the 
adjudication process as possible. Forms CM-2790 and CM-2970 are used 
for claims filed after January 19, 2001, and indicate that the coal 
mine operator will submit additional evidence or respond to the notice 
of claim.
    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 that 
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 1240-0033. The current approval is scheduled to 
expire on January 31, 2014; however, the DOL notes 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 upon OMB approval. For additional substantive 
information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the 
Federal Register on September 11, 2013 (78 FR 55760).
    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 1240-0033. 
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: Operator Controversion, Operator Response, 
Operator Response to Schedule for Submission of Additional Evidence, 
and Operator Response to Notice of Claim.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0033.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits.

[[Page 4977]]

    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,600.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 9,600.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 2,000.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: January 24, 2014.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-01843 Filed 1-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CK-P