[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29218-29219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11813]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation; Proposed 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,

[[Page 29219]]

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 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: Miner's Claim 
for Benefits under the Black Lung Benefit's Act (CM-911) and Employment 
History (CM-911A). 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 July 21, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Yoon Ferguson, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave. NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0701, fax (202) 693-1449, Email [email protected]. Please 
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or Email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Background: The Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation 
administers the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) which 
provides benefits to coal miners totally disabled due to pneumoniosis, 
and their surviving dependents. A miner who applies for black lung 
benefits must complete the CM-911 (application form). The completed 
form gives basic identifying information about the applicant and is the 
beginning of the development of the black lung claim. The applicant 
must complete a CM-911a at the same time the black lung application 
form is submitted. This form when completed renders a complete history 
of employment and helps to establish if the miner currently or formerly 
worked in the nation's coal mines. The person filing for benefits must 
have worked in the nation's coal mines or be a survivor of a coal miner 
as described under Title IV of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act 
of 1977, as amended, in order for benefits to be pursued. This 
information collection is currently approved for use through October 
31, 2014.
    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 carry out its responsibility to administer the Black Lung 
Benefits Act.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Title: Miner's Claim for Benefits under the Black Lung Benefit's 
Act (CM-911) and Employment History (CM-911A).
    OMB Number: 1240-0038.
    Agency Number: CM-911 and CM-911A.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.

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                                    Time to       Frequency of       Number of       Number of
             Form                  complete         response        respondents      responses     Hours burden
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CM-911........................              45  once............           5,000           5,000           3,750
CM-911A.......................              40  once............           6,000           6,000           4,000
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals....................  ..............  ................          11,000          11,000           7,750
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    Total Respondents: 11,000.
    Total Annual Responses: 11,000.
    Average Time per Response: 42 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 7,750.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $2,058.00.
    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: May 14, 2014.
Yoon Ferguson,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 
U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2014-11813 Filed 5-20-14; 8:45 am]
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