[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12848-12849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04330]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Application for Approval of a Representative's 
Fee in Black Lung Claim Proceedings Conducted by the U.S. Department of 
Labor

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) titled, ``Application for Approval of a Representative's 
Fee in Black Lung Claim Proceedings Conducted by the U.S. Department of 
Labor,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are 
invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before April 6, 2017.

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=201611-1240-001 (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 by email at [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: 202-395-5806 (this is not a toll-free 
number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters

[[Page 12849]]

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:  Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 
202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by 
email at [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks to extend PRA authority for 
the Application for Approval of a Representative's Fee in Black Lung 
Claim Proceedings Conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor that uses 
Form CM-972. An individual filing with the OWCP, Division of Coal Mine 
Workers' Compensation for benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act 
(BLBA), 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., may elect to be represented or assisted 
by an attorney or other representative. The BLBA and regulations 20 CFR 
725.365and 725.366 have established standards for the information and 
documentation that must be submitted to the program for review, so the 
representative in approved cases may be paid for services rendered to 
the claimant. Upon receipt of that evidence, the adjudicating official 
evaluates the application and, based on the supporting information in 
the claim file, approves a fee for services rendered. Form CM-972 
provides a standardized format that assists representatives 
participating in the Black Lung Benefits Program to submit the required 
information. BLBA sections 422 and 426 authorize this information 
collection. See 30 U.S.C. 932 and 936.
    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 1240-0011.
    OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) 
years without renewal, and the current approval for this collection is 
scheduled to expire on March 31, 2017. The DOL seeks to extend PRA 
authorization for this information collection for three (3) more years, 
without any change to existing requirements. The DOL notes that 
existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB 
receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For 
additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related 
notice published in the Federal Register on November 9, 2016 (81 FRN 
78862).
    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 thirty (30) days of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1240-0011. 
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: Application for Approval of a Representative's 
Fee in Black Lung Claim Proceedings Conducted by the U.S. Department of 
Labor.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0011.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--business or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 338.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 338.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 237 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

     Dated: March 1, 2017.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-04330 Filed 3-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-CK-P