[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47773-47774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22164]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation; Proposed Extension 
of Existing Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Report of 
Changes that May Affect Your Black Lung Benefits (CM-929 and CM-929P). 
A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained 
by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this 
Notice. 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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by December 12, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by mail, delivery service, or by 
hand to Ms. Yoon Ferguson, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Ave. NW., Room S-3323, Washington, DC 20210; by fax to (202) 354-9647; 
or by Email to [email protected]. Please use only one method of 
transmission for comments (mail/delivery, fax, or Email). Please note 
that comments submitted after the comment period will not be 
considered.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Labor, as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a

[[Page 47774]]

preclearance 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).
    I. Background: The Black Lung Benefits Act, 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., 
30 U.S.C. 936 and 941, and its implementing requlations, 20 CFR 
725.533(e), authorizes the Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation 
(DCMWC) to collect information regarding payments of compensation to 
coal miners and other beneficiaries. Once a miner or survivor is found 
eligible for benefits, the primary beneficiary is requested to report 
certain changes that may affect benefits. To ensure that there is a 
review and update of all claims paid from the Black Lung Disability 
Trust Fund, and from Social Security cases transferred to the 
Department of Labor under the Black Lung Consolidation of 
Administrative Responsibilities Act of 2002, and to help the 
beneficiary comply with the need to report certain changes, the CM-929 
is sent to all appropriate primary beneficiaries. The CM-929 is printed 
by the DCMWC computer system with information specific to each 
beneficiary, such as name, address, number of dependents on record, 
state workers' compensation information, and amount of current 
benefits. The beneficiary reviews the information and certifies that 
the information is current, or provides updated information. The form 
includes a warning about potential consequences of failure to report 
changes.
    The CM-929P is sent to all beneficiaries who have a representative 
payee. Compensation is paid to a representative payee on behalf of the 
beneficiary when the beneficiary is unable to manage his/her benefits 
due to incapability, incompetence or minority. The CM-929P is printed 
by the DCMWC computer system with information specific to each 
beneficiary, such as name, address, number of dependents on record, 
state workers' compensation information, and amount of benefits. 
Additionally, representative payees are requested to provide 
information regarding the use of benefits received, where the 
beneficiary lives, and ensuring the needs of the beneficiary are being 
met. The representative payee reviews the information specific to the 
beneficiary, as well as provides their accounting of the funds 
received, and certifies that all information is current or provides 
updated information. The form includes a warning about potential 
consequences of failure to report changes.
    This information collection is currently approved for use through 
December 31, 2017.
    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 verify the accuracy of information in the beneficiary's claims 
file, to identify changes in the beneficiary's status, to ensure that 
the amount of compensation being paid the beneficiary is accurate, and 
to verify that a representative payee is using benefits received to 
meet the beneficiary's needs.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Title: Report of Changes That May Affect Your Black Lung Benefits.
    OMB Number: 1240-0028.
    Agency Number: CM-929 and CM-929P.
    Affected Public: Individuals and Not-for-profit institutions.

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                                    Time to       Frequency of
             Form                  complete         response         Number of       Number of     Hours burden
                                   (minutes)        (minutes)       respondents      responses
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CM-929........................             5-8  Annually........          26,000          26,000           1,999
CM-929P.......................            6-80  Annually........           3,380           3,380           4,090
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    Totals....................              12  ................          29,380          29,380           6,089
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    Total Respondents: 29,380.
    Total Annual Responses: 29,380.
    Average Time per Response: 12 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 6,089.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    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: October 3, 2017.
Yoon Ferguson,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, US 
Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2017-22164 Filed 10-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-CK-P