[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45142-45143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19222]


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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: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, 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. 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: 
Authorization for Release of Medical Information (CM-936). 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 November 5, 2018.

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 (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 
    I. Background: The Black Lung Benefits Act, as amended, 30 U.S.C. 
901 et seq., and 20 CFR 725.405 require that all relevant medical 
evidence be considered before a decision can be

[[Page 45143]]

made regarding a claimant's eligibility for benefits. By signing the 
CM-936 form, the claimant authorizes physicians, hospitals, medical 
facilities or organizations, and the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health to release medical information about the 
miner to the Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation 
Programs. The form contains information required by medical 
institutions and private physicians to enable them to release pertinent 
medical information. This information collection is currently approved 
for use through November 30, 2018.
    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 approval for 
the extension of this currently-approved information collection in 
order to obtain claimant consent for the release of medical information 
for consideration by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs in 
their claim for benefits. Failure to gather this information would 
inhibit the adjudication of black lung claims because pertinent medical 
data would not be available for consideration during the processing of 
the claim.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Title: Authorization for Release of Medical Information.
    OMB Number: 1240-0034.
    Agency Number: CM-936.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Total Respondents: 7,000.
    Total Annual Responses: 7,000.
    Average Time per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 583 hours.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $7,420.
    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: August 27, 2018.
Yoon Ferguson,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 
U.S. Department of Labor.

[FR Doc. 2018-19222 Filed 9-4-18; 8:45 am]
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