[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10840-10841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05524]


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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 (PRA95). 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 a proposed 
extension of the existing collection: Disclosure of Medical Evidence. 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 May 21, 2019.

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 Department's regulations implementing the Black Lung Benefits 
Act (BLBA), 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., require parties to exchange all 
medical information about the miner they develop in connection with a 
claim for benefits, including information the parties do not intend to 
submit as evidence in the claim. See 20 CFR 725.413. The rule helps 
protect a miner's health, assist unrepresented parties, and promote 
accurate benefit determinations.
    The potential parties to a BLBA claim include the benefits 
claimant, the responsible coal mine operator and its insurance carrier, 
and the Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). 
Under this rule, a party or a party's agent who receives medical 
information about the miner must send a copy to all other parties 
within 30 days after receipt or, if a hearing before an administrative 
law judge has already been scheduled, at least 20 days before the 
hearing. The exchanged information is entered into the record of the 
claim only if a party submits it into evidence. The Department's 
authority to engage in information collection is specified in BLBA 
sections 413(b), 422(a), and 426(a). See 30 U.S.C. 923(b), 932(a), and 
936(a). This information collection is currently approved for use 
through May 31, 2019.

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,

[[Page 10841]]

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. The collection is necessary 
to give miners full access to information about their health, assist 
unrepresented claimants, and reach accurate benefit determinations 
under the BLBA.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Title: Disclosure of Medical Evidence.
    OMB Number: 1240-0054.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Total Respondents: 7,465.
    Total Annual Responses: 7,465.
    Average Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,244 hours.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $8,659.
    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: March 19, 2019.
Yoon Ferguson,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 
U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2019-05524 Filed 3-21-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-CK-P