[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 226 (Friday, November 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64567-64568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25362]


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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 the proposed 
collection: Certification by School Official (CM-981). 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 January 21, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by mail, delivery service, or by 
hand to Ms. Anjanette C. Suggs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave. NW, Room S-3323, Washington, DC 20210; by fax (202) 
354-9660; 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 Certification by School Official information 
collection mandates that in order to qualify as an

[[Page 64568]]

eligible dependent for black lung benefits, a child aged 18- to 23-
years must be a full-time student as described in the Black Lung 
Benefits Act, 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., and regulations 20 CFR 725.209. A 
school official completes a Certification by School Official (Form CM-
981) to verify whether a Black Lung beneficiary's dependent between the 
ages of 18 to 23 years qualifies as a full-time student. Black Lung 
Benefits Act section 426 authorizes this information collection. See 30 
U.S.C. 936.
    This information collection is being classified as an extension of 
an existing collection. 30 U.S.C. 902(g); 20 CFR 725.209, 725.218 
require that all relevant medical evidence be considered before a 
decision can be made regarding a claimant's eligibility for benefits. 
By signing the CM-981 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 September 30, 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, 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: Certification by School Official.
    OMB Number: 1240-0031.
    Agency Number: CM-981.
    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Governments.
    Total Respondents: 100.
    Total Annual Responses: 100.
    Average Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 17 hours.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    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.

Anjanette C. Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 
U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2019-25362 Filed 11-21-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-CK-P