[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64935-64936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25460]


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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 (DOL) is soliciting comments 
concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the 
information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Request for State or 
Federal Workers' Compensation Information.'' This comment request is 
part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (PRA).

DATES: Consideration will be given to all written comments received by 
January 24, 2020.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation, 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of responses, and estimated total burden, may be obtained free by 
contacting Anjanette Suggs by telephone at 202-354-9660 or by email at 
[email protected].
    Submit written comments about, or requests for a copy of, this ICR 
by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers' 
Compensation Program, Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation, Room 
S3323, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; by email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anjanette Suggs by telephone at 202-
354-9660 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOL, as part of continuing efforts to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of 
information before submitting them to the OMB for final approval. This 
program helps to ensure 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 can be properly assessed.
    The Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 901 et. seq.) and its 
implementing regulations necessitate this information collection. Title 
20 CFR

[[Page 64936]]

725.535 requires that DOL Black Lung benefit payments to a beneficiary 
for any month be reduced by any other payments of state or federal 
benefits for workers' compensation due to pneumoconiosis. See 30 U.S.C. 
932(g). To ensure compliance with this mandate, the Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs' Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation must 
collect information regarding the status of any state or Federal 
workers' compensation claim, including dates of payments, weekly or 
lump sum amounts paid, and other fees or expenses paid out for this 
award, such as attorney fees and related expenses associated with 
pneumoconiosis. Form CM-905 is used to request the amount of those 
workers' compensation benefits. This information collection is 
currently approved for use through February 29, 2020. 30 U.S.C. 901 and 
20 CFR 725.535 authorizes this information collection.
    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 the OMB under the PRA approves it 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.
    Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the 
contact shown in the ADDRESSES section. Written comments will receive 
consideration, and summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval of the final ICR. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention 1240-0032.
    Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this 
ICR and posted on the internet, without redaction. The DOL encourages 
commenters not to include personally identifiable information, 
confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information 
in any comments.
    The DOL 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.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Title of Collection: Request for State or Federal Workers' 
Compensation Information.
    Form: Request for State or Federal Workers' Compensation 
Information, CM-905.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0032.
    Affected Public: Federal government; State, Local, or Tribal 
Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,000.
    Frequency: Every new claim.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 6,000.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,500 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $3,480.

    Authority: 30 U.S.C. 901 and 20 CFR 725.535.

     Dated: October 10, 2019.
Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-25460 Filed 11-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-CK-P