[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36420-36421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12964]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Coal Mine Operator Response To Schedule for 
Submission of Additional Evidence and Operator Response to Notice of 
Claim

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Office of 
Workers' Compensation Programs' (OWCP)-sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before July 16, 2020.

[[Page 36421]]


ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) if the information will be processed and used in a timely 
manner; (3) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (4) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (5) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Rennie by telephone at (202) 
693-0456 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OWCP, Division of Coal Mine Workers' 
Compensation (DCMWC) administers the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 
901), which provides benefits to coal miners totally disabled due to 
pneumoconiosis and their surviving dependents. When the DCMWC makes a 
preliminary analysis of a claimant's eligibility for benefits, and if a 
coal mine operator has been identified as potentially liable for 
payment of those benefits, the responsible operator is notified of the 
preliminary analysis. Regulations codified at 20 CFR part 725 require 
that a coal mine operator be identified and notified of potential 
liability as early in the adjudication process as possible. Coal Mine 
Operator Response to Schedule for Submission of Additional Evidence 
(Form CM-2970) and Operator Response to Notice of Claim (Form CM-2970a) 
are used for claims filed after January 19, 2001, and indicate that the 
coal mine operator will submit additional evidence or respond to the 
notice of claim. For additional substantive information about this ICR, 
see the related notice published in the Federal Register on March 12, 
2020 (85 FR 14507).
    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 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 
OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for 
three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than 
three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information 
collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive 
a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.
    Agency: DOL-OWCP.
    Title of Collection: Coal Mine Operator Response to Schedule for 
Submission of Additional Evidence and Operator Response to Notice of 
Claim.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0033.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,900.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 9,800.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 2,042 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $2,842.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

Crystal R. Rennie,
Acting Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-12964 Filed 6-15-20; 8:45 am]
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