[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6203-6204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02195]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Proposed Extension of Existing Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation, Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed 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. 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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
address section below on or before April 4, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by mail, delivery service, or by 
hand to Ms. Anjanette Suggs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Room S-3323, Washington, DC 20210; by fax to (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:  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).

I. Background

    The Department's regulations implementing the Black Lung Benefits 
Act (BLBA), 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., may require parties to exchange all 
medical information about the minter they develop in connection with a 
claim for benefits, including information parties do not intent 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 of a party's agent who receives medical 
information about the minter 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(2) and 426(a). see 30 U.S.C. 
923(b), 932(a) and 936(a). This information collection is currently 
approved for use through July 31, 2022.

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

[[Page 6204]]

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: 6,105.
    Total Annual Responses: 6,105.
    Average Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,018 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.

Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 
U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2022-02195 Filed 2-2-22; 8:45 am]
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