[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 2, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11738-11739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04365]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Proposed Extension of Existing Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Application for 
Self-Insurance Under the Black Lung Benefits Act: Application or 
Renewal of Self-Insurance Authority (CM-2017), Financial Summary for 
Self-Insured Operators (CM-2017a) and Report of Claims Information for 
Self-Insured Operators (CM-2017b). 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 May 2, 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 
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: Application for Self-Insurance under the Black Lung Benefits 
Act.
    OMB Number: 1240-0057.
    Affected Public: Business entities or other for-profit 
institutions.
    Total Respondents: 49.
    Total Annual Responses: 294.
    Average Time per Response: 20 minutes to 2 hours (.89 average 
burden hours).
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 262 hours.
    Frequency: Annually and quarterly.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $5,850.46.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of

[[Page 11739]]

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. 2022-04365 Filed 3-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CK-P