[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38781-38782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13841]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Disclosure of Medical Evidence

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 the agency 
receives on or before July 29, 2022.

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) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) 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: Nicole Bouchet by telephone at 202-
693-0213, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA), 30 
U.S.C. 901 et seq., may require parties to exchange all medical 
information about the miner 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. BLBA regulations help 
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

[[Page 38782]]

operator and its insurance carrier, and the Director of OWCP. Under 
BLBA, a party of a party's agent who receives medical information about 
the miner 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). For additional 
substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice 
published in the Federal Register on February 3, 2022 (87 FR 6203).
    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: Disclosure of Medical Evidence.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0054.
    Affected Public: Private Sector-- Businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,105.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 6,105.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 1,018 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $10,745.

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

Nicole Bouchet,
Senior PRA Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2022-13841 Filed 6-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P