[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 40276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14284]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Notice 
of Termination, Suspension, Reduction, or Increase in Benefit Payment

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), 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 (PRA).

DATES: Consideration will be given to all written comments received by 
September 6, 2022.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this information collection request (ICR) with 
applicable supporting documentation; including a description of the 
likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, 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 
Programs, Room S3323, and 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20210; by email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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.
    This ICR seeks approval under the PRA for an extension of an 
existing collection Notice of Termination, Suspension, Reduction or 
Increase in Benefit Payments (CM-908). The Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the Black Lung Benefits Act 
(BLBA), 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq. Coal mine operators, their 
representatives, or their insurers who have been identified as 
responsible for paying Black Lung benefits to an eligible miner or an 
eligible surviving dependent of the miner are called Responsible 
Operators (RO's). RO's that pay benefits are required to report any 
change in the benefit amount to the Department of Labor (DOL). The CM-
908, when completed and sent to DOL, notifies DOL of the change in the 
beneficiary's benefit amount and the reason for the change. The BLBA 
and 20 CFR 725.621 necessitate this information collection. This 
information collection is currently approved for use through February 
28, 2025.
    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.
    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 Department of Labor 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 submissions of responses.
    The Department of Labor seeks approval for the extension of this 
currently approved information collection to insure that the correct 
benefits are paid by RO's. If this information were not gathered, there 
would be no way to insure that black lung beneficiaries who receive 
benefit payments from RO's are receiving the correct amount of 
benefits.
    Agency: DOL-OWCP-DCMWC.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Title of Collection: Notice of Termination, Suspension, Reduction 
or Increase In Benefit Payment.
    Form: Notice of Termination, Suspension, Reduction or Increase In 
Benefit Payment, CM-908.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0030.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit.
    Total Respondents: 6,081.
    Total Annual Responses: 6,081.
    Average Time per Response: 12 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,216 hours.
    Frequency: On occasion and annually.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $22,155.00.
    Authority: 30 U.S.C. and 20 CFR 725.621.

Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-14284 Filed 7-5-22; 8:45 am]
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