[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 6314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01912]



[[Page 6314]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 
Certification by School Official

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments 
concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the 
information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Certification of School 
Official.'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental 
efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

DATES: Consideration will be given to all written comments received by 
April 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including 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 Program--Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation, Room 
S3323, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; by email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 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.
    The Certification by School Official information collection 
mandates that in order to qualify as an eligible dependent for black 
lung benefits, a child aged 18- to 23-years must be a full-time student 
as described in the Black Lung Benefits Act, 30 U.S.C. 901 et. seq., 
and regulations 20 CFR 725.209. A school official completes a 
Certification by School Official (Form CM-981) to verify whether a 
Black Lung beneficiary's dependent between the ages of 18 to 23 years 
qualifies as a full-time student. Black Lung Benefits Act section 426 
authorizes this information collection. See 30 U.S.C. 936.
    This information collection is being classified as an extension of 
an existing collection. 30 U.S.C. 902(g); 20 CFR 725.209, 725.218 
require that all relevant medical evidence be considered before a 
decision can be made regarding a claimant's eligibility for benefits. 
By signing the CM-981 form, the claimant authorizes physicians, 
hospitals, medical facilities or organizations, and the National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to release medical 
information about the miner to the Department of Labor's Office of 
Workers' Compensation Programs. The form contains information required 
by medical institutions and private physicians to enable them to 
release pertinent medical information. This information collection is 
currently approved for use through July 31st, 2023.
    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 under the PRA 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 Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 
1320.6.
    Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the 
contact shown in the ADDRESSES section. Written comments will receive 
consideration, and summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval of the final ICR. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention 1240-0031.
    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 DOL 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 submission of responses.
    Agency: DOL--Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Title of Collection: Certification by School Official.
    Form: CM-981.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0031.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 93.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 93.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 15.5 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $44.36.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

     Dated: January 25, 2023.
Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-01912 Filed 1-30-23; 8:45 am]
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