[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38544-38545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12595]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 
Miner's Claim for Benefits Under the Black Lung Benefits Act CM-911 and 
Employment History CM-911a

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments 
concerning a proposed revision to the information collection request 
(ICR) titled, ``Miner's Claim for Benefits under the Black Lung 
Benefits Act CM-911

[[Page 38545]]

and Employment History CM-911a''. 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 
August 14, 2023.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this 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 Program, Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation, Room 
S3323, 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.
    The Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA), (30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) 
provides benefits to coal miners who are totally disabled due to 
pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) and to certain survivors of miners. 
Miners entitled to benefits also receive medical benefits for treatment 
related to their pneumoconiosis and resulting disability. A miner who 
applies for black lung benefits must complete the CM 911 (application 
form). The completed form gives basic identifying information about the 
applicant and is the beginning of the development of the black lung 
claim. 20 CFR 725.304(a) authorizes this information collection. The 
CM-911a, when completed, provides a complete history of the miner's 
employment and helps to establish whether the individual currently or 
formerly worked in the nation's coal mines and how long that employment 
lasted. 20 CFR 725.404(a) authorizes this information collection. This 
information collection is currently approved for use through April 30, 
2025. In addition, the proposed CM-911a combines the current CM-911a 
and the current CM-913 (Description of Coal Mine Work and Other 
Employment). When a miner has been identified as having performed non-
coal mine work subsequent to coal mine employment, the miner or the 
miner's survivor is asked to complete a CM-913 to compare coal mine 
work to non-coal mine work. This employment information, along with 
medical information, is used to establish whether the miner is totally 
disabled due to black lung disease caused by coal mine employment. The 
Black Lung Benefits Act, 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., and 20 CFR 
718.204(b)(1) authorize this information collection. If proposed CM-
911a is approved, DOL plans to discontinue the current CM-913. This 
change would eliminate the burden on the respondents from having to 
complete two separate employment forms and allow them to complete just 
one form instead. 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 1240-0038.
    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-OWCP-DCMWC.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Title of Collection: Miner's Claim for Benefits under the Black 
Lung Benefits Act and Employment History.
    Form: CM-911 and CM-911a.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0038.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,020.
    Frequency: As needed.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 10,020.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 45 minutes-CM-911 and 60 
minutes-CM-911a.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,768 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $2,315.
    Authority: 30 U.S.C. 901 Black Lung Benefits Act.

    Dated: June 7, 2023.
Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-12595 Filed 6-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CK-P