[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 49 (Thursday, March 12, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14507-14508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05088]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation; Proposed Extension; 
Comment Request

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, ``Coal Mine Operator 
Response to Schedule for the Submission of Additional Evidence and 
Operator Response to Notice of Claim.'' 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: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
address section below on or before May 11, 2020.

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 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 Office of Workers' Compensation Programs' (OWCP) Division of 
Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC) administers the Black Lung 
Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), which provides benefits to coal 
miners totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis and certain surviving 
dependents. Benefits are paid by a coal mine operator who employed the 
miner (or its insurance carrier) or the Black Lung Disability Trust 
Fund if no responsible coal mine operator can be identified.
    OWCP is seeking comments on the extension of information 
collections titled Coal Mine Operator Response to Schedule for 
Submission of Additional Evidence (Form CM-2970) and Operator Response 
to Notice of Claim (Form CM-2970a). The District Director uses the 
information collected on form CM-2970 to determine whether the named 
coal mine operator agrees with the District Director's (1) designation 
of the operator as liable for any benefits payable, and (2) 
determination regarding the

[[Page 14508]]

claimant's eligibility for benefits. The District Director uses the 
information collected on the CM-2970a to determine whether a coal mine 
operator who employed the miner may be designated as the liable 
operator responsible for paying any benefits due on a claim. The 
information collected on both forms is within the operator's control 
(e.g., information about the operator's business, employment of the 
miner, and financial capacity to pay benefits).
    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 the collection 
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. To help ensure appropriate consideration, 
comments should mention 1240-0033.
    Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this 
ICR and may be 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: Extension.
    Title of Collection: Coal Mine Operator Response to Schedule for 
the Submission of Additional Evidence and Operator Response to Notice 
of Claim.
    Form: CM-2970 and CM-2970a.
    OMB Control Number: 1240-0033.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,900.
    Frequency: As needed.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 9,800.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 10 minutes--CM-2970 and 15 
minutes--CM-2970a.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,042 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $35,102.00.

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

    Dated: March 6, 2020.
Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-05088 Filed 3-11-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-CK-P