80 FR 23743 - Black Lung Benefits Act: Disclosure of Medical Information and Payment of Benefits
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 82 (April 29, 2015)
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 82 (April 29, 2015)
| Page Range | 23743-23754 | |
| FR Document | 2015-09573 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 82 (Wednesday, April 29, 2015)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 23743-23754] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-09573] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Office of Workers' Compensation Programs 20 CFR Part 725 RIN 1240-AA10 Black Lung Benefits Act: Disclosure of Medical Information and Payment of Benefits AGENCY: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Labor. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department is proposing revisions to the Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA) regulations to address several procedural issues that have arisen in claims processing and adjudications. To protect a miner's health and promote accurate benefit determinations, the proposed rule would require parties to disclose all medical information developed in connection with a claim for benefits. The proposed rule also would clarify that a liable coal mine operator is obligated to pay benefits during post-award modification proceedings and that a supplemental report from a physician is considered merely a continuation of the physician's earlier report for purposes of the evidence-limiting rules. DATES: The Department invites written comments on the proposed regulations from interested parties. Written comments must be received by June 29, 2015. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments, identified by RIN number 1240-AA10, by any of the following methods. To facilitate receipt and processing of comments, OWCP encourages interested parties to submit their comments electronically.Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions on the Web site for submitting comments. Facsimile: (202) 693-1395 (this is not a toll-free number). Only comments of ten or fewer pages, including a Fax cover sheet and attachments, if any, will be accepted by Fax. Regular Mail: Submit comments on paper, disk, or CD-ROM to the Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation Programs, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, Room C-3520, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. The Department's receipt of U.S. mail may be significantly delayed due to security procedures. You must take this into consideration when preparing to meet the deadline for submitting comments. Hand Delivery/Courier: Submit comments on paper, disk, or CD-ROM to Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation Programs, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, Room C- 3520, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and the Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Chance, Director, Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Suite N-3520, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: 1-800-347-2502. This is a toll-free number. TTY/TDD callers may dial toll-free 1-800-877-8339 for further information. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background of This Rulemaking The BLBA, 30 U.S.C. 901-944, provides for the payment of benefits to coal miners and certain of their dependent survivors on account of total disability or death due to coal workers' pneumoconiosis. 30 U.S.C. 901(a); Usery v. Turner Elkhorn Mining Co., 428 U.S. 1, 5 (1976). Benefits are paid by either an individual coal mine operator that employed the coal miner (or its insurance carrier), or the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. Director, OWCP v. Bivens, 757 F.2d 781, 783 (6th Cir. 1985). The Department has undertaken this rulemaking primarily to resolve several procedural issues that have arisen in claims administration and adjudication. Each of these issues is fully explained in the Section-By-Section Explanation below. II. Summary of the Proposed Rule A. General Provisions The Department is proposing several general revisions to advance the goals [[Page 23744]] set forth in Executive Order 13563. 76 FR 3821 (Jan. 18, 2011). That Order states that regulations must be ``accessible, consistent, written in plain language, and easy to understand.'' Id.; see also E.O. 12866, 58 FR 51735 (Sept. 30, 1993) (Agencies must draft regulations that are ``simple and easy to understand, with the goal of minimizing the potential for uncertainty and litigation arising from such uncertainty.''). Accordingly, the Department proposes to remove the imprecise term ``shall'' throughout those sections it is amending and substitute ``must,'' ``must not,'' ``will,'' or other situation- appropriate terms. These changes are designed to make the regulations clearer and more user-friendly. See generally Federal Plain Language Guidelines, http://www.plainlanguage.gov/howto/guidelines. In some instances, the Department has also made minor technical revisions to these sections to comply with the Office of the Federal Register's current formatting requirements. See, e.g., proposed Sec. 725.414(a)(2)(ii) (inserting ``of this chapter'' after reference to Sec. 718.107). No change in meaning is intended. B. Section-by-Section Explanation 20 CFR 725.310 Modification of awards and denials. Section 725.310 implements section 22 of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (Longshore Act or LHWCA), 33 U.S.C. 922, as incorporated into the BLBA by section 422(a) of the Act, 30 U.S.C. 932(a). Section 22 generally allows for the modification of claim decisions based on a mistake of fact or a change in conditions up to one year after the last payment of benefits or denial of a claim. The Department proposes several revisions to this regulation to ensure that responsible operators (and their insurance carriers) fully discharge their payment obligations while pursuing modification. While modification is a broad remedy available to responsible operators as well as claimants, a mere request for modification does not terminate an operator's obligation to comply with the terms of a prior award, or otherwise undermine the effectiveness, finality, or enforceability of a prior award. See Vincent v. Consolidated Operating Co., 17 F.3d 782, 785-86 (5th Cir. 1994) (enforcing award despite employer's modification request); Williams v. Jones, 11 F.3d 247, 259 (1st Cir. 1993) (same); Hudson v. Pine Ridge Coal Co., No. 11-00248, 2012 WL 386736, *5 (S.D. W.Va. Feb. 6, 2012) (same); see also National Mines Corp. v. Carroll, 64 F.3d 135, 141 (3d Cir. 1995) (``[A]s the DOL points out in its brief, `as a general rule, the mere existence of modification proceedings does not affect the finality of an existing award of compensation.' ''); Crowe ex rel. Crowe v. Zeigler Coal Co., 646 F.3d 435, 445 (7th Cir. 2011) (Hamilton, J., concurring) (``If Zeigler Coal believed the June 2001 award of benefits was wrong, it was entitled to seek modification. But Zeigler Coal was not legally entitled simply to ignore the final order of payment.''). Thus, an operator must continue to pay any benefits due under an effective award even when seeking to overturn that award through a section 22 modification proceeding. The plain language of the Act and its implementing regulations support this conclusion. An operator is required to pay benefits ``after an effective order requiring the payment of benefits''-- generally an uncontested award by a district director or any award by an administrative law judge, the Benefits Review Board, or a reviewing court--even if the operator timely appeals the effective award. 20 CFR 725.502(a)(1); see also 33 U.S.C. 921(a), as incorporated by 30 U.S.C. 932(a). There is only one exception to an operator's obligation to pay benefits owed under an effective award: The Board or a reviewing court may issue a stay pending its resolution of an appeal based on a finding that ``irreparable injury would otherwise ensue to the employer or carrier.'' 30 U.S.C. 921(a)(3), (c); see also 20 CFR 725.482(a), 725.502(a)(1). Otherwise, an effective award requires payment until it is (1) ``vacated by an administrative law judge on reconsideration,'' (2) ``vacated . . . upon review under section 21 of the LHWCA, by the Benefits Review Board or an appropriate court,'' or (3) ``superseded by an effective order issued pursuant to Sec. 725.310.'' 20 CFR 725.502. Notably absent from this list is a request for modification pursuant to Sec. 725.310. Thus, only an administrative or judicial order relieves the operator of the obligation to pay benefits, even if the operator continues to contest the award. The operator may not terminate the obligation unilaterally. Despite this clear authority, some operators obligated to pay benefits to claimants (and to repay the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund for interim benefit payments) by the terms of effective or final awards have refused to comply with those obligations, claiming that a subsequent modification request excuses their non-compliance. See, e.g., Crowe, 646 F.3d at 447 (Hamilton, J., concurring); Hudson, 2012 WL 386736, *3. In addition to being contrary to the unanimous weight of the courts of appeals and the plain text of the controlling statutory and regulatory provisions, the practice has a number of negative consequences. First, it prevents claimants from timely receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled. If an operator fails to comply with the terms of an effective award, the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund pays benefits to the claimant in the operator's stead. See 20 CFR 725.522(a). But, in any claim filed after 1981, the Trust Fund is statutorily prohibited from paying retroactive benefits, i.e., benefits owed for the period of time between the entitlement date specified in the order (typically the date the miner filed his or her claim or the date of the miner's death) and the initial determination that the claimant is entitled to benefits. 26 U.S.C. 9501(d)(1)(A)(ii). These retroactive benefits are sometimes substantial, and an operator's failure to pay them while pursuing modification imposes a similarly substantial burden on the claimant. See Crowe, 646 F.3d at 446 (``[T]he effect of Zeigler Coal's decision to disobey the final payment order [while it pursued modification for ten years] was to deny Mr. Crowe the $168,000 in back benefits to which he had been found entitled.'') The Act currently provides two mechanisms for claimants to enforce these liabilities. Section 21(d) of the Longshore Act, 33 U.S.C. 921(d), as incorporated into the BLBA by section 422(a) of the Act, 30 U.S.C. 932(a), and implemented by 20 CFR 725.604, provides for the enforcement of final awards. And section 18(a) of the Longshore Act, 33 U.S.C. 918(a), as incorporated into the BLBA by section 422(a) of the Act, 30 U.S.C. 932(a), and implemented by 20 CFR 725.605, does the same for effective awards. These remedies are, however, imperfect. Even if the previous award is final, section 21(d) still requires the claimant to file an enforcement action in federal district court to secure compliance with the award, a substantial barrier for unrepresented claimants. And even for represented claimants, the process can be a source of substantial delay. For example, the district court's order enforcing a final award under section 21(d) in Nowlin v. Eastern Associated Coal Corp., 266 F. Supp. 2d 502 (N.D. W.Va. 2003), was issued more than two years after the complaint was filed, and the consequent attorney's fee dispute took another seven months to resolve. Such delays should be minimized where possible to ensure prompt [[Page 23745]] compensation for claimants. A claimant seeking to enforce an effective but non-final award faces the same barriers, plus the additional hurdles of section 18(a)'s one-year limitations period and its requirement to obtain a supplemental order of default from the district director. Second, the practice improperly shifts financial burdens from the responsible operator to the Trust Fund contrary to Congress's intent. Congress created the Trust Fund in 1978 to assume responsibility for claims for which no operator was liable or in which the responsible operator defaulted on its payment obligations. But Congress intended to ``ensure that individual coal operators rather than the trust fund bear the liability for claims arising out of such operator's mines, to the maximum extent feasible.'' S. Rep. No. 95-209 at 9 (1977), reprinted in Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, 96th Cong., Black Lung Benefits Reform Act and Black Lung Benefits Revenue Act of 1977 at 612 (Comm. Print) (1979). Thus, operators are required to reimburse the Trust Fund for all benefits it paid to a claimant on the operator's behalf under an effective or final order. See 30 U.S.C. 934(b); 20 CFR 725.522(a), 725.601-603. This intent is undermined if an operator does not pay benefits or reimburse the Trust Fund while seeking to modify an effective award. One of the few events that terminates an effective order is being ``superseded by an effective order issued pursuant to Sec. 725.310.'' 20 CFR 725.502(a)(1). Thus, if an operator evades its obligation to pay benefits under the terms of an effective or final order until it successfully modifies that order under Sec. 725.310, the operator may entirely evade its obligation to pay benefits (or to reimburse the Trust Fund for paying benefits on the operator's behalf) under the initial order. Moreover, because Sec. 725.310(d) allows only certain benefits paid under a previously effective order to be recovered (generally only benefits for periods after modification was requested), the Trust Fund will be unable to recoup benefits paid prior to that date from the claimant. And the Trust Fund's right to recover the remaining overpayment is of little practical value in many cases given that claimants may be entitled to waiver of overpayments by operation of Sec. Sec. 725.540-548. Section 725.502's requirement that operators pay benefits owed under the terms of effective (as well as final) awards is designed to place these overpayment recovery risks where they properly belong: On the operator who, if successful, has the same overpayment recoupment rights as the Trust Fund. See 65 FR 80009-80011 (explaining rationale for Sec. 725.502); 20 CFR 725.547 (extending overpayment provisions to operators and their insurance carriers). The tactic of refusing to pay benefits owed while seeking modification threatens to transfer this risk to the Trust Fund, essentially rewarding operators that behave lawlessly and encouraging others to do the same. See Crowe, 646 F.3d at 446-47. To deal with this recurring problem, the Department proposes adding new paragraph (e) to Sec. 725.310. Proposed paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) provide that an operator's request to modify any effective award will be denied unless the operator proves that it has complied with all of its obligations under that award, and any other currently effective award (such as an attorney fee award) in the claim, unless payment has been stayed. By incorporating Sec. 725.502(a)'s definition of effective award, the proposed regulation clarifies that an operator is not required to prove compliance with formerly effective awards that have been vacated either on reconsideration by an administrative law judge, or on appeal by the Board or a court of appeals, or that have been superseded by an effective modification order. Proposed paragraph (e)(3) integrates the requirements of paragraph (e)(1) into the overall modification procedures outlined by Sec. 725.310(b)-(c). The Department anticipates that compliance with the requirements of outstanding effective awards will be readily apparent from the documentary evidence in most cases and that any non-compliance with those obligations will be easily correctable by the operator based on that evidence. Accordingly, paragraph (e)(3) encourages the parties to submit all documentary evidence at the earliest stage of the modification process (i.e., during proceedings before the district director) by forbidding the admission of any new documentary evidence addressing the operator's compliance with paragraph (e)(1) at any subsequent stage of the litigation absent extraordinary circumstances. The Department intends that the term ``extraordinary circumstances'' in this context be understood the same way that the identical term has been applied in cases governed by Sec. 725.456(b)(1). See, e.g., Marfork Coal Co. v. Weis, 251 F. App'x 229, 236 (4th Cir. 2007) (operator failed to demonstrate ``extraordinary circumstances'' justifying late submission of evidence under Sec. 725.456(b)(1) where evidence was not ``hidden or could not have been located'' earlier). Proposed paragraph (e)(4) clarifies that an operator has a continuing obligation to comply with the requirements of effective awards during all stages of a modification proceeding. The Department believes that imposing an affirmative obligation on operators to continually update the administrative law judge, Board, or court currently adjudicating its modification request about every continuing payment required by previous awards would be unduly burdensome on both operators and adjudicators. When an operator's non-compliance is brought to an adjudication officer's attention, however, the adjudicator must issue an order to show cause why the operator's modification petition should not be denied. Because the issue will be the operator's compliance with paragraph (e)(1) at the time of the order rather than at the time it requested modification, evidence relevant to this issue will be admissible even in the absence of extraordinary circumstances. In addition, to avoid the burden of a minor default resulting in the denial of modification, paragraph (e)(4) gives the operator an opportunity to cure any default identified by the Director or claimant before the modification petition is denied. Proposed paragraph (e)(5) clarifies that the denial of a modification request on the ground that the operator has not complied with its obligations under previous effective awards will not prejudice the operator's right to make additional modification requests in that same claim in the future. At the time of that future request, of course, the operator must satisfy all modification requirements, including Sec. 725.310(e). Finally, proposed paragraph (e)(6) makes these requirements applicable only to modification requests filed on or after the effective date of the final rule. Making the rule applicable prospectively avoids any administrative difficulties that could arise from applying the rule's requirements to pending modification requests. 20 CFR 725.413 Disclosure of Medical Information The Department proposes a new provision that requires the parties to disclose all medical information developed in connection with a claim. Currently, parties to a claim are free to develop medical information to the extent their resources allow and then select from that information those pieces they wish to submit into evidence, subject to the evidentiary limitations set out in Sec. 725.414. See 20 [[Page 23746]] CFR 725.414. Medical information developed but not submitted into evidence generally remains in the sole custody of the party who developed it unless an opposing party obtains the information through a formal discovery process. Experience has demonstrated that miners may be harmed if they do not have access to all information about their health, including information that is not submitted for the record. Claimants who do not have legal representation are particularly disadvantaged because generally they are unfamiliar with the formal discovery process and thus rarely obtain undisclosed information. Moreover, benefit decisions based on incomplete medical information are less accurate. These results are contrary to the clear intent of the statute. One recent case, Fox v. Elk Run Coal Co., 739 F.3d 131 (4th Cir. 2014), aptly demonstrates these problems. Mr. Fox worked in coal mines for more than thirty years. In 1997, a chest X-ray disclosed a mass in his right lung. A pathologist who reviewed tissue collected from the mass during a 1998 biopsy diagnosed an inflammatory pseudotumor. Acting without legal representation, Mr. Fox filed a claim for black lung benefits in 1999. The responsible operator submitted radiologists' reports and opinions from four pulmonologists, all concluding that Mr. Fox did not have coal workers' pneumoconiosis. The operator had developed additional medical information, however--opinions from two pathologists who reviewed the 1998 biopsy tissue and other records and then authored opinions supporting the conclusion that Mr. Fox had complicated pneumoconiosis, an advanced form of the disease. But the operator did not submit the pathologists' reports into the record, provide them to Mr. Fox, or share them with the pulmonologists it hired. An administrative law judge denied Mr. Fox's claim in 2001. To support his family, Mr. Fox continued to work in the mines, where he was exposed to additional coal-mine dust. Mr. Fox left the mines in 2006 at the age of 56 because his pulmonary capacity had diminished to the point he could no longer work. He filed a second claim for benefits that same year. This time he was represented by counsel, who successfully obtained discovery of the medical information that the responsible operator had developed in connection with Mr. Fox's first claim but had not disclosed. This additional information included the pathologists' opinions and X-ray interpretations showing that Mr. Fox had complicated pneumoconiosis. The operator did not disclose any of these documents, despite an order from an administrative law judge, until 2008. Mr. Fox died in 2009 while awaiting a lung transplant. Had Mr. Fox received the responsible operator's pathologists' opinions in 2000 when they were authored, he could have sought appropriate treatment for his advanced pneumoconiosis five or six years sooner than he did. He also could have made an informed decision as to whether he should continue in coal mine employment, where he was exposed to additional coal-mine dust. Or, he might have transferred to a position in a less-dusty area of the mine. See 30 U.S.C. 943(b). Finally, if the pathology reports the operator obtained had been available, Mr. Fox's first claim might have been awarded; indeed, the operator conceded entitlement when ordered to disclose this information. Mr. Fox's case highlights the longstanding problem claimants face in obtaining a full picture of the miner's health from testifying and non-testifying medical experts as well as examining and non-examining physicians. See, e.g., Lawyer Disciplinary Board v. Smoot, 716 SE.2d 491 (W. Va. 2010); Belcher v. Westmoreland Coal Co., BRB No. 06-0653, 2007 WL 7629355 (Ben. Rev. Bd. May 31, 2007) (unpublished); Cline v. Westmoreland Coal Co., 21 Black Lung Rep. 1-69 (Ben. Rev. Bd. 1997). Ensuring that a miner has access to information about his or her health is consistent with the primary tenet of the Mine Safety and Health Act (Mine Act). Congress expressly declared that ``the first priority and concern of all in the coal or other mining industry must be the health and safety of its most precious resource--the miner.'' 30 U.S.C. 801(a). This priority informs the Secretary's administration of the BLBA--including adoption of appropriate regulations--because Congress placed the BLBA in the Mine Act. By requiring disclosure, the rule also protects parties who do not have legal representation. Virtually without exception, coal mine operators are represented by attorneys in claims heard by administrative law judges. But claimants cannot always obtain legal representation. The Department estimates that approximately 23 percent of claimants appear before administrative law judges without any representation, and some of those claimants who have representation are represented by lay persons. Unrepresented claimants and lay representatives are generally unfamiliar with technical discovery procedures and thus do not pursue any information not voluntarily disclosed by the operator. And even when represented, not all attorneys use available discovery tools. Thus, making full disclosure mandatory will put all parties on equal footing, regardless of representation and regardless of whether they request disclosure of all medical information developed in connection with a claim. Finally, allowing parties fuller access to medical information may lead to better, more accurate decisions on claims. Elevating correctness over technical formalities is a fundamental tenant of the BLBA. Subject to regulations of the Secretary, the statute gives the Department explicit authority to depart from technical rules: adjudicators ``shall not be bound by common law or statutory rules of evidence or by technical or formal rules of procedure . . . but may make such investigation or inquiry or conduct such hearing in such manner as to best ascertain the rights of the parties.'' 33 U.S.C. 923(a), as incorporated by 30 U.S.C. 932(a). See also 20 CFR 725.455(b). This statutory provision evidences Congress's strong preference for ``best ascertain[ing] the rights of the parties''-- in other words, getting to the truth of the matter--over following the technical formalities associated with regular civil litigation. Full disclosure of medical information is therefore consistent with Congressional intent. Indeed, the current regulations require the miner to provide the responsible operator authorization to access his or her medical records. See 20 CFR 725.414(a)(3)(i)(A). An incorporated provision of the Social Security Act provides additional authority for proposed Sec. 725.413. See 30 U.S.C. 923(b), incorporating 42 U.S.C. 405(a). As incorporated into the BLBA, section 205(a) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 405(a), gives the Department wide latitude in regulating evidentiary matters pertaining to an individual's right to benefits. Specifically, the Department is vested with ``full power and authority to make rules and regulations and to establish procedures, not inconsistent with the provisions of this subchapter, which are necessary or appropriate to carry out such provisions, and [to] adopt reasonable and proper rules and regulations to regulate and provide for the nature and extent of the proofs and evidence and the method of taking and furnishing the same in order to establish the right to benefits.'' Section 205(a) has been construed as granting ``exceptionally broad authority to prescribe standards'' for proofs and evidence. Heckler v. [[Page 23747]] Campbell, 461 U.S. 458, 466 (1983) (quoting Schweiker v. Gray Panthers, 453 U.S. 34, 43 (1981)). The proposed rule honors these tenets. The proposed rule sets out both requirements for the disclosure of medical information and sanctions that may be imposed on parties that do not comply with the rule. Proposed Sec. 725.413(a) defines what constitutes ``medical information'' for purposes of this regulation. The regulation casts a broad net by encompassing any medical data about the miner that a party develops in connection with a claim. Treatment records are not information developed in connection with a claim and thus do not fall within this definition. But any party may obtain and submit records pertaining to treatment for a respiratory or pulmonary or related disease under Sec. 725.414(a)(4). Proposed paragraph (a)(1) addresses examining physicians' opinions and includes all findings made by an examining physician in the definition of ``medical information.'' An examining physician's opinion may disclose incidental physical conditions beyond a miner's respiratory or pulmonary systems that need attention. Giving miners full access to this data is consistent with the Act's and the Department's intent to protect the miner's health. Proposed paragraphs (a)(2) through (a)(4) include all other physicians' opinions, tests, procedures and related documentation in ``medical information,'' but only to the extent they address the miner's respiratory or pulmonary condition. Proposed Sec. 725.413(b) sets out the duty to disclose medical information about the miner and a time frame for such disclosure. The duty to disclose arises when either a party or a party's agent receives medical information. By including a ``party's agent,'' the proposed rule requires disclosure of medical information received by any individual or business entity that develops or screens medical information for the party or the party's attorney. Thus, a party may not avoid disclosure by having medical opinions and testing results filtered through a third-party agent. The time frame for disclosure is generally 30 days after receipt of the medical information. Within that time period, the disclosing party must send a copy of the medical information obtained to all other parties of record. In the event the claim is already scheduled for hearing by an administrative law judge when the medical information is received, the proposed rule requires the disclosing party to send the information no later than 20 days prior to the hearing. This provision correlates with current Sec. 725.456(b)(2)'s 20-day requirement for exchanging any documentary evidence a party wants to submit into the hearing record. Proposed Sec. 725.413(c) provides sanctions that an adjudication officer may impose on a party that does not comply with its obligation to disclose the medical information described in proposed Sec. 725.413(a). In determining an appropriate sanction, the proposed rule requires the adjudication officer to consider whether the party who violated the disclosure rule was represented by counsel when the violation occurred. The proposed rule also requires the adjudication officer to protect represented parties when the violation was attributable solely to their attorney's errors. The sanctions listed are not exclusive, and an adjudication officer may impose a different sanction, so long as it is appropriate to the circumstances presented in the particular case. Two of the listed sanctions are unique to the BLBA claims context. First, the proposed rule allows the adjudication officer to disqualify the non-disclosing party's attorney from further participation in the claim proceedings. The Department believes this is an appropriate sanction when the party's attorney is solely at fault for the non-disclosure and the failure to disclose resulted from more than an administrative error. Second, the proposed rule empowers an adjudication officer to relieve a claimant from the impact of a prior claim denial (see 20 CFR 725.309(c)(6)) if the medical information was not disclosed in accordance with the regulation in the prior claim proceeding. This sanction removes an incentive for responsible operators to withhold medical information and, by encouraging operators to comply, helps protect miners like Mr. Fox. Finally, proposed Sec. 725.413(d) sets out when the rule is applicable. Significantly, proposed paragraph (d)(2) specifies that the rule applies to claims pending on the rule's effective date if an administrative law judge has not yet entered a decision on the merits. To provide adequate time for disclosure in pending cases, the proposed rule allows the parties 60 days to disclose evidence received prior to the rule's adoption. Evidence received after the rule's effective date remains subject to proposed Sec. 725.413(b)'s 30-day time limit. After an administrative law judge issues a merits decision, proposed paragraph (d)(3) imposes the obligation to disclose medical information only when further evidentiary development is permitted on reconsideration, remand from an appellate body, or after a party files a modification request. Applying this rule to pending claims will further one of the rule's primary purposes: protecting the health of the nation's miners. 20 CFR 725.414 Development of Evidence (a) Section 725.414 imposes limitations on the quantity of medical evidence that each party may submit in a black lung claim. The Department proposed the limitations, in part, to ensure that eligibility determinations are based on the quality, not the quantity, of evidence submitted and to reduce litigation costs. 62 FR 3338 (Jan. 22, 1997). Under the evidence limiting rule, each side in a living miner's claim--both the claimant and the responsible operator (or Director, when appropriate)--may submit two chest X-ray interpretations, the results of two pulmonary function tests, two arterial blood gas studies and two medical reports as its affirmative case. Current Sec. 725.414(a)(1) defines a medical report as a ``written assessment of the miner's respiratory or pulmonary condition'' that ``may be prepared by a physician who examined the miner and/or reviewed the available admissible evidence.'' 20 CFR 725.414(a)(1). Because additional medical evidence may become available after a physician has prepared a medical report, physicians often update their initial reports in supplemental reports addressing the new evidence. This practice has, at times, caused confusion regarding whether the supplemental report must be deemed a second medical report for purposes of the evidentiary limitations. The Department proposes to amend Sec. 725.414(a)(1) to reflect the Director's longstanding position that these supplemental reports are merely a continuation of the physician's original medical report for purposes of the evidence- limiting rules and do not count against the party as a second medical report. The revised rule would apply to all claims filed after January 19, 2001. See 20 CFR 725.2(c). The Director's position flows from the language of the current rules, which constrains the evidence a physician may review in a written report based only on its admissibility. Current Sec. 725.414(a)(1) makes clear that a physician who provides a written opinion on the miner's pulmonary condition may consider all ``admissible medical evidence.'' Significantly, a physician who prepares a written medical report may also provide oral testimony in a claim, either at the formal hearing or through a deposition, and may ``testify as to any other medical evidence of [[Page 23748]] record.'' 20 CFR 725.414(c), 725.457(d). Thus, so long as a piece of medical evidence is admissible, a physician may consider it when addressing the miner's condition in either a written report or oral testimony. The Benefits Review Board has long accepted the Director's position that the medical opinion of a physician may be submitted in more than one document and still be considered one medical report for purposes of Sec. 725.414. See, e.g., Akers v. TBK Coal Co., BRB No. 06-894 BLA, 2007 WL 7629772 (Ben. Rev. Bd. Nov. 30, 2007). Supplemental reports are a reasonable and cost-effective means of providing medical opinion evidence given the practical realities of federal black lung litigation. Even with the evidence-limiting rules, a miner who files a black lung claim may undergo up to five sets of examinations and testing ``spread . . . out over time.'' 65 FR 79992 (Dec. 20, 2000). A physician who examines the miner early in the claim process will obviously not at that time have access to all the medical evidence that ultimately will be admitted into the record. Given that the rules allow the physician to review all admissible medical evidence when evaluating the miner's condition, it makes sense to allow the physician to supplement his or her original report as new evidence becomes available. Indeed, a contrary rule would increase litigation costs because the party would be forced to have the physician review new evidence during a deposition or in-court testimony, both of which are much more costly means of providing evidence. There is therefore no practical or logical reason to consider a physician's supplemental written report a second medical report under the evidence limiting rules. (b) For cases in which the Trust Fund is liable for benefits, current Sec. 725.414(a)(3)(iii) authorizes the Director to exercise the rights of a responsible operator for purposes of the evidentiary limitations. 20 CFR 725.414(a)(3)(iii). The current rule does not, however, allow the Director to submit medical evidence, except for the medical evidence developed under Sec. 725.406, in cases in which a coal mine operator is deemed the liable party. The rule thus leaves the Trust Fund potentially unprotected in cases in which the identified responsible operator has ceased to defend a claim during the course of litigation because of adverse financial developments, such as bankruptcy or insolvency. The Department proposes to amend Sec. 725.414(a)(3)(iii) to allow the Director to submit medical evidence, up to the limits allowed an identified responsible operator, in such cases. The revised rule would apply to all claims filed after January 19, 2001. See 20 CFR 725.2(c). The Trust Fund is liable for the payment of benefits if no operator can be identified as liable or if the operator identified as liable fails to pay benefits owed. See 26 U.S.C. 9501(d)(1); 20 CFR 725.522. As a result, the Director's inability to develop medical evidence in responsible operator cases imperils the Trust Fund if the operator ceases to defend the claim. In such cases, the Director currently has only two choices: (1) Dismiss the operator and have the Trust Fund assume liability so that medical evidence can be developed; or (2) keep the operator as the liable party and, if an award is issued, attempt to enforce the award against the operator or related entities (e.g., insurance carrier, surety-bond companies, successor operator, etc.). The first choice forecloses any possibility of recovery from the operator in the case of an award because the award would run against the Trust Fund. To be enforceable against an operator, the order awarding benefits must identify the operator as the liable party. See 20 CFR 725.522(a), 725.601-.609. The second choice restricts the Trust Fund's ability to defend against an unmeritorious claim without providing any certainty as to the recovery of any benefits awarded. In both cases, the Trust Fund is unnecessarily put at risk. This risk can be ameliorated by the simple expedient of allowing the Director, at his or her discretion, to develop evidence in cases in which the identified responsible operator has ceased to defend the claim. Proposed Sec. 725.414(a)(3)(iii) allows the Director the option of developing evidence in such cases. This revision would not prejudice claimants because the Director would be bound by the same evidence- limiting rules as the operator. In a miner's claim, the medical evidence developed under Sec. 725.406 counts as one medical report and one set of tests submitted by the Director, 20 CFR 725.414(a)(3)(iii), and the Director would be able to submit only one additional medical report and set of tests, along with appropriate rebuttal evidence. And in a survivor's claim, the Director, like an operator, is limited to two complete reports and rebuttal evidence. Moreover, in appropriate cases, the Director may determine that an award of benefits is justified, and decline to submit additional evidence. In sum, the proposed rule reasonably allows the Director to defend the Trust Fund against unwarranted liability in appropriate circumstances without unjustifiably burdening claimants. 20 CFR 725.601 Enforcement Generally Current Sec. 725.601 sets out the Department's policy regarding enforcing the liabilities imposed by Part 725. The last sentence of current paragraph (b) refers to ``payments in addition to compensation (see Sec. 725.607)[.]'' For the reasons explained in the discussion under Sec. 725.607, the Department proposes to replace the phrase ``payments in addition to compensation'' with the phrase ``payments of additional compensation.'' No substantive change is intended. 20 CFR 725.607 Payments in Addition to Compensation The Department proposes two revisions to current Sec. 725.607, which implements section 14(f) of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. 914(f), as incorporated into the BLBA by section 422(a) of the Act, 30 U.S.C. 932(a), to clarify that amounts paid under section 14(f) are compensation. Section 14(f) generally provides that claimants are entitled to an additional 20% of any compensation owed under the terms of an award that is not paid within ten days after it becomes due. The majority of courts to consider the question have agreed with the Director's view that the 20% payment required by section 14(f) is itself ``compensation'' rather than a penalty. See Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. v. Brown, 376 F.3d 245, 251 (4th Cir. 2004) (``[I]t is plain that an award for late payment under [section] 14(f) is compensation.''); Tahara v. Matson Terminals, Inc., 511 F.3d 950, 953-54 (9th Cir. 2007) (same); but see Burgo v. General Dynamics Corp., 122 F.3d 140, 145-46 (2d Cir. 1997). Part 725 reflects this view by generally referring to 14(f) payments as ``additional compensation.'' See 20 CFR 725.530(a), 725.607(b), 725.608(a)(3); see also 65 FR 80014 (Dec. 20, 2000) (``Section 14(f) provides that additional compensation, in the amount of twenty percent of unpaid benefits, shall be paid if an employer fails to pay within ten days after the benefits become due.''). Current Sec. 725.607 does not consistently reflect the majority rule or the Director's position. Paragraph (b) describes section 14(f) payments as ``additional compensation.'' But both the title of the section and paragraph (c) describe them as payments ``in addition to compensation.'' The latter formulation could be read to suggest [[Page 23749]] that 14(f) payments are something other than compensation. While the ``in addition to compensation'' formulation has not caused any problems in the administration of Sec. 725.607 thus far, the Department wishes to eliminate any possibility that the regulation's phrasing could confuse readers. Accordingly, the Department proposes to replace ``in addition to compensation'' with ``additional compensation'' in the title of Sec. 725.607 and paragraph (c). To maintain consistency within part 725, the Department also proposes the same change to Sec. 725.601(b). III. Statutory Authority Section 426(a) of the BLBA, 30 U.S.C. 936(a), authorizes the Secretary of Labor to prescribe rules and regulations necessary for the administration and enforcement of the Act. IV. Information Collection Requirements (Subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act) Imposed Under the Proposed Rule The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require that the Department consider the impact of paperwork and other information collection burdens imposed on the public. 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 it is approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the PRA and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person may 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. As discussed earlier in the preamble, proposed Sec. 725.413 would require each party in a black lung benefits claim to disclose certain medical information about the miner that the party or the party's agent receives by sending a complete copy of the information to all other parties in the claim. The Department does not believe this rule will have a broad impact because in many (and perhaps the majority) of cases, the parties already exchange all of the medical information in their possession as part of their evidentiary submissions. But requiring an exchange of additional medical information could be considered a collection of information within the meaning of the PRA. Thus, consistent with the requirements codified at 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(B) and 3507(d), and at 5 CFR 1320.11, the Department has submitted a new Information Collection Request to OMB for approval under the PRA and is providing an opportunity for public comment. A copy of this request (including supporting documentation) may be obtained free of charge by contacting Michael Chance, Director, Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Suite N-3464, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693- 0978 (this is not a toll-free number). TTY/TDD callers may dial toll- free 1-800-877-8339. The Department has estimated the number of responses and burdens as follows for this information collection: Title of Collection: Disclosure of Medical Information OMB Control Number: 1240-0NEW [OWCP will supply before publication] Total Estimated Number of Responses: 4,074 Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 679 hours Total Estimated Annual Cost Burden: $21,537.88 In addition to having an opportunity to file comments with the Department, the PRA provides that an interested party may file comments on the information collection requirements in a proposed rule directly with OMB at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-OWCP, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202-395-5806 (this is not a toll-free number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters are encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments to the Department by one of the methods set forth in the ADDRESSES section above. OMB will consider all written comments that the agency receives within 30 days of publication of this NPRM in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention the OMB control number listed above. OMB and the Department are 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. V. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 (Regulatory Planning and Review) Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. The Department has considered the proposed rule with these principles in mind and has determined that the regulated community will benefit from this regulation. The discussion below sets out the rule's anticipated economic impact and discusses non-economic factors favoring adoption of the proposal. OMB has reviewed this rule prior to publication in accordance with these Executive Orders. A. Economic Considerations The proposed rule includes only one provision that arguably could have an economic impact on parties to black lung claims or others: proposed Sec. 725.310(e), which requires a responsible operator to pay effective awards of benefits while seeking to modify those awards. As set forth above in the Section-by-Section Explanation, within one year of an award of benefits or of the last payment of benefits, a liable coal mine operator may request modification of an award (i.e., may seek to have the award converted to a denial) based on a change in conditions or because of a mistake in a determination of fact in the award. 20 CFR 725.310(a). Operators are legally obligated to make benefit payments during such modification proceedings. But few do, and the Trust Fund pays monthly benefits in their stead. To avoid this result, proposed Sec. 725.310(e) would prohibit a responsible operator from seeking modification until it meets the [[Page 23750]] payment obligations imposed by effective awards in a claim. Because the proposed rule merely enforces operators' existing obligations, it imposes no additional costs and is thus cost neutral. Even if the proposed rule were construed to impose a new obligation on operators, the Department believes any additional costs involved would not be burdensome for several reasons. First, if an operator's modification request is denied, the operator must reimburse the Trust Fund with interest for all benefits paid to the claimant during the proceeding. In such cases, whether the responsible operator starts paying benefits after the award is made initially or does so after the modification process has ended, the operator must pay all benefits owed. Second, in those instances where the operator's modification petition is successful, the operator can pursue reimbursement from the claimant for at least some of the benefits paid, including those paid during the modification proceeding itself. See 20 CFR 725.310(d). The potential economic impact on responsible operators in this instance is the amount that they cannot recoup from the claimant. In this regard, when an operator successfully modifies an award, the operator can seek only to recover cash benefits paid to the claimant and not medical benefits paid to hospitals and other health care providers. The Department believes, based on its experience in administering the program, that there are very few claims in which an operator is successful on modification. Thus, even if recoupment is unavailable, the cost impact would not be large. B. Other Considerations The Department has also considered other benefits and burdens that would result from the proposed rules apart from any potential monetary impact. As discussed in the Section-by-Section analysis, proposed Sec. 725.310(e) requires responsible operators to meet their payment obligations on effective awards before modifying those awards. This rule strikes an appropriate balance between the parties' competing interests: claimants are made whole while operators who would be irreparably harmed by making such payments can seek a stay in payments. While there is some risk that the operator will not recover payments made after a successful modification petition, placing that risk on the operator, rather than the Trust Fund, is consistent with the Act's intent. Proposed Sec. 725.413, which requires the parties to disclose all medical information they develop, will help protect miners' health and assist in reaching more accurate benefits determinations. These concerns far outweigh any minimal additional administrative burden this rule would place on the parties as a result of the mandatory exchange of this information. Moreover, the Department does not believe this rule will have an extremely broad impact. In many (and perhaps the majority) of cases, the Department believes, and has been informed by the public, that the parties already exchange all of the medical information in their possession as part of their evidentiary submissions. Finally, the proposed revisions to Sec. 725.414 and Sec. 725.607 will benefit all regulated parties simply by adding clarity to the rules. VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 13272 (Proper Consideration of Small Entities in Agency Rulemaking) The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (RFA), requires an agency to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis when it proposes regulations that will have ``a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities,'' or to certify that the proposed regulations will have no such impact, and to make the analysis or certification available for public comment. 5 U.S.C. 605. The Department has determined that a regulatory flexibility analysis under the RFA is not required for this rulemaking. While many coal mine operators are small entities within the meaning of the RFA, see 77 FR 19471-72 (Mar. 30, 2012), this proposed rule, if adopted in final, would not have a significant economic impact on them. As discussed above, the proposed rule addresses procedural issues that have arisen in claims administration and adjudication, and does not change the substantive standards under which claims are adjudicated. As such, the Department anticipates that the proposed rule would have little, if any, financial consequences for operators. Moreover, to the extent proposed Sec. 725.310(e) requires that operators make benefit payments on effective awards while pursuing modification, the regulation merely reflects an existing payment obligation rather than imposing a new one on operators. Based on these facts, the Department certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Thus, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required. The Department invites comments from members of the public who believe the regulations will have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small coal mine operators. The Department has provided the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration with a copy of this certification. See 5 U.S.C. 605. VII. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., directs agencies to assess the effects of Federal Regulatory Actions on State, local, and tribal governments, and the private sector, ``other than to the extent that such regulations incorporate requirements specifically set forth in law.'' 2 U.S.C. 1531. For purposes of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, this rule does not include any Federal mandate that may result in increased expenditures by State, local, tribal governments, or increased expenditures by the private sector of more than $100,000,000. VIII. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism) The Department has reviewed this proposed rule in accordance with Executive Order 13132 regarding federalism, and has determined that it does not have ``federalism implications.'' E.O. 13132, 64 FR 43255 (Aug. 4, 1999). The proposed rule will not ``have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government'' if promulgated as a final rule. Id. IX. Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform) The proposed rule meets the applicable standards in Sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden. See 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 5, 1996). X. Congressional Review Act The proposed rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined in the Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq. If promulgated as a final rule, this rule will not result in an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more; a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State or local government agencies, or geographic regions; or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on the [[Page 23751]] ability of United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign- based enterprises in domestic and export markets. List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 725 Administrative practice and procedure, Black lung benefits, Claims, Health care, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Vocational rehabilitation, Workers' compensation. For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department of Labor proposes to amend 20 CFR part 725 as follows: PART 725--CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS UNDER PART C OF TITLE IV OF THE FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT, AS AMENDED 0 1. The authority citation for part 725 continues to read as follows: Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; Reorganization Plan No. 6 of 1950, 15 FR 3174; 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., 902(f), 934, 936; 33 U.S.C. 901 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 405; Secretary's Order 10-2009, 74 FR 58834. 0 2. In Sec. 725.310, revise paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) and add paragraph (e) to read as follows: Sec. 725.310 Modification of awards and denials. * * * * * (b) Modification proceedings must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this part as appropriate, except that the claimant and the operator, or group of operators or the fund, as appropriate, are each entitled to submit no more than one additional chest X-ray interpretation, one additional pulmonary function test, one additional arterial blood gas study, and one additional medical report in support of its affirmative case along with such rebuttal evidence and additional statements as are authorized by paragraphs (a)(2)(ii) and (a)(3)(ii) of Sec. 725.414. Modification proceedings may not be initiated before an administrative law judge or the Benefits Review Board. (c) At the conclusion of modification proceedings before the district director, the district director may issue a proposed decision and order (Sec. 725.418) or, if appropriate, deny the claim by reason of abandonment (Sec. 725.409). In any case in which the district director has initiated modification proceedings on his own initiative to alter the terms of an award or denial of benefits issued by an administrative law judge, the district director must, at the conclusion of modification proceedings, forward the claim for a hearing (Sec. 725.421). In any case forwarded for a hearing, the administrative law judge assigned to hear such case must consider whether any additional evidence submitted by the parties demonstrates a change in condition and, regardless of whether the parties have submitted new evidence, whether the evidence of record demonstrates a mistake in a determination of fact. (d) An order issued following the conclusion of modification proceedings may terminate, continue, reinstate, increase or decrease benefit payments or award benefits. Such order must not affect any benefits previously paid, except that an order increasing the amount of benefits payable based on a finding of a mistake in a determination of fact may be made effective on the date from which benefits were determined payable by the terms of an earlier award. In the case of an award which is decreased, no payment made in excess of the decreased rate prior to the date upon which the party requested reconsideration under paragraph (a) of this section will be subject to collection or offset under subpart H of this part, provided the claimant is without fault as defined by Sec. 725.543. In the case of an award which is decreased following the initiation of modification by the district director, no payment made in excess of the decreased rate prior to the date upon which the district director initiated modification proceedings under paragraph (a) will be subject to collection or offset under subpart H of this part, provided the claimant is without fault as defined by Sec. 725.543. In the case of an award which has become final and is thereafter terminated, no payment made prior to the date upon which the party requested reconsideration under paragraph (a) will be subject to collection or offset under subpart H of this part. In the case of an award which has become final and is thereafter terminated following the initiation of modification by the district director, no payment made prior to the date upon which the district director initiated modification proceedings under paragraph (a) will be subject to collection or offset under subpart H of this part. (e)(1) Any modification request by an operator must be denied unless the operator proves that at the time of the request, the operator has complied with all of the obligations imposed by all awards in the claim that are currently effective as defined by Sec. 725.502(a). These include the obligations to-- (i) Pay all benefits owed to the claimant (including retroactive benefits under Sec. 725.502(b)(2), additional compensation under Sec. 725.607, and medical benefits under Sec. Sec. 725.701 through 725.708). If the prior award is final, these obligations also include the payment of approved attorney's fees and expenses under Sec. 725.367 and witness fees under Sec. 725.459; and (ii) Reimburse the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund for all benefits paid (including payments prior to final adjudication under Sec. 725.522, costs for the medical examination under Sec. 725.406, and other benefits paid on behalf of the operator) with such penalties and interest as are appropriate. (2) The requirements of paragraph (e)(1) of this section are inapplicable to any benefits owed pursuant to an effective but non- final order if the payment of such benefits has been stayed by the Benefits Review Board or appropriate court under 33 U.S.C. 921. (3) Except as provided by paragraph (e)(4) of this section, the operator must submit all documentary evidence pertaining to its compliance with the requirements of paragraph (e)(1) of this section to the district director concurrently with its request for modification. The claimant is also entitled to submit any relevant evidence to the district director. Absent extraordinary circumstances, no documentary evidence pertaining to the operator's compliance with the requirements of paragraph (e)(1) at the time of the modification request will be admitted into the hearing record or otherwise considered at any later stage of the proceeding. (4) The requirements imposed by paragraph (e)(1) of this section are continuing in nature. If at any time during the modification proceedings the operator fails to meet obligations imposed by all effective awards in the claim, the adjudication officer must issue an order to show cause why the operator's modification request should not be denied and afford all parties time to respond to such order. Responses may include evidence pertaining to the operator's continued compliance with the requirements of paragraph (e)(1). If, after the time for response has expired, the adjudication officer determines that the operator is not meeting its obligations, the adjudication officer must deny the operator's modification request. (5) The denial of a request for modification under this section will not bar any future modification request by the operator, so long as the operator satisfies the requirements of paragraph (e)(1) of this section with each future modification petition. (6) The provisions of this paragraph (e) apply to all modification requests filed on or after the effective date of this rule. [[Page 23752]] 0 3. Add Sec. 725.413 to subpart E to read as follows: Sec. 725.413 Disclosure of medical information. (a) For purposes of this section, medical information is any medical data about the miner that a party develops in connection with a claim for benefits, including medical data developed with any prior claim that has not been disclosed previously to the other parties. Medical information includes, but is not limited to-- (1) Any examining physician's written or testimonial assessment of the miner, including the examiner's findings, diagnoses, conclusions, and the results of any tests; (2) Any other physician's written or testimonial assessment of the miner's respiratory or pulmonary condition; (3) The results of any test or procedure related to the miner's respiratory or pulmonary condition, including any information relevant to the test or procedure's administration; and (4) Any physician's or other medical professional's interpretation of the results of any test or procedure related to the miner's respiratory or pulmonary condition. (b) Each party must disclose medical information the party or the party's agent receives by sending a complete copy of the information to all other parties in the claim within 30 days after receipt. If the information is received after the claim is already scheduled for hearing before an administrative law judge, the disclosure must be made at least 20 days before the scheduled hearing is held (see Sec. 725.456(b)). (c) At the request of any party or on his or her own motion, an adjudication officer may impose sanctions on any party or his or her representative who fails to timely disclose medical information in compliance with this section. (1) Sanctions must be appropriate to the circumstances and may only be imposed after giving the party an opportunity to demonstrate good cause why disclosure was not made and sanctions are not warranted. In determining an appropriate sanction, the adjudication officer must consider-- (i) Whether the sanction should be mitigated because the party was not represented by an attorney when the information should have been disclosed; and (ii) Whether the party should not be sanctioned because the failure to disclose was attributable solely to the party's attorney. (2) Sanctions may include, but are not limited to-- (i) Drawing an adverse inference against the non-disclosing party on the facts relevant to the disclosure; (ii) Limiting the non-disclosing party's claims, defenses or right to introduce evidence; (iii) Dismissing the claim proceeding if the non-disclosing party is the claimant and no payments prior to final adjudication have been made to the claimant unless the Director agrees to the dismissal in writing (see Sec. 725.465(d)); (iv) Rendering a default decision against the non-disclosing party; (v) Disqualifying the non-disclosing party's attorney from further participation in the claim proceedings; and (vi) Relieving a claimant who files a subsequent claim from the impact of Sec. 725.309(c)(6) if the non-disclosed evidence predates the denial of the prior claim and the non-disclosing party is the operator. (d) This rule applies to-- (1) All claims filed after the effective date of this rule; (2) Pending claims not yet adjudicated by an administrative law judge, except that medical information received prior to the effective date of this rule and not previously disclosed must be provided to the other parties within 60 days of the effective date of this rule; and (3) Pending claims already adjudicated by an administrative law judge where-- (i) The administrative law judge reopens the record for receipt of additional evidence in response to a timely reconsideration motion (see Sec. 725.479(b)) or after remand by the Benefits Review Board or a reviewing court; or (ii) A party requests modification of the award or denial of benefits (see Sec. 725.310(a)). 0 4. In Sec. 725.414, revise paragraphs (a), (c), and (d) to read as follows: Sec. 725.414 Development of evidence. (a) Medical evidence. (1) For purposes of this section, a medical report is a physician's written assessment of the miner's respiratory or pulmonary condition. A medical report may be prepared by a physician who examined the miner and/or reviewed the available admissible evidence. Supplemental medical reports prepared by the same physician must be considered part of the physician's original medical report. A physician's written assessment of a single objective test, such as a chest X-ray or a pulmonary function test, is not a medical report for purposes of this section. (2)(i) The claimant is entitled to submit, in support of his affirmative case, no more than two chest X-ray interpretations, the results of no more than two pulmonary function tests, the results of no more than two arterial blood gas studies, no more than one report of an autopsy, no more than one report of each biopsy, and no more than two medical reports. Any chest X-ray interpretations, pulmonary function test results, blood gas studies, autopsy report, biopsy report, and physicians' opinions that appear in a medical report must each be admissible under this paragraph (a)(2)(i) or paragraph (a)(4) of this section. (ii) The claimant is entitled to submit, in rebuttal of the case presented by the party opposing entitlement, no more than one physician's interpretation of each chest X-ray, pulmonary function test, arterial blood gas study, autopsy or biopsy submitted by the designated responsible operator or the fund, as appropriate, under paragraph (a)(3)(i) or (iii) of this section and by the Director pursuant to Sec. 725.406. In any case in which the party opposing entitlement has submitted the results of other testing pursuant to Sec. 718.107 of this chapter, the claimant is entitled to submit one physician's assessment of each piece of such evidence in rebuttal. In addition, where the responsible operator or fund has submitted rebuttal evidence under paragraph (a)(3)(ii) or (iii) of this section with respect to medical testing submitted by the claimant, the claimant is entitled to submit an additional statement from the physician who originally interpreted the chest X-ray or administered the objective testing. Where the rebuttal evidence tends to undermine the conclusion of a physician who prepared a medical report submitted by the claimant, the claimant is entitled to submit an additional statement from the physician who prepared the medical report explaining his conclusion in light of the rebuttal evidence. (3)(i) The responsible operator designated pursuant to Sec. 725.410 is entitled to obtain and submit, in support of its affirmative case, no more than two chest X-ray interpretations, the results of no more than two pulmonary function tests, the results of no more than two arterial blood gas studies, no more than one report of an autopsy, no more than one report of each biopsy, and no more than two medical reports. Any chest X-ray interpretations, pulmonary function test results, blood gas studies, autopsy report, biopsy report, and physicians' opinions that appear in a medical report must each be admissible under this paragraph (a)(3)(i) [[Page 23753]] or paragraph (a)(4) of this section. In obtaining such evidence, the responsible operator may not require the miner to travel more than 100 miles from his or her place of residence, or the distance traveled by the miner in obtaining the complete pulmonary evaluation provided by Sec. 725.406, whichever is greater, unless a trip of greater distance is authorized in writing by the district director. If a miner unreasonably refuses-- (A) To provide the Office or the designated responsible operator with a complete statement of his or her medical history and/or to authorize access to his or her medical records; or (B) To submit to an evaluation or test requested by the district director or the designated responsible operator, the miner's claim may be denied by reason of abandonment. (See Sec. 725.409). (ii) The responsible operator is entitled to submit, in rebuttal of the case presented by the claimant, no more than one physician's interpretation of each chest X-ray, pulmonary function test, arterial blood gas study, autopsy or biopsy submitted by the claimant under paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section and by the Director pursuant to Sec. 725.406. In any case in which the claimant has submitted the results of other testing pursuant to Sec. 718.107 of this chapter, the responsible operator is entitled to submit one physician's assessment of each piece of such evidence in rebuttal. In addition, where the claimant has submitted rebuttal evidence under paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section, the responsible operator is entitled to submit an additional statement from the physician who originally interpreted the chest X-ray or administered the objective testing. Where the rebuttal evidence tends to undermine the conclusion of a physician who prepared a medical report submitted by the responsible operator, the responsible operator is entitled to submit an additional statement from the physician who prepared the medical report explaining his conclusion in light of the rebuttal evidence. (iii) In a case in which the district director has not identified any potentially liable operators, or has dismissed all potentially liable operators under Sec. 725.410(a)(3), or has identified a liable operator that ceases to defend the claim on grounds of an inability to provide for payment of continuing benefits, the district director is entitled to exercise the rights of a responsible operator under this section, except that the evidence obtained in connection with the complete pulmonary evaluation performed pursuant to Sec. 725.406 must be considered evidence obtained and submitted by the Director, OWCP, for purposes of paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section. In a case involving a dispute concerning medical benefits under Sec. 725.708, the district director is entitled to develop medical evidence to determine whether the medical bill is compensable under the standard set forth in Sec. 725.701. (4) Notwithstanding the limitations in paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) of this section, any record of a miner's hospitalization for a respiratory or pulmonary or related disease, or medical treatment for a respiratory or pulmonary or related disease, may be received into evidence. (5) A copy of any documentary evidence submitted by a party must be served on all other parties to the claim. If the claimant is not represented by an attorney, the district director must mail a copy of all documentary evidence submitted by the claimant to all other parties to the claim. Following the development and submission of affirmative medical evidence, the parties may submit rebuttal evidence in accordance with the schedule issued by the district director. * * * * * (c) Testimony. A physician who prepared a medical report admitted under this section may testify with respect to the claim at any formal hearing conducted in accordance with subpart F of this part, or by deposition. If a party has submitted fewer than two medical reports as part of that party's affirmative case under this section, a physician who did not prepare a medical report may testify in lieu of such a medical report. The testimony of such a physician will be considered a medical report for purposes of the limitations provided by this section. A party may offer the testimony of no more than two physicians under the provisions of this section unless the adjudication officer finds good cause under paragraph (b)(1) of Sec. 725.456. In accordance with the schedule issued by the district director, all parties must notify the district director of the name and current address of any potential witness whose testimony pertains to the liability of a potentially liable operator or the designated responsible operator. Absent such notice, the testimony of a witness relevant to the liability of a potentially liable operator or the designated responsible operator will not be admitted in any hearing conducted with respect to the claim unless the administrative law judge finds that the lack of notice should be excused due to extraordinary circumstances. (d) Except to the extent permitted by Sec. Sec. 725.456 and 725.310(b), the limitations set forth in this section apply to all proceedings conducted with respect to a claim, and no documentary evidence pertaining to liability may be admitted in any further proceeding conducted with respect to a claim unless it is submitted to the district director in accordance with this section. 0 5. In Sec. 725.601, revise paragraphs (b) and (c) to read as follows: Sec. 725.601 Enforcement generally. * * * * * (b) It is the policy and intent of the Department to vigorously enforce the provisions of this part through the use of the remedies provided by the Act. Accordingly, if an operator refuses to pay benefits with respect to a claim for which the operator has been adjudicated liable, the Director may invoke and execute the lien on the property of the operator as described in Sec. 725.603. Enforcement of this lien must be pursued in an appropriate U.S. district court. If the Director determines that the remedy provided by Sec. 725.603 may not be sufficient to guarantee the continued compliance with the terms of an award or awards against the operator, the Director may in addition seek an injunction in the U.S. district court to prohibit future noncompliance by the operator and such other relief as the court considers appropriate (see Sec. 725.604). If an operator unlawfully suspends or terminates the payment of benefits to a claimant, the district director may declare the award in default and proceed in accordance with Sec. 725.605. In all cases payments of additional compensation (see Sec. 725.607) and interest (see Sec. 725.608) will be sought by the Director or awarded by the district director. (c) In certain instances the remedies provided by the Act are concurrent; that is, more than one remedy might be appropriate in any given case. In such a case, the Director may select the remedy or remedies appropriate for the enforcement action. In making this selection, the Director shall consider the best interests of the claimant as well as those of the fund. 0 6. Revise Sec. 725.607 to read as follows: Sec. 725.607 Payments of additional compensation. (a) If any benefits payable under the terms of an award by a district director (Sec. 725.419(d)), a decision and order filed and served by an administrative law judge (Sec. 725.478), or a decision filed by the Board or a U.S. court of appeals, are not paid by an operator or other employer ordered to make such [[Page 23754]] payments within 10 days after such payments become due, there will be added to such unpaid benefits an amount equal to 20 percent thereof, which must be paid to the claimant at the same time as, but in addition to, such benefits, unless review of the order making such award is sought as provided in section 21 of the LHWCA and an order staying payments has been issued. (b) If, on account of an operator's or other employer's failure to pay benefits as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, benefit payments are made by the fund, the eligible claimant will nevertheless be entitled to receive such additional compensation to which he or she may be eligible under paragraph (a), with respect to all amounts paid by the fund on behalf of such operator or other employer. (c) The fund may not be held liable for payments of additional compensation under any circumstances. Signed at Washington, DC, this 20th day of April, 2015. Leonard J. Howie III, Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs. [FR Doc. 2015-09573 Filed 4-28-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-CR-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 82 / Wednesday, April 29, 2015 / Proposed Rules 23743
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NOS-2015- Dated: April 21, 2015. Programs, Office of Workers’
0028, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, Daniel J. Basta, Compensation Programs, U.S.
complete the required fields, and enter Director, Office of National Marine Department of Labor, Room C–3520, 200
or attach your comments. Sanctuaries. Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
• Mail: Public comments may be [FR Doc. 2015–10015 Filed 4–28–15; 8:45 am] DC 20210. The Department’s receipt of
mailed to Hawaiian Islands Humpback BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P U.S. mail may be significantly delayed
Whale National Marine Sanctuary, due to security procedures. You must
NOAA/DKIRC, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. take this into consideration when
176, Honolulu, HI 96818, Attn: Malia DEPARTMENT OF LABOR preparing to meet the deadline for
Chow, Superintendent. submitting comments.
Office of Workers’ Compensation • Hand Delivery/Courier: Submit
Instructions: Comments sent by any comments on paper, disk, or CD–ROM
Programs
other method, to any other address or to Division of Coal Mine Workers’
individual, or received after the end of Compensation Programs, Office of
20 CFR Part 725
the comment period, may not be Workers’ Compensation Programs, U.S.
considered by NOAA. All comments RIN 1240–AA10 Department of Labor, Room C–3520, 200
received are a part of the public record Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
and will generally be posted for public Black Lung Benefits Act: Disclosure of
DC 20210.
viewing on www.regulations.gov Medical Information and Payment of Instructions: All submissions received
without change. All personal identifying Benefits must include the agency name and the
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), AGENCY: Office of Workers’ Regulatory Information Number (RIN)
confidential business information, or Compensation Programs, Labor. for this rulemaking. All comments
otherwise sensitive information received will be posted without change
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking;
submitted voluntarily by the sender will to http://www.regulations.gov, including
request for comments.
be publicly accessible. NOAA will any personal information provided.
accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ SUMMARY: The Department is proposing Docket: For access to the docket to
A’’ in the required fields if you wish to revisions to the Black Lung Benefits Act read background documents or
remain anonymous). (BLBA) regulations to address several comments received, go to http://
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: procedural issues that have arisen in www.regulations.gov.
Malia Chow, Superintendent, Hawaiian claims processing and adjudications. To FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Islands Humpback Whale National protect a miner’s health and promote Michael Chance, Director, Division of
Marine Sanctuary at 808–725–5901 or accurate benefit determinations, the Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation,
hihwmanagementplan@noaa.gov. proposed rule would require parties to Office of Workers’ Compensation
disclose all medical information Programs, U.S. Department of Labor,
Copies of the draft environmental
developed in connection with a claim 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Suite N–
impact statement and proposed rule can
for benefits. The proposed rule also 3520, Washington, DC 20210.
be downloaded or viewed on the
would clarify that a liable coal mine Telephone: 1–800–347–2502. This is a
Internet at www.regulations.gov (search
operator is obligated to pay benefits toll-free number. TTY/TDD callers may
for docket # NOAA–NOS–2015–0028) or
during post-award modification dial toll-free 1–800–877–8339 for
at http://
proceedings and that a supplemental further information.
hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.
report from a physician is considered SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Copies can also be obtained by
merely a continuation of the physician’s
contacting the person identified under I. Background of This Rulemaking
earlier report for purposes of the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
evidence-limiting rules. The BLBA, 30 U.S.C. 901–944,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In DATES: The Department invites written provides for the payment of benefits to
addition to the ten hearings listed in the comments on the proposed regulations coal miners and certain of their
proposed rule (80 FR 16224) published from interested parties. Written dependent survivors on account of total
on March 26, 2015, two public hearings comments must be received by June 29, disability or death due to coal workers’
will be held in the following locations 2015. pneumoconiosis. 30 U.S.C. 901(a); Usery
at the locales and times indicated: ADDRESSES: You may submit written v. Turner Elkhorn Mining Co., 428 U.S.
(1) Waimea, HI (Kaua‘i) comments, identified by RIN number 1, 5 (1976). Benefits are paid by either
1240–AA10, by any of the following an individual coal mine operator that
Date: May 5, 2015 methods. To facilitate receipt and employed the coal miner (or its
Location: Waimea Canyon Middle processing of comments, OWCP insurance carrier), or the Black Lung
School Cafeteria encourages interested parties to submit Disability Trust Fund. Director, OWCP
their comments electronically. v. Bivens, 757 F.2d 781, 783 (6th Cir.
Address: 9555 Huakai Road, Waimea, 1985). The Department has undertaken
Hawaii 96796 • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the this rulemaking primarily to resolve
Time: 5:30 p.m.—8 p.m. instructions on the Web site for several procedural issues that have
submitting comments. arisen in claims administration and
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
(2) Hilo, HI (Hawai‘i)
• Facsimile: (202) 693–1395 (this is adjudication. Each of these issues is
Date: May 11, 2015 not a toll-free number). Only comments fully explained in the Section-By-
Location: Mokupāpapa Discovery Center of ten or fewer pages, including a Fax Section Explanation below.
Address: 76 Kamehameha Avenue, Hilo, cover sheet and attachments, if any, will II. Summary of the Proposed Rule
HI 96720 be accepted by Fax.
• Regular Mail: Submit comments on A. General Provisions
Time: 4:30 p.m.—7 p.m. paper, disk, or CD–ROM to the Division The Department is proposing several
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. of Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation general revisions to advance the goals
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set forth in Executive Order 13563. 76 Mines Corp. v. Carroll, 64 F.3d 135, 141 concurring); Hudson, 2012 WL 386736,
FR 3821 (Jan. 18, 2011). That Order (3d Cir. 1995) (‘‘[A]s the DOL points out *3. In addition to being contrary to the
states that regulations must be in its brief, ‘as a general rule, the mere unanimous weight of the courts of
‘‘accessible, consistent, written in plain existence of modification proceedings appeals and the plain text of the
language, and easy to understand.’’ Id.; does not affect the finality of an existing controlling statutory and regulatory
see also E.O. 12866, 58 FR 51735 (Sept. award of compensation.’ ’’); Crowe ex provisions, the practice has a number of
30, 1993) (Agencies must draft rel. Crowe v. Zeigler Coal Co., 646 F.3d negative consequences.
regulations that are ‘‘simple and easy to 435, 445 (7th Cir. 2011) (Hamilton, J., First, it prevents claimants from
understand, with the goal of minimizing concurring) (‘‘If Zeigler Coal believed timely receiving all the benefits to
the potential for uncertainty and the June 2001 award of benefits was which they are entitled. If an operator
litigation arising from such wrong, it was entitled to seek fails to comply with the terms of an
uncertainty.’’). Accordingly, the modification. But Zeigler Coal was not effective award, the Black Lung
Department proposes to remove the legally entitled simply to ignore the Disability Trust Fund pays benefits to
imprecise term ‘‘shall’’ throughout those final order of payment.’’). Thus, an the claimant in the operator’s stead. See
sections it is amending and substitute operator must continue to pay any 20 CFR 725.522(a). But, in any claim
‘‘must,’’ ‘‘must not,’’ ‘‘will,’’ or other benefits due under an effective award filed after 1981, the Trust Fund is
situation-appropriate terms. These even when seeking to overturn that statutorily prohibited from paying
changes are designed to make the award through a section 22 modification retroactive benefits, i.e., benefits owed
regulations clearer and more user- proceeding. for the period of time between the
friendly. See generally Federal Plain The plain language of the Act and its entitlement date specified in the order
Language Guidelines, http:// implementing regulations support this (typically the date the miner filed his or
www.plainlanguage.gov/howto/ conclusion. An operator is required to her claim or the date of the miner’s
guidelines. In some instances, the pay benefits ‘‘after an effective order death) and the initial determination that
Department has also made minor requiring the payment of benefits’’— the claimant is entitled to benefits. 26
technical revisions to these sections to generally an uncontested award by a U.S.C. 9501(d)(1)(A)(ii). These
comply with the Office of the Federal district director or any award by an retroactive benefits are sometimes
Register’s current formatting administrative law judge, the Benefits substantial, and an operator’s failure to
requirements. See, e.g., proposed Review Board, or a reviewing court— pay them while pursuing modification
§ 725.414(a)(2)(ii) (inserting ‘‘of this even if the operator timely appeals the imposes a similarly substantial burden
chapter’’ after reference to § 718.107). effective award. 20 CFR 725.502(a)(1); on the claimant. See Crowe, 646 F.3d at
No change in meaning is intended. see also 33 U.S.C. 921(a), as 446 (‘‘[T]he effect of Zeigler Coal’s
incorporated by 30 U.S.C. 932(a). There decision to disobey the final payment
B. Section-by-Section Explanation is only one exception to an operator’s order [while it pursued modification for
20 CFR 725.310 Modification of awards obligation to pay benefits owed under ten years] was to deny Mr. Crowe the
and denials. an effective award: The Board or a $168,000 in back benefits to which he
reviewing court may issue a stay had been found entitled.’’)
Section 725.310 implements section pending its resolution of an appeal The Act currently provides two
22 of the Longshore and Harbor based on a finding that ‘‘irreparable mechanisms for claimants to enforce
Workers’ Compensation Act (Longshore injury would otherwise ensue to the these liabilities. Section 21(d) of the
Act or LHWCA), 33 U.S.C. 922, as employer or carrier.’’ 30 U.S.C. Longshore Act, 33 U.S.C. 921(d), as
incorporated into the BLBA by section 921(a)(3), (c); see also 20 CFR incorporated into the BLBA by section
422(a) of the Act, 30 U.S.C. 932(a). 725.482(a), 725.502(a)(1). Otherwise, an 422(a) of the Act, 30 U.S.C. 932(a), and
Section 22 generally allows for the effective award requires payment until implemented by 20 CFR 725.604,
modification of claim decisions based it is (1) ‘‘vacated by an administrative provides for the enforcement of final
on a mistake of fact or a change in law judge on reconsideration,’’ (2) awards. And section 18(a) of the
conditions up to one year after the last ‘‘vacated . . . upon review under Longshore Act, 33 U.S.C. 918(a), as
payment of benefits or denial of a claim. section 21 of the LHWCA, by the incorporated into the BLBA by section
The Department proposes several Benefits Review Board or an appropriate 422(a) of the Act, 30 U.S.C. 932(a), and
revisions to this regulation to ensure court,’’ or (3) ‘‘superseded by an implemented by 20 CFR 725.605, does
that responsible operators (and their effective order issued pursuant to the same for effective awards. These
insurance carriers) fully discharge their § 725.310.’’ 20 CFR 725.502. Notably remedies are, however, imperfect. Even
payment obligations while pursuing absent from this list is a request for if the previous award is final, section
modification. modification pursuant to § 725.310. 21(d) still requires the claimant to file
While modification is a broad remedy Thus, only an administrative or judicial an enforcement action in federal district
available to responsible operators as order relieves the operator of the court to secure compliance with the
well as claimants, a mere request for obligation to pay benefits, even if the award, a substantial barrier for
modification does not terminate an operator continues to contest the award. unrepresented claimants. And even for
operator’s obligation to comply with the The operator may not terminate the represented claimants, the process can
terms of a prior award, or otherwise obligation unilaterally. be a source of substantial delay. For
undermine the effectiveness, finality, or Despite this clear authority, some example, the district court’s order
enforceability of a prior award. See operators obligated to pay benefits to enforcing a final award under section
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Vincent v. Consolidated Operating Co., claimants (and to repay the Black Lung 21(d) in Nowlin v. Eastern Associated
17 F.3d 782, 785–86 (5th Cir. 1994) Disability Trust Fund for interim benefit Coal Corp., 266 F. Supp. 2d 502 (N.D.
(enforcing award despite employer’s payments) by the terms of effective or W.Va. 2003), was issued more than two
modification request); Williams v. Jones, final awards have refused to comply years after the complaint was filed, and
11 F.3d 247, 259 (1st Cir. 1993) (same); with those obligations, claiming that a the consequent attorney’s fee dispute
Hudson v. Pine Ridge Coal Co., No. 11– subsequent modification request took another seven months to resolve.
00248, 2012 WL 386736, *5 (S.D. W.Va. excuses their non-compliance. See, e.g., Such delays should be minimized
Feb. 6, 2012) (same); see also National Crowe, 646 F.3d at 447 (Hamilton, J., where possible to ensure prompt
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![23746 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 82 / Wednesday, April 29, 2015 / Proposed Rules
CFR 725.414. Medical information showing that Mr. Fox had complicated with technical discovery procedures
developed but not submitted into pneumoconiosis. The operator did not and thus do not pursue any information
evidence generally remains in the sole disclose any of these documents, not voluntarily disclosed by the
custody of the party who developed it despite an order from an administrative operator. And even when represented,
unless an opposing party obtains the law judge, until 2008. Mr. Fox died in not all attorneys use available discovery
information through a formal discovery 2009 while awaiting a lung transplant. tools. Thus, making full disclosure
process. Had Mr. Fox received the responsible mandatory will put all parties on equal
Experience has demonstrated that operator’s pathologists’ opinions in footing, regardless of representation and
miners may be harmed if they do not 2000 when they were authored, he regardless of whether they request
have access to all information about could have sought appropriate treatment disclosure of all medical information
their health, including information that for his advanced pneumoconiosis five or developed in connection with a claim.
is not submitted for the record. six years sooner than he did. He also Finally, allowing parties fuller access
Claimants who do not have legal could have made an informed decision to medical information may lead to
representation are particularly as to whether he should continue in better, more accurate decisions on
disadvantaged because generally they coal mine employment, where he was claims. Elevating correctness over
are unfamiliar with the formal discovery exposed to additional coal-mine dust. technical formalities is a fundamental
process and thus rarely obtain Or, he might have transferred to a tenant of the BLBA. Subject to
undisclosed information. Moreover, position in a less-dusty area of the mine. regulations of the Secretary, the statute
benefit decisions based on incomplete See 30 U.S.C. 943(b). Finally, if the gives the Department explicit authority
medical information are less accurate. pathology reports the operator obtained to depart from technical rules:
These results are contrary to the clear had been available, Mr. Fox’s first claim adjudicators ‘‘shall not be bound by
intent of the statute. might have been awarded; indeed, the common law or statutory rules of
One recent case, Fox v. Elk Run Coal operator conceded entitlement when evidence or by technical or formal rules
Co., 739 F.3d 131 (4th Cir. 2014), aptly ordered to disclose this information. of procedure . . . but may make such
demonstrates these problems. Mr. Fox Mr. Fox’s case highlights the investigation or inquiry or conduct such
worked in coal mines for more than longstanding problem claimants face in hearing in such manner as to best
thirty years. In 1997, a chest X-ray obtaining a full picture of the miner’s ascertain the rights of the parties.’’ 33
disclosed a mass in his right lung. A health from testifying and non-testifying U.S.C. 923(a), as incorporated by 30
pathologist who reviewed tissue medical experts as well as examining U.S.C. 932(a). See also 20 CFR
collected from the mass during a 1998 and non-examining physicians. See, 725.455(b). This statutory provision
biopsy diagnosed an inflammatory e.g., Lawyer Disciplinary Board v. evidences Congress’s strong preference
pseudotumor. Acting without legal Smoot, 716 SE.2d 491 (W. Va. 2010); for ‘‘best ascertain[ing] the rights of the
representation, Mr. Fox filed a claim for Belcher v. Westmoreland Coal Co., BRB parties’’— in other words, getting to the
black lung benefits in 1999. The No. 06–0653, 2007 WL 7629355 (Ben. truth of the matter—over following the
responsible operator submitted Rev. Bd. May 31, 2007) (unpublished); technical formalities associated with
radiologists’ reports and opinions from Cline v. Westmoreland Coal Co., 21 regular civil litigation. Full disclosure of
four pulmonologists, all concluding that Black Lung Rep. 1–69 (Ben. Rev. Bd. medical information is therefore
Mr. Fox did not have coal workers’ 1997). consistent with Congressional intent.
pneumoconiosis. The operator had Ensuring that a miner has access to Indeed, the current regulations require
developed additional medical information about his or her health is the miner to provide the responsible
information, however—opinions from consistent with the primary tenet of the operator authorization to access his or
two pathologists who reviewed the 1998 Mine Safety and Health Act (Mine Act). her medical records. See 20 CFR
biopsy tissue and other records and then Congress expressly declared that ‘‘the 725.414(a)(3)(i)(A).
authored opinions supporting the first priority and concern of all in the An incorporated provision of the
conclusion that Mr. Fox had coal or other mining industry must be Social Security Act provides additional
complicated pneumoconiosis, an the health and safety of its most authority for proposed § 725.413. See 30
advanced form of the disease. But the precious resource—the miner.’’ 30 U.S.C. 923(b), incorporating 42 U.S.C.
operator did not submit the U.S.C. 801(a). This priority informs the 405(a). As incorporated into the BLBA,
pathologists’ reports into the record, Secretary’s administration of the section 205(a) of the Social Security Act,
provide them to Mr. Fox, or share them BLBA—including adoption of 42 U.S.C. 405(a), gives the Department
with the pulmonologists it hired. An appropriate regulations—because wide latitude in regulating evidentiary
administrative law judge denied Mr. Congress placed the BLBA in the Mine matters pertaining to an individual’s
Fox’s claim in 2001. To support his Act. right to benefits. Specifically, the
family, Mr. Fox continued to work in By requiring disclosure, the rule also Department is vested with ‘‘full power
the mines, where he was exposed to protects parties who do not have legal and authority to make rules and
additional coal-mine dust. representation. Virtually without regulations and to establish procedures,
Mr. Fox left the mines in 2006 at the exception, coal mine operators are not inconsistent with the provisions of
age of 56 because his pulmonary represented by attorneys in claims heard this subchapter, which are necessary or
capacity had diminished to the point he by administrative law judges. But appropriate to carry out such
could no longer work. He filed a second claimants cannot always obtain legal provisions, and [to] adopt reasonable
claim for benefits that same year. This representation. The Department and proper rules and regulations to
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
time he was represented by counsel, estimates that approximately 23 percent regulate and provide for the nature and
who successfully obtained discovery of of claimants appear before extent of the proofs and evidence and
the medical information that the administrative law judges without any the method of taking and furnishing the
responsible operator had developed in representation, and some of those same in order to establish the right to
connection with Mr. Fox’s first claim claimants who have representation are benefits.’’ Section 205(a) has been
but had not disclosed. This additional represented by lay persons. construed as granting ‘‘exceptionally
information included the pathologists’ Unrepresented claimants and lay broad authority to prescribe standards’’
opinions and X-ray interpretations representatives are generally unfamiliar for proofs and evidence. Heckler v.
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record.’’ 20 CFR 725.414(c), 725.457(d). limits allowed an identified responsible appropriate circumstances without
Thus, so long as a piece of medical operator, in such cases. The revised rule unjustifiably burdening claimants.
evidence is admissible, a physician may would apply to all claims filed after
20 CFR 725.601 Enforcement
consider it when addressing the miner’s January 19, 2001. See 20 CFR 725.2(c).
Generally
condition in either a written report or The Trust Fund is liable for the
oral testimony. The Benefits Review payment of benefits if no operator can Current § 725.601 sets out the
Board has long accepted the Director’s be identified as liable or if the operator Department’s policy regarding enforcing
position that the medical opinion of a identified as liable fails to pay benefits the liabilities imposed by Part 725. The
physician may be submitted in more owed. See 26 U.S.C. 9501(d)(1); 20 CFR last sentence of current paragraph (b)
than one document and still be 725.522. As a result, the Director’s refers to ‘‘payments in addition to
considered one medical report for inability to develop medical evidence in compensation (see § 725.607)[.]’’ For the
purposes of § 725.414. See, e.g., Akers v. responsible operator cases imperils the reasons explained in the discussion
TBK Coal Co., BRB No. 06–894 BLA, Trust Fund if the operator ceases to under § 725.607, the Department
2007 WL 7629772 (Ben. Rev. Bd. Nov. defend the claim. In such cases, the proposes to replace the phrase
30, 2007). Director currently has only two choices: ‘‘payments in addition to
Supplemental reports are a reasonable (1) Dismiss the operator and have the compensation’’ with the phrase
and cost-effective means of providing Trust Fund assume liability so that ‘‘payments of additional
medical opinion evidence given the medical evidence can be developed; or compensation.’’ No substantive change
practical realities of federal black lung (2) keep the operator as the liable party is intended.
litigation. Even with the evidence- and, if an award is issued, attempt to 20 CFR 725.607 Payments in Addition
limiting rules, a miner who files a black enforce the award against the operator to Compensation
lung claim may undergo up to five sets or related entities (e.g., insurance
of examinations and testing ‘‘spread The Department proposes two
carrier, surety-bond companies, revisions to current § 725.607, which
. . . out over time.’’ 65 FR 79992 (Dec. successor operator, etc.).
20, 2000). A physician who examines implements section 14(f) of the
The first choice forecloses any Longshore and Harbor Workers’
the miner early in the claim process will
possibility of recovery from the operator Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. 914(f), as
obviously not at that time have access
in the case of an award because the incorporated into the BLBA by section
to all the medical evidence that
award would run against the Trust 422(a) of the Act, 30 U.S.C. 932(a), to
ultimately will be admitted into the
Fund. To be enforceable against an clarify that amounts paid under section
record. Given that the rules allow the
operator, the order awarding benefits 14(f) are compensation. Section 14(f)
physician to review all admissible
must identify the operator as the liable generally provides that claimants are
medical evidence when evaluating the
party. See 20 CFR 725.522(a), 725.601- entitled to an additional 20% of any
miner’s condition, it makes sense to
.609. The second choice restricts the compensation owed under the terms of
allow the physician to supplement his
Trust Fund’s ability to defend against an an award that is not paid within ten
or her original report as new evidence
becomes available. Indeed, a contrary unmeritorious claim without providing days after it becomes due.
rule would increase litigation costs any certainty as to the recovery of any The majority of courts to consider the
because the party would be forced to benefits awarded. In both cases, the question have agreed with the Director’s
have the physician review new evidence Trust Fund is unnecessarily put at risk. view that the 20% payment required by
during a deposition or in-court This risk can be ameliorated by the section 14(f) is itself ‘‘compensation’’
testimony, both of which are much more simple expedient of allowing the rather than a penalty. See Newport News
costly means of providing evidence. Director, at his or her discretion, to Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. v.
There is therefore no practical or logical develop evidence in cases in which the Brown, 376 F.3d 245, 251 (4th Cir. 2004)
reason to consider a physician’s identified responsible operator has (‘‘[I]t is plain that an award for late
supplemental written report a second ceased to defend the claim. payment under [section] 14(f) is
medical report under the evidence Proposed § 725.414(a)(3)(iii) allows compensation.’’); Tahara v. Matson
limiting rules. the Director the option of developing Terminals, Inc., 511 F.3d 950, 953–54
(b) For cases in which the Trust Fund evidence in such cases. This revision (9th Cir. 2007) (same); but see Burgo v.
is liable for benefits, current would not prejudice claimants because General Dynamics Corp., 122 F.3d 140,
§ 725.414(a)(3)(iii) authorizes the the Director would be bound by the 145–46 (2d Cir. 1997). Part 725 reflects
Director to exercise the rights of a same evidence-limiting rules as the this view by generally referring to 14(f)
responsible operator for purposes of the operator. In a miner’s claim, the medical payments as ‘‘additional
evidentiary limitations. 20 CFR evidence developed under § 725.406 compensation.’’ See 20 CFR 725.530(a),
725.414(a)(3)(iii). The current rule does counts as one medical report and one 725.607(b), 725.608(a)(3); see also 65 FR
not, however, allow the Director to set of tests submitted by the Director, 20 80014 (Dec. 20, 2000) (‘‘Section 14(f)
submit medical evidence, except for the CFR 725.414(a)(3)(iii), and the Director provides that additional compensation,
medical evidence developed under would be able to submit only one in the amount of twenty percent of
§ 725.406, in cases in which a coal mine additional medical report and set of unpaid benefits, shall be paid if an
operator is deemed the liable party. The tests, along with appropriate rebuttal employer fails to pay within ten days
rule thus leaves the Trust Fund evidence. And in a survivor’s claim, the after the benefits become due.’’).
potentially unprotected in cases in Director, like an operator, is limited to Current § 725.607 does not
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
which the identified responsible two complete reports and rebuttal consistently reflect the majority rule or
operator has ceased to defend a claim evidence. Moreover, in appropriate the Director’s position. Paragraph (b)
during the course of litigation because cases, the Director may determine that describes section 14(f) payments as
of adverse financial developments, such an award of benefits is justified, and ‘‘additional compensation.’’ But both
as bankruptcy or insolvency. The decline to submit additional evidence. the title of the section and paragraph (c)
Department proposes to amend In sum, the proposed rule reasonably describe them as payments ‘‘in addition
§ 725.414(a)(3)(iii) to allow the Director allows the Director to defend the Trust to compensation.’’ The latter
to submit medical evidence, up to the Fund against unwarranted liability in formulation could be read to suggest
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 82 / Wednesday, April 29, 2015 / Proposed Rules 23749
that 14(f) payments are something other 1320.11, the Department has submitted including the validity of the
than compensation. While the ‘‘in a new Information Collection Request to methodology and assumptions used;
addition to compensation’’ formulation OMB for approval under the PRA and is • Enhance the quality, utility, and
has not caused any problems in the providing an opportunity for public clarity of the information to be
administration of § 725.607 thus far, the comment. A copy of this request collected; and
Department wishes to eliminate any (including supporting documentation) • Minimize the burden of the
possibility that the regulation’s phrasing may be obtained free of charge by collection of information on those who
could confuse readers. Accordingly, the contacting Michael Chance, Director, are to respond, including through the
Department proposes to replace ‘‘in Division of Coal Mine Workers’ use of appropriate automated,
addition to compensation’’ with Compensation, Office of Workers’ electronic, mechanical, or other
‘‘additional compensation’’ in the title Compensation Programs, U.S. technological collection techniques or
of § 725.607 and paragraph (c). To Department of Labor, 200 Constitution other forms of information technology,
maintain consistency within part 725, Avenue, NW., Suite N–3464, e.g., permitting electronic submission of
the Department also proposes the same Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: responses.
change to § 725.601(b). (202) 693–0978 (this is not a toll-free V. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
III. Statutory Authority number). TTY/TDD callers may dial (Regulatory Planning and Review)
toll-free 1–800–877–8339.
Section 426(a) of the BLBA, 30 U.S.C. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
The Department has estimated the
936(a), authorizes the Secretary of Labor direct agencies to assess all costs and
number of responses and burdens as
to prescribe rules and regulations benefits of available regulatory
follows for this information collection:
necessary for the administration and alternatives and, if regulation is
Title of Collection: Disclosure of necessary, to select regulatory
enforcement of the Act. Medical Information approaches that maximize net benefits
IV. Information Collection OMB Control Number: 1240–0NEW (including potential economic,
Requirements (Subject to the [OWCP will supply before publication] environmental, public health and safety
Paperwork Reduction Act) Imposed Total Estimated Number of effects, distributive impacts, and
Under the Proposed Rule Responses: 4,074 equity). Executive Order 13563
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: emphasizes the importance of
(PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., and its 679 hours quantifying both costs and benefits, of
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part Total Estimated Annual Cost Burden: reducing costs, of harmonizing rules,
1320, require that the Department $21,537.88 and of promoting flexibility.
consider the impact of paperwork and In addition to having an opportunity The Department has considered the
other information collection burdens to file comments with the Department, proposed rule with these principles in
imposed on the public. A Federal the PRA provides that an interested mind and has determined that the
agency generally cannot conduct or party may file comments on the regulated community will benefit from
sponsor a collection of information, and information collection requirements in a this regulation. The discussion below
the public is generally not required to proposed rule directly with OMB at the sets out the rule’s anticipated economic
respond to an information collection, Office of Information and Regulatory impact and discusses non-economic
unless it is approved by the Office of Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for factors favoring adoption of the
Management and Budget (OMB) under DOL–OWCP, Office of Management and proposal. OMB has reviewed this rule
the PRA and displays a currently valid Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street, prior to publication in accordance with
OMB Control Number. In addition, NW., Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: these Executive Orders.
notwithstanding any other provisions of 202–395–5806 (this is not a toll-free
law, no person may generally be subject number); or by email: OIRA_ A. Economic Considerations
to penalty for failing to comply with a submission@omb.eop.gov. Commenters The proposed rule includes only one
collection of information that does not are encouraged, but not required, to provision that arguably could have an
display a valid Control Number. See 5 send a courtesy copy of any comments economic impact on parties to black
CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. to the Department by one of the lung claims or others: proposed
As discussed earlier in the preamble, methods set forth in the ADDRESSES § 725.310(e), which requires a
proposed § 725.413 would require each section above. OMB will consider all responsible operator to pay effective
party in a black lung benefits claim to written comments that the agency awards of benefits while seeking to
disclose certain medical information receives within 30 days of publication modify those awards. As set forth above
about the miner that the party or the of this NPRM in the Federal Register. In in the Section-by-Section Explanation,
party’s agent receives by sending a order to help ensure appropriate within one year of an award of benefits
complete copy of the information to all consideration, comments should or of the last payment of benefits, a
other parties in the claim. The mention the OMB control number listed liable coal mine operator may request
Department does not believe this rule above. modification of an award (i.e., may seek
will have a broad impact because in OMB and the Department are to have the award converted to a denial)
many (and perhaps the majority) of particularly interested in comments based on a change in conditions or
cases, the parties already exchange all of that: because of a mistake in a determination
the medical information in their • Evaluate whether the proposed of fact in the award. 20 CFR 725.310(a).
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
possession as part of their evidentiary collection of information is necessary Operators are legally obligated to make
submissions. But requiring an exchange for the proper performance of the benefit payments during such
of additional medical information could functions of the agency, including modification proceedings. But few do,
be considered a collection of whether the information will have and the Trust Fund pays monthly
information within the meaning of the practical utility; benefits in their stead. To avoid this
PRA. Thus, consistent with the • Evaluate the accuracy of the result, proposed § 725.310(e) would
requirements codified at 44 U.S.C. agency’s estimate of the burden of the prohibit a responsible operator from
3506(c)(2)(B) and 3507(d), and at 5 CFR proposed collection of information, seeking modification until it meets the
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![23754 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 82 / Wednesday, April 29, 2015 / Proposed Rules
payments within 10 days after such Generation Passport in 2016. The Next visa page inserts could compromise the
payments become due, there will be Generation Passport incorporates new effectiveness of security features of the
added to such unpaid benefits an security features designed to protect the new passport books that are intended to
amount equal to 20 percent thereof, integrity of U.S. passport books against provide greater protections against fraud
which must be paid to the claimant at fraud and misuse. An interagency and misuse. To maximize the
the same time as, but in addition to, working group determined that the effectiveness of the Next Generation
such benefits, unless review of the order addition of visa page inserts could Passport that is expected to be issued to
making such award is sought as reduce the effectiveness of these new the general public in 2016, the
provided in section 21 of the LHWCA security features. If this change is Department considered whether visa
and an order staying payments has been implemented, the fee for this service page inserts could be phased out at the
issued. will be removed from the Schedule of time that the Department begins to issue
(b) If, on account of an operator’s or Fees for Consular Services. the new passport books.
other employer’s failure to pay benefits DATES: Written comments must be As part of this study, the Department
as provided in paragraph (a) of this received on or before June 29, 2015. considered the extent of the public’s
section, benefit payments are made by ADDRESSES: Interested parties may
usage of visa page inserts, costs to the
the fund, the eligible claimant will submit comments by any of the Department of eliminating the service,
nevertheless be entitled to receive such following methods: and whether any inconvenience to the
additional compensation to which he or • Visit the Regulations.gov Web site public could be minimized. A study of
she may be eligible under paragraph (a), at: http://www.regulations.gov/ a sample of visa page insert applications
with respect to all amounts paid by the index.cfm and search the RIN 1400– revealed that a significant majority of
fund on behalf of such operator or other AD76 or docket number DOS–2015– those applying for visa page inserts had
employer. 0017. them added to 28-page passport books,
(c) The fund may not be held liable • Mail (paper, disk, or CD–ROM): rather than to the larger 52-page books.
for payments of additional U.S. Department of State, Office of A set of visa page inserts is 24 pages.
compensation under any circumstances. Passport Services, Bureau of Consular Accordingly, a 52-page passport book is
Affairs (CA/PPT), Attn: CA/PPT/IA, the same size as a 28-page book with a
Signed at Washington, DC, this 20th day of
April, 2015. 44132 Mercure Circle, P.O. Box 1227, set of extra visa pages. The Department
Sterling, Virginia 20166–1227. determined that the demand for
Leonard J. Howie III,
additional visa pages would be
Director, Office of Workers’ Compensation FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
substantially reduced by issuing only
Programs. Michael Holly, Office of Passport
the larger 52-page passport books to
[FR Doc. 2015–09573 Filed 4–28–15; 8:45 am] Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs;
overseas U.S. passport applicants.
BILLING CODE 4510–CR–P 202–485–6373: PassportRules@ Accordingly, the Department has begun
state.gov. issuing the 52-page book to overseas
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: applicants, who are the most likely to
DEPARTMENT OF STATE apply for extra visa pages, at no
Background
additional cost. This should further
22 CFR Parts 22 and 51 The Department proposes eliminating reduce the already limited demand for
[Public Notice: 9111] the visa page insert service for regular visa page inserts, thus making the rule’s
fee passport book holders beginning impact on the public very minimal.
RIN 1400–AD76 January 1, 2016. The expected effective Individuals who apply for U.S.
date of this rule coincides with when passports within the United States will
Proposed Elimination of Visa Page the Department expects to begin issuing
Insert Service for U.S. Passport Book continue to have the option to request
an updated version of the Next a 52-page passport at no additional
Holders Generation Passport book. The charge.
AGENCY: Department of State. Department routinely updates the Each version of the Next Generation
ACTION: Proposed rule. technology used to produce U.S. Passport book contains two fewer pages
passport books so that U.S. passport total, but the same number of visa pages
SUMMARY: Currently, all U.S. passport books use the most current anti-fraud as the passport books currently in
book applicants may apply for either a and anti-counterfeit measures. The Next circulation. Accordingly, after the
28-page or 52-page passport book at no Generation Passport, which is the next Department begins issuing the Next
extra charge. U.S. passport book holders update of the U.S. passport book, will Generation Passport book, all domestic
may then apply for additional visa pages contain a polycarbonate data-page and passport book applicants will still have
while the passport book is still valid. will be personalized with laser the option to choose between a 26-page
The Department of State proposes engraving. This passport will also passport book and a larger 50-page
eliminating the option to add visa pages employ conical laser perforation of the passport book, but the larger 50-page
in passports beginning January 1, 2016. passport number through the data and passport books will be automatically
To help mitigate the need for visa page visa pages; display a general artwork issued to people applying overseas.
inserts, the Department began issuing upgrade and new security features The Department believes the limited
the larger 52-page passport book in including watermark, security artwork, demand for visa page inserts is
October 2014 to all overseas U.S. optical variable security devices, tactile outweighed by the importance of
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
passport applicants at no extra cost. U.S. features, and optically variable inks. ensuring that the Next Generation
passport applicants applying The primary reason for eliminating visa Passport provides the maximum
domestically can still obtain the 52-page page inserts is to protect the integrity of protection against fraud and misuse.
passport book at no extra charge by the Next Generation Passport books. Furthermore, the Department must
requesting it on the application form. In 2012, an interagency working monitor unused inventories of passport
The elimination of visa page inserts group tasked with overseeing the products, and the elimination of visa
coincides with the Department’s development and deployment of Next page inserts would facilitate more
anticipated rollout of the Next Generation Passport books found that secure inventory controls. Accordingly,
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Document Created: 2015-12-16 08:25:58
Document Modified: 2015-12-16 08:25:58
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments. | |
| Dates | The Department invites written comments on the proposed regulations from interested parties. Written comments must be received by June 29, 2015. | |
| Contact | Michael Chance, Director, Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Suite N-3520, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: 1-800-347-2502. This is a toll-free number. TTY/TDD callers may dial toll-free 1-800-877-8339 for further information. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 23743 | |
| RIN Number | 1240-AA10 | |
| CFR Associated | Administrative Practice and Procedure; Black Lung Benefits; Claims; Health Care; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Vocational Rehabilitation and Workers' Compensation |
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