80 FR 8699 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request: Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 32 (February 18, 2015)

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Notice of Termination, Suspension, Reduction or Increase in Benefit Payments (CM-908). A copy of the information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8699-8700]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03283]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Proposed Collection; Comment Request: Division of Coal Mine 
Workers' Compensation

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed collection: Notice of Termination, 
Suspension, Reduction or Increase in Benefit Payments (CM-908). A copy 
of the information collection request can be obtained by contacting the 
office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before April 20, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Yoon Ferguson, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave. NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 354-9647, fax (202) 693-1447, Email [email protected]. Please 
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or Email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    I. Background: The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) 
administers the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 as amended, 
Section 432 (30 U.S.C. 942) and 20 CFR 725.621 necessitate this 
information collection. Under this Act, Coal mine operators, their 
representatives, or their insurers

[[Page 8700]]

who have been identified as responsible for paying Black Lung benefits 
to an eligible miner or an eligible surviving dependent of the miner, 
are called Responsible Operators (RO's). RO's that pay benefits are 
required to report any change in the benefit amount to the Department 
of Labor (DOL). The CM-908, when completed and sent to DOL, notifies 
DOL of the change in the beneficiary's benefit amount and the reason 
for the change. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 as 
amended, Section 432 (30 U.S.C. 942) and 20 CFR 725.621 necessitate 
this information collection. This information collection is currently 
approved for use through August 31, 2015.
    II. Review Focus: The Department of Labor is particularly 
interested in comments which:
    * Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    * Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    * Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and
    * Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of responses.
    III. Current Actions: The Department of Labor seeks the approval 
for the extension of this currently-approved information collection in 
order to carry out its responsibility to evaluate an applicant ability 
to be a representative payee. If the Program were not able to screen 
representative payee applicants the beneficiary's best interest would 
not be served.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Title: Notice of Termination, Suspension, Reduction or Increase in 
Benefit Payments.
    OMB Number: 1240-0030.
    Agency Number: CM-908.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit.
    Total Respondents: 325.
    Total Annual Responses: 5,000.
    Average Time per Response: 12 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,000.
    Frequency: On occasion and annually.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $5,200.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: February 12, 2015.
Yoon Ferguson,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, US 
Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2015-03283 Filed 2-17-15; 8:45 am]
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