81 FR 19518 - Claims for Compensation Under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 65 (April 5, 2016)

Page Range		19518-19519
FR Document		2016-07488

The Department of Labor is reopening and extending the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking it published on November 18, 2015 (80 FR 72296). The Department originally allowed a 60-day comment period that was scheduled to close on January 19, 2016, but on that date extended the comment period another 30 days through February 18, 2016 (81 FR 2787). This notice indicates that the comment period is being reopened as of April 5, 2016 and extended for an additional period. The comment period for the information collection requirements in the proposed rule ended on December 18, 2015, and that period is not being reopened.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19518-19519]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07488]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs

20 CFR Part 30

RIN 1240-AA08


Claims for Compensation Under the Energy Employees Occupational 
Illness Compensation Program Act

AGENCY: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor is reopening and extending the comment 
period for the notice of proposed rulemaking it published on November 
18, 2015 (80 FR 72296). The Department originally allowed a 60-day 
comment period that was scheduled to close on January 19, 2016, but on 
that date extended the comment period another 30 days through February 
18, 2016 (81 FR 2787). This notice indicates that the comment period is 
being reopened as of April 5, 2016 and extended for an additional 
period. The comment period for the information collection requirements 
in the proposed rule ended on December 18, 2015, and that period is not 
being reopened.

DATES: The comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking 
published on November 18, 2015 (80 FR 72296) and extended at 81 FR 2787 
(January 19, 2016) is reopened. The Department will accept written 
comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking from interested parties 
that are submitted from April 5, 2016 through May 9, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Parties may submit comments on the regulations in the 
proposed rule, identified by Regulatory Information Number (RIN) 1240-
AA08, by any ONE of the following methods:
    Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: The Internet address to submit 
comments on the regulations in the proposed rule is 
www.regulations.gov. Follow the Web site instructions for submitting 
comments. Comments will also be available for public inspection on the 
Web site.
    Mail or Hand Delivery: Submit written comments by mail to Rachel P. 
Leiton, Director, Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness 
Compensation, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, U.S. Department 
of Labor, Room C-3321, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20210. The Department will only consider mailed comments that have been 
postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service or other delivery service on or 
before the deadline for comments.
    Instructions: All comments must cite RIN 1240-AA08 that has been 
assigned to this rulemaking. Receipt of any comments, whether by 
Internet, mail or hand delivery, will not be acknowledged.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel P. Leiton, Director, Division 
of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation, Office of 
Workers' Compensation Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, Room C-3321, 
200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210, Telephone: 202-693-
0081 (this is not a toll-free number).
    Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may access this 
telephone number via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information 
Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to requests from members of the 
public, the Department has decided to reopen the public comment period 
for the notice of proposed rulemaking it published on November 18, 2015 
(80 FR 72296). The Department originally allowed a 60-day comment 
period that was scheduled to close on January 19, 2016, but on that 
date extended the comment period another 30 days through February 18, 
2016 (81 FR 2787). The comment period is being reopened as of April 5, 
2016 and extended through May 9, 2016. The comment

[[Page 19519]]

period for the information collection requirements in the proposed rule 
ended on December 18, 2015, and that period is not being reopened.
    The notice of proposed rulemaking contains changes to update the 
regulations governing the administration of the Energy Employees 
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000, as amended 
(EEOICPA or Act), 42 U.S.C. 7384 et seq., which was originally enacted 
on October 30, 2000. The initial version of EEOICPA established a 
compensation program (known as Part B of the Act) to provide a uniform 
lump-sum payment of $150,000 and medical benefits as compensation to 
covered employees who had sustained designated illnesses due to their 
exposure to radiation, beryllium or silica while in the performance of 
duty for DOE and certain of its vendors, contractors and 
subcontractors. Part B of the Act also provides for payment of 
compensation to certain survivors of these covered employees, and for 
payment of a smaller uniform lump-sum ($50,000) to individuals (who 
would also receive medical benefits), or their survivors, who were 
determined to be eligible for compensation under section 5 of the 
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), 42 U.S.C. 2210 note, by the 
Department of Justice. Primary responsibility for the administration of 
Part B of the Act was assigned to DOL by Executive Order 13179 
(``Providing Compensation to America's Nuclear Weapons Workers'') of 
December 7, 2000 (65 FR 77487).
    The initial version of EEOICPA also created a second program (known 
as Part D of the Act) that required DOE to establish a system by which 
DOE contractor employees (and their eligible survivors) could seek 
assistance from DOE in obtaining state workers' compensation benefits 
if a Physicians Panel determined that the employee in question had 
sustained a covered illness as a result of work-related exposure to a 
toxic substance at a DOE facility. A positive panel finding that was 
accepted by DOE required DOE, to the extent permitted by law, to order 
its contractor not to contest the claim for state workers' compensation 
benefits. However, Congress amended EEOICPA in Subtitle E of Title XXXI 
of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2005, Public Law 108-375, 118 Stat. 1811, 2178 (October 28, 2004), 
by abolishing Part D of the Act and creating a new Part E (codified at 
42 U.S.C. 7385s through 7385s-15) that it assigned to DOL for 
administration. Part E established a new system of variable federal 
payments for DOE contractor employees, uranium workers covered by 
section 5 of RECA, and eligible survivors of such employees.
    The Department's proposed rule would amend certain of the existing 
regulations governing its administration of Parts B and E of EEOICPA to 
conform them to current administrative practice, based on its 
experience administering the Act since 2001, to bring further clarity 
to the regulatory description of the claims adjudication process, and 
to improve the administration of the Act.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 29th day of March, 2016.
Leonard J. Howie III,
Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016-07488 Filed 4-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-CR-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 5, 2016 / Proposed Rules 19519

period for the information collection DOE contractor employees, uranium toward the national goal of achieving
requirements in the proposed rule workers covered by section 5 of RECA, natural visibility conditions in Class I
ended on December 18, 2015, and that and eligible survivors of such areas.
period is not being reopened. employees. DATES: Written comments must be
The notice of proposed rulemaking The Department’s proposed rule received on or before April 26, 2016.
contains changes to update the would amend certain of the existing ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
regulations governing the regulations governing its administration identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R04–
administration of the Energy Employees of Parts B and E of EEOICPA to conform OAR–2015–0518 at http://
Occupational Illness Compensation them to current administrative practice, www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
Program Act of 2000, as amended based on its experience administering instructions for submitting comments.
(EEOICPA or Act), 42 U.S.C. 7384 et the Act since 2001, to bring further Once submitted, comments cannot be
seq., which was originally enacted on clarity to the regulatory description of edited or removed from Regulations.gov.
October 30, 2000. The initial version of the claims adjudication process, and to EPA may publish any comment received
EEOICPA established a compensation improve the administration of the Act. to its public docket. Do not submit
program (known as Part B of the Act) to
Signed at Washington, DC, this 29th day of electronically any information you
provide a uniform lump-sum payment March, 2016. consider to be Confidential Business
of $150,000 and medical benefits as
Leonard J. Howie III, Information (CBI) or other information
compensation to covered employees
who had sustained designated illnesses Director, Office of Workers’ Compensation whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
due to their exposure to radiation, Programs. Multimedia submissions (audio, video,
beryllium or silica while in the [FR Doc. 2016–07488 Filed 4–4–16; 8:45 am] etc.) must be accompanied by a written
performance of duty for DOE and BILLING CODE 4510–CR–P comment. The written comment is
certain of its vendors, contractors and considered the official comment and
subcontractors. Part B of the Act also should include discussion of all points
provides for payment of compensation ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION you wish to make. EPA will generally
to certain survivors of these covered AGENCY not consider comments or comment
employees, and for payment of a smaller contents located outside of the primary
uniform lump-sum ($50,000) to 40 CFR Part 52 submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or
individuals (who would also receive other file sharing system). For
[EPA–R04–OAR–2015–0518; FRL–9944–50- additional submission methods, the full
medical benefits), or their survivors, Region 4]
who were determined to be eligible for EPA public comment policy,
compensation under section 5 of the Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; information about CBI or multimedia
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Regional Haze submissions, and general guidance on
(RECA), 42 U.S.C. 2210 note, by the making effective comments, please visit
Department of Justice. Primary AGENCY: Environmental Protection http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/
responsibility for the administration of Agency. commenting-epa-dockets.
Part B of the Act was assigned to DOL ACTION: Proposed rule. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
by Executive Order 13179 (‘‘Providing Michele Notarianni, Air Regulatory
Compensation to America’s Nuclear SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Management Section, Air Planning and
Weapons Workers’’) of December 7, Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a Implementation Branch, Air, Pesticides
2000 (65 FR 77487). revision to North Carolina’s regional and Toxics Management Division, U.S.
The initial version of EEOICPA also haze State Implementation Plan (SIP), Environmental Protection Agency,
created a second program (known as submitted by the North Carolina Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW.,
Part D of the Act) that required DOE to Department of Environment and Natural Atlanta, Georgia 30303–8960. Ms.
establish a system by which DOE Resources (NC DENR) on October 31, Notarianni can be reached by telephone
contractor employees (and their eligible 2014, that relies on an alternative to at (404) 562–9031 or via electronic mail
survivors) could seek assistance from Best Available Retrofit Technology at Notarianni.Michele@epa.gov.
DOE in obtaining state workers’ (BART) to satisfy BART requirements SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
compensation benefits if a Physicians for electric generating units (EGUs)
Panel determined that the employee in formerly subject to the Clean Air Table of Contents
question had sustained a covered illness Interstate Rule (CAIR). EPA also I. Background for EPA’s Proposed
as a result of work-related exposure to proposes to find that final approval of Action
a toxic substance at a DOE facility. A this SIP revision would correct the
deficiencies that led to EPA’s limited A. Overview of the Regional Haze Rule
positive panel finding that was accepted
by DOE required DOE, to the extent disapproval of the State’s regional haze Regional haze is visibility impairment
permitted by law, to order its contractor SIP on June 7, 2012, and proposes to that is produced by a multitude of
not to contest the claim for state convert EPA’s June 27, 2012, limited sources and activities which are located
workers’ compensation benefits. approval to a full approval. This across a broad geographic area and emit
However, Congress amended EEOICPA submittal addresses the requirements of fine particles (e.g., sulfates, nitrates,
in Subtitle E of Title XXXI of the Ronald the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and organic carbon, elemental carbon, and
W. Reagan National Defense EPA’s rules that require states to prevent soil dust) and their precursors (e.g.,
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005, any future, and remedy any existing, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides
Public Law 108–375, 118 Stat. 1811, manmade impairment of visibility in (NOX), and in some cases, ammonia and
2178 (October 28, 2004), by abolishing mandatory Class I areas caused by volatile organic compounds). Fine
Part D of the Act and creating a new Part emissions of air pollutants from particle precursors react in the
E (codified at 42 U.S.C. 7385s through numerous sources located over a wide atmosphere to form fine particulate
7385s-15) that it assigned to DOL for geographic area (also referred to as the matter (PM2.5) which impairs visibility
administration. Part E established a new regional haze program). States are by scattering and absorbing light.
system of variable federal payments for required to assure reasonable progress Visibility impairment reduces the

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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; reopening of comment period.
Dates		The comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking published on November 18, 2015 (80 FR 72296) and extended at 81 FR 2787 (January 19, 2016) is reopened. The Department will accept written comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking from interested parties that are submitted from April 5, 2016 through May 9, 2016.
Contact		Rachel P. Leiton, Director, Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, Room C-3321, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210, Telephone: 202-693- 0081 (this is not a toll-free number).
FR Citation		81 FR 19518
RIN Number		1240-AA08

81 FR 19518 - Claims for Compensation Under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act

DEPARTMENT OF LABOROffice of Workers' Compensation Programs

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 65 (April 5, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs