83 FR 30783 - Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 126 (June 29, 2018)

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. 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 83, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 30783]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14095]



[[Page 30783]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


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

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. 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 August 28, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by mail, delivery service, or by 
hand to Ms. Yoon Ferguson, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Ave. NW, Room S-3323, Washington, DC 20210; by fax to (202) 354-9647; 
or by Email to [email protected]. Please use only one method of 
transmission for comments (mail/delivery, fax, or Email). Please note 
that comments submitted after the comment period will not be 
considered.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    I. Background: The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) 
administers the Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA), 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq. 
Coal mine operators, their representatives, or their insurers 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 BLBA and 20 CFR 725.621 necessitate this 
information collection. This information collection is currently 
approved for use through August 31, 2018.
    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 approval for 
the extension of this currently approved information collection to 
insure that the correct benefits are paid by RO's. If this information 
were not gathered, there would be no way to insure that black lung 
beneficiaries who receive benefit payments from RO's are receiving the 
correct amount of benefits.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    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: 3,900.
    Average Time per Response: 12 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 780.
    Frequency: On occasion and annually.
    Total Burden Cost (Capital/Startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (Operating/Maintenance): $3,721.
    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: June 25, 2018.
Yoon Ferguson,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, US 
Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2018-14095 Filed 6-28-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-CK-P