Proposed Collection; Comment Request [09/22/2003]
Volume 68, Number 183, Page 55064
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment Standards Administration
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 preclearance
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 Employment Standards Administration is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed collection: Notice of Issuance of
Insurance Policy (CM-921). A copy of the proposed 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 November 21, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone
(202) 693-0418, fax (202) 693-1451, Email bell.hazel@dol.gov. Please
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or Email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 423 of the Black Lung Benefits Act, as amended, specifies
that a responsible coal mine operator must be insured for payment of
black lung benefits and outlines the items each contract of insurance
must contain. It enumerates the civil penalties to which a responsible
coal mine operator is subject, should these procedures not be followed.
Further, 20 CFR Ch. VI, Subpart C, Sec. 726.208-213 requires that each
insurance carrier report to the Division of Coal Mine Workers'
Compensation (DCMWC) each policy and endorsement issued, cancelled, or
reviewed with respect to responsible operators, on such a form as DCMWC
may require. The CM-921 is the form completed by the insurance carrier
and forwarded to DCMWC for review. This information collection is
currently approved for use through March 31, 2004.
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
information collection in order to identify operators who have secured
insurance for payment of black lung benefits as required by the Act.
Type of Review: Extension
Agency: Employment Standards Administration
Title: Notice of Issuance of Insurance Policy.
OMB Number: 1215-0059
Agency Number: CM-921
Affected Public: Business or other for profit and State, Local or
Tribal Government.
Total Respondents: 60
Total Responses: 4,000
Time per Response: 10 minutes
Frequency: Annually
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 667
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $1,800.00
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: September 16, 2003.
Bruce Bohanon,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-24051 Filed 9-18-03; 12:01 pm
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