Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[10/05/2004]
Volume 69, Number 192, Page 59619
[[Page 59619]]
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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: (1) Comparability of
Current Work to Coal Mine Employment; (2) Coal Mine Employment
Affidavit; (3) Affidavit of Deceased Miner's Condition. 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 December 6, 2004.
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, e-mail bell.hazel@dol.gov. Please
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or e-
mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Black Lung Benefits Act of 1977, as amended, 30 U.S.C. 901 et
seq., provides for the payment of benefits to coal miners who have
contracted black lung disease as a result of coal mine employment, and
their dependents and survivors. Once a miner has been identified as
having performed non-coal mine work subsequent to coal mine employment,
the miner or the miner's survivor is asked to complete a CM-913 to
compare coal mine work to non-coal mine work. This employment
information along with medical information is used to establish whether
the miner is totally disabled due to black lung disease caused by coal
mine employment. The CM-918 is an affidavit used to gather coal mine
employment evidence only when primary evidence, such as pay stubs, W-2
forms, employer and union records, and Social Security records are
unavailable or incomplete. The CM-1093 is an affidavit form for
recording lay medical evidence, used in survivors' claims in which
there is no medical evidence that addresses the miner's pulmonary or
respiratory condition. This information collection is currently
approved for use through April 30, 2005.
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 of the extension of this
information collection in order to carry out its responsibility to
determine eligibility for black lung benefits.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Titles: (1) Comparability of Current Work to Coal Mine Employment;
(2) Coal Mine Employment Affidavit; (3) Affidavit of Deceased Miner's
Condition.
OMB Number: 1215-0056.
Agency Numbers: CM-913, CM-918, CM-1093.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
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Time per
Forms Total response (in Burden hours
responses minutes)
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CM-913.......................................................... 1,350 30 675
CM-918.......................................................... 75 10 13
CM-1093......................................................... 75 20 25
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Total....................................................... 1,500 .............. 713
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Total Respondents: 1,500.
Total Annual responses: 1,500.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 713.
Frequency: On occasion.
Total Burden Cost (Capital/Startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (Operating/Maintenance): $600.00.
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 28, 2004.
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. 04-22329 Filed 10-4-04; 8:45 am
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