Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[12/27/2004]
Volume 69, Number 247, Page 77271-77272
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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: Report of Changes That May
Affect Your Black Lung Benefits (CM-929). 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 February 25, 2005.
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 Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 as amended, 30
U.S.C. 941, and 20 CFR 725.533(e) authorizes the Division of Coal Mine
Workers' Compensation (DCMWC) to pay compensation to coal miner
beneficiaries. Once a miner or survivor is found eligible for benefits,
the primary beneficiary is requested to report certain changes that may
affect black lung benefits. The CM-929 is used to help determine
continuing eligibility of primary beneficiaries receiving black lung
benefits from the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. The CM-929 is
completed by the beneficiary to report factors that may affect his or
her benefits, including income, marital status, receipt of state
workers' compensation and dependents' status. This information
collection is currently approved for use through June 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
verify the accuracy of information in the beneficiary's claims file,
and to identify changes in the beneficiary's status, to ensure that the
amount of compensation being paid the beneficiary is accurate.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Titles: Report of Changes That May Affect Your Black Lung Benefits.
OMB Number: 1215-0084.
Agency Numbers: CM-929.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Total Respondents: 51,000.
Total Annual Responses: 51,000.
[[Page 77272]]
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,505.
Estimated Time Per Response: 5 to 8 minutes.
Frequency: Biennially.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
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: December 20, 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. 04-28189 Filed 12-23-04; 8:45 am
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