Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[05/15/2007]
Volume 72, Number 93, Page 27336-27337
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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: Operator Response to
Schedule for Submission of Additional Evidence (CM-2970) and Operator
Response to Notice of Claim (CM-2970A). 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 July 16, 2007.
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 Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation administers the
Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) which provides benefits
to coal miners totally disabled due to pneumoniosis, and their
surviving dependents. When the Division of Coal Mine Workers'
Compensation (DCMWC) makes a preliminary analysis of a claimant's
eligibility for benefits, and if a coal mine operator has been
identified as potentially liable for payment of those benefits, the
responsible operator is notified of the preliminary analysis.
Regulations require that a coal mine operator be identified and
notified of potential liability as early in the adjudication process as
possible. Forms CM-970 and CM-970a are now obsolete and renewal will
not be requested in the extension request for information collection
1215-0058. The CM-970 and CM-970a will be replaced by CM-2970 and CM-
2970a. Regulatory authority is found in 20 CFR 725.410 for the CM-2970
and 20 CFR 725.408 for the CM-2970A. This information collection is
currently approved for use through October 31, 2007.
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 extension of approval to collect
this information in order to carry out its responsibility to administer
the Black Lung Benefits Act.
Type of Review: Revision.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Operator Response to Schedule for Submission of Additional
Evidence (CM-2970), Operator Response to Notice of Claim (CM-2970A).
OMB Number: 1215-0058.
Agency Number: CM-2970 and CM-2970A.
[[Page 27337]]
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Respondents: 8,000.
Total Annual responses: 8,000.
Frequency: On occasion.
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Average time
Form Number of per response Burden hours
respondents (minutes)
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CM-2970......................................................... 4,000 10 667
CM-2970A........................................................ 4,000 15 1,000
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Total....................................................... 8,000 .............. 1,667
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Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,667.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $3,360.00.
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: May 10, 2007.
Hazel Bell,
Acting Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control,
Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration
and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-9291 Filed 5-14-07; 8:45 am]
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