[Federal Register: April 26, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 80)]
[Notices]
[Page 22571-22572]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26ap04-119]
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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 Controversion
(CM-970), Operator Response (CM-970A), 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 June 25, 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 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 an initial finding that an applicant is
eligible 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 initial finding. The CM-970 gives the
operator an opportunity to controvert the liability. The CM-970 is used
for all claims filed before January 19, 2001. Regulations require that
a coal mine operator be identified and notified of potential liability
as early in the adjudication process as possible. The CM-970A is sent
to the operator with the Notice of Claim notifying the operator of
potential liability of payment for benefits. The CM-970A gives the
operator an opportunity to agree or disagree with the identification.
The CM-970A is used for all claims filed before January 19, 2001. The
CM-2970 and CM-2970A serve the same purposes as the CM-970 and CM-970A
these forms will be used for all claims filed after January 19, 2001.
Regulatory authority is found in 20 CFR 725.412 for the CM-970, 20 CFR
725.413 for the CM-970A, 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 September 30, 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 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: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Operator Controversion (CM-970), Operator Response (CM-
970A), 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-970, CM-970A, CM-2970, CM-2970A.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; State, Local or
Tribal Government.
Total Respondents: 8,200.
Total Annual responses: 8,200.
Frequency: On occasion.
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Number of Average time per response
Form respondents (minutes) Burden hours
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CM-970........................................ 100 15.............................. 25
[[Page 22572]]
CM-970A....................................... 100 10.............................. 17
CM-2970....................................... 4,000 10.............................. 667
CM-2970A...................................... 4,000 15.............................. 1,000
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Total................................... 8,200 ................................ 1,709
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Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,709.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $3,280.00.
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: April 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. 04-9340 Filed 4-23-04; 8:45 am]