Proposed Collection; Comment Request [02/14/2003]
Volume 68, Number 31, Page 7615
[[Page 7615]]
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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 Termination,
Suspension, Reduction or Increase in Benefit Payments (CM-908). 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 April 15, 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 hbell@fenix2.dol-esa.gov.
Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or
Email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 as amended (30 U.S.C. 942).
The Act implementing regulations at 20 CFR 725.621 necessitate this
information collection. Under the Act, responsible coal mine operators
or their representatives must provide benefit payments to eligible coal
miners and dependents of coal miners who have contracted
pneumoconiosis. Responsible operators who pay benefits are required to
report any changes in the benefit amount, and the reasons for the
change, to the Department of Labor. This information collection is
currently approved for use through August 31, 2003.
II. Review Focus
The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments
which:
[sbull] 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;
[sbull] 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;
[sbull] Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information
to be collected; and
[sbull] 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 carry out its responsibility to
ensure that Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation regulations are
followed and that the new benefit amount is accurate and timely.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Notice of Termination, Suspension, Reduction or Increase in
Benefit Payments.
OMB Number: 1215-0064.
Agency Number: CM-908.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Total Respondents: 325.
Total Responses: 9,000.
Time per Response: 12 minutes.
Frequency: On Occasion (Reporting).
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,800.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $3,600.
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: February 10, 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. 03-3669 Filed 2-13-03; 8:45 am
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