04-23802. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION:

Notice.

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 for the following medical reports: CM-933, Roentgenographic Interpretation; CM-933b, Roentgenographic Quality Rereading; CM-988, Medical History and Examination for Coal Mine Workers' Pneumoconiosis; CM-1159, Report of Arterial Blood Gas Study; and CM-2907, Report of Ventilatory Study. 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 27, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone [phone], fax [phone], Email [e-mail]. Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or Email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Black Lung Act Benefits Act of 1977 as amended, 20 U.S.C. 901 et. seq. and 20 CFR 718.102 set forth criteria for the administration and interpretation of x-rays. When a miner applies for benefits, the Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC) is required to schedule a series of four diagnostic tests to help establish eligibility for black lung benefits. Each of the diagnostic tests has its own form that sets forth the medical results. The forms are: CM-933, Roentgenographic Interpretation; CM-933b, Roentgenographic Quality Rereading; CM-988, Medical History and Examination for Coal Mine Workers' Pneumoconiosis; CM-1159, Report of Arterial Blood Gas Study; and CM-2907, Report of Ventilatory Study. 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 this information in order to carry out its responsibility to determine eligibility for black lung benefits.

Type of Review: Revision.

Agency: Employment Standards Administration.

Title: CM-933, Roentgenographic Interpretation; CM-933b, Roentgenographic Quality Rereading; CM-988, Medical History and Examination for Coal Mine Workers' Pneumoconiosis; CM-1159, Report of Arterial Blood Gas Study; and CM-2907, Report of Ventilatory Study.

OMB Number: 1215-0090.

Agency Number: CM-933, CM-933b, CM-988, CM-1159 and CM-2907.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institution.

Total Respondents: 17,500.

Total Annual responses: 17,500.

Form	Number of respondents	Annual responses	Per response (in minutes)	Total burden hours
CM-933	3,500	3,500	5	292
CM-933b	3,500	3,500	3	175
CM-988	3,500	3,500	30	1,750
CM-1159	3,500	3,500	15	875
CM-2907	3,500	3,500	20	1,167
Totals	17,500	17,500		4,259

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,259.

Frequency: On occasion.

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: October 19, 2004.

Bruce Bohanon,

Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.