[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 208 (Thursday, October 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64260-64261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27565]


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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 extension collection of the following 
information collection: Notice of Issuance of Insurance Policy, CM-921. 
Copies of the proposed information collection request can be obtained 
by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this 
Notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before December 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0339 (this is not a toll-free number), fax (202) 693-1451.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 423 of the Black Lung Benefits Act, as amended, specifies 
that a responsible coal mine operator must be insured for payment of 
black lung benefits and outlines the items each contract of insurance 
must contain. It enumerates the civil penalties to which a responsible 
coal mine operator is subject, should these procedures not be followed. 
Further, 20 CFR Ch. VI subpart C, 726.208-213 requires that each 
insurance carrier report to the Division of Coal Mine Workers' 
Compensation (DCMWC) each policy and endorsement issued, cancelled, or 
reviewed with respect to responsible operators, on such a form as DCMWC 
may require. The CM-921 is the form completed by the insurance carrier 
and forwarded to DCMWC for review.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> 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 identify operators who have secured 
insurance for payment of black lung benefits as required by the Act.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Notice of Issuance of Insurance Policy.
    OMB Number: 1215-0059.
    Agency Number: CM-921.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Total Respondents: 6/54.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Total Responses: 3,200/800.
    Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 667.
    Total Burden Cost: (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost: (operating/maintenance): $1,640.
    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.


[[Page 64261]]


    Dated: October 20, 2000.
Margaret J. Sherrill,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-27565 Filed 10-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-48-M