Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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 two information collections: (1) Notice of Issuance

of Insurance Policy, Form CM-921; and (2) Request for Employment

Information, Form CA-1027. Copies of the proposed information

collection requests 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 10, 1997. 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.

ADDRESSEES: Contact Ms. Margaret Sherrill at the U.S. Department of

Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room S-3201, Washington, D.C.

20210, telephone (202) 219-7601. The Fax number is (202) 219-6592.

(These are not toll-free numbers.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Sections 423 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as

amended specifies that a responsible coal mine operator (RMO) must be

insured and outlines the requirements for each contract of insurance,

including civil penalties to which a RMO is subject provided prescribed

procedures are not followed. In addition, 20 CFR Part V, Subpart C,

726.208-213 requires that each insurance carrier shall report each

policy and endorsement issued, canceled, or reviewed with respect to

RMOs to the OWCP, Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation, and that

separate reports shall be submitted for multiple operators so covered.

The CM-921 is completed by the insurance carrier and forwarded to the

Department for review.

II. Current Actions

The Department of Labor (DOL) seeks extension of approval to

collect this information in order to carry out its responsibility to

meet the statutory requirements to identify those RMOs who have secured

insurance for payment of Black Lung benefits.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Employment Standards Administration.

Title: Notice of Issuance of Insurance Policy.

OMB Number: 1215-0059.

Agency Numbers: CM-921.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; State, Local or

Tribal Government.

Total Respondents: 60.

Frequency: Annually.

Total Responses: 4,000.

Average Time Per Response for Reporting: 10 minutes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 667.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $1,600.000.

I. Background

Payment of Compensation for partial disability to injured Federal

employees is required under 5 U.S.C. 8106. This section also requires

the Office of Workers' Compensation to obtain information regarding a

claimant's earnings during a period of eligibility to compensation. The

CA-1027 is used to obtain earnings information for an individual

employed by a private employer and is used as criteria for determining

the claimants entitlement to compensation benefits.

II. Current Actions

The Department of Labor (DOL) seeks extension of approval to

collect this information in order to carry out its responsibility to

meet the statutory requirements of the Federal Employees' Compensation

Act to determine the appropriate level of benefits.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Employment Standards Administration.

Title: Request for Employment Information.

OMB Number: 1215-0105.

Agency Numbers: CA-1027.

Affected Public: Business or for profit.

Total Respondents: 1,000.

Frequency: On occasion.

Total Responses: 1,000.

Average Time Per Response for Reporting: 15 minutes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 250.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $320.00.

Dated: October 6, 1997.

Cecily A. Rayburn,

Director, Division of Financial Management, Office of Management,

Administration and Planning, Employment Standards Administration.

[FR Doc. 97-27006 Filed 10-9-97; 8:45 am]

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