Notice2026-10385

Proposed Revision of Information Collection; Claim Adjudication Process for the Alleged Presence of Pneumoconiosis

Primary source

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Published
May 26, 2026

Issuing agencies

Labor DepartmentWorkers' Compensation Programs Office

Abstract

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, "Roentgenographic Interpretation" (Form CM-933), "Roentgenographic Quality Rereading" (Form CM-933a), "Medical History and Examination for Coal Mine Workers' Pneumoconiosis" (Form CM-988), "Report of Arterial Blood Gas Study" (Form CM-1159), and "Pulmonary Function Tests" (Form CM- 2907). This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 100 (Tuesday, May 26, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 26, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30727-30728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10385]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs

[OMB Control No. 1240-0023]


Proposed Revision of Information Collection; Claim Adjudication 
Process for the Alleged Presence of Pneumoconiosis

AGENCY: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments 
concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the 
information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Roentgenographic 
Interpretation'' (Form CM-933), ``Roentgenographic Quality Rereading'' 
(Form CM-933a), ``Medical History and Examination for Coal Mine 
Workers' Pneumoconiosis'' (Form CM-988), ``Report of Arterial Blood Gas 
Study'' (Form CM-1159), and ``Pulmonary Function Tests'' (Form CM-
2907). This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

DATES: All comments must be received on or before July 27, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments as follows. Please note that late, 
untimely filed comments will not be considered.
    Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments in the following 
way:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments for WCPO-2026-0364. 
Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> will be posted to the docket, with no changes. 
Because your comment will be made public, you are responsible for 
ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential 
information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such 
as your or anyone else's Social Security number or confidential 
business information.
    <bullet> If your comment includes confidential information that you 
do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a 
written/paper submission and mark it confidential.
    Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the 
following way:
    <bullet> Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit DOL-OWCP, Division of 
Coal Mine Workers' Compensation, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Suite 
C3520-DCMWC, Washington, DC 20210.
    <bullet> OWCP will post your comment as well as any attachments, 
except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in the 
docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anjanette Suggs, Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dcafa9bbbbaff2bdb2b6bdb2b9a8a8b99cb8b3b0f2bbb3aa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c4b7b1a3a3b7eaa5aaaea5aaa1b0b0a184a0aba8eaa3abb2">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The DOL, as part of continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to 
provide the general public and Federal agencies an opportunity to 
comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information before 
submitting them to the OMB for final approval. This program helps to 
ensure 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 can be properly assessed.
    The Black Lung Benefits Act, 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., provides 
benefits to coal miners who are totally disabled by black lung disease 
arising out of coal mine employment, and certain dependents and 
survivors. When a miner applies for benefits, the Division of Coal Mine 
Workers' Compensation (DCMWC) is required to give the miner an 
opportunity to establish his or her eligibility by providing a complete 
pulmonary evaluation, including a chest radiograph (X-ray), physical 
examination, pulmonary function tests, and arterial blood gas study. 30 
U.S.C. 923(b); 20 CFR 718.101, 725.406. Forms CM-933, 933b, 988, 1159, 
and 2907 are used by physicians to report the results of these 
diagnostic tests. The information collected on these forms is used to 
determine whether the miner is totally disabled due to black lung 
disease caused by coal mine employment. The Black Lung Benefits Act, 30 
U.S.C. 901 et seq., and implementing regulation, 20 CFR 725.406, 
authorize this information collection.
    The form contains information required by medical institutions and 
private physicians to enable them to release pertinent medical 
information. This information collection is currently approved for use 
through November 30th, 2026.
    This information collection is subject to PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless the OMB under the PRA approves it and displays a 
currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that 
does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 
1320.6.
    Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the 
contact shown in the ADDRESSES section. Written comments will receive 
consideration, and be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval of the final ICR. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention 1240-0023.
    Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this 
ICR and posted on the internet, without redaction. The DOL encourages 
commenters not to include personally identifiable information, 
confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information 
in any comments.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    OWCP is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to the Claim Adjudication Process for the Alleged 
Presence of Pneumoconiosis. OWCP is particularly interested in comments 
that:
    <bullet> Evaluate whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility;
    <bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of OWCP's estimate of the burden 
related to the information collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used in the estimate;

[[Page 30728]]

    <bullet> Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and
    <bullet> Minimize the burden of the information collection 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 
submission of responses.
    Documents related to this information collection request are 
available at <a href="https://regulations.gov">https://regulations.gov</a> and at DOL-OWCP located at 200 
Constitution Avenue NW, Suite C3520-DCMWC Washington, DC 20210. 
Questions about the information collection requirements may be directed 
to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of this 
notice.

III. Current Actions

    This information collection request concerns ``Claim Adjudication 
Process for the Alleged Presence of Pneumoconiosis''. OWCP has updated 
the data with respect to the number of respondents, responses, burden 
hours, and burden costs supporting this information collection request 
from the previous information collection request.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    OMB Number: 1240-0023.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit, and not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 7,500.
    Number of Responses: 37,500.
    Annual Burden Hours: 11,625 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $0.00.
    OWCP Forms: Roentgenographic Interpretation, (CM-933), 
Roentgenographic Quality Rereading, (CM-933b), Medical History and 
Examination for Coal Mine Workers' Pneumoconiosis, (CM-988), Report of 
Arterial Blood Gas Study, (CM-1159), and Pulmonary Function Tests, (CM-
2907).
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized in 
the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the 
proposed information collection request; they will become a matter of 
public record and will be available at <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov">https://www.reginfo.gov</a>.

Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-10385 Filed 5-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CR-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on May 26, 2026.

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