Extension Request for Black Lung Benefits Claim Forms CM-911 and CM-911a

Content

ACTION:

Request for public comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information
collection request (ICR) titled, “Miner's Claim for Benefits Under the Black Lung Benefit's Act (CM-911) and Employment History
(CM-911a)”. 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 June 16, 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:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments for OWCP-2026-0232. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments,
to https://www.regulations.gov 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.

• 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. Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the following way:

• Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit DOL-OWCP, Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Suite C3520-DCMWC, Washington,
DC 20210.

• OWCP will post your comment as well as any attachments, except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in
the docket at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Anjanette Suggs, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, at suggs.anjanette@dol.gov (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 with 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 (BLBA), (30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) provides benefits to coal miners who are totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) and to certain survivors
of miners. Miners entitled to benefits also receive medical benefits for treatment related to their pneumoconiosis and resulting
disability. A miner who applies for black lung benefits must complete the CM 911 (Miner's Claim for Benefits Under the Black
Lung Benefit's Act). The completed form gives basic identifying information about the applicant and is the beginning of the
development of the black lung claim. 20 CFR 725.304(a) authorizes this information collection. The CM-911a (Employment History),
when completed, provides a complete history of the miner's employment and helps to establish whether the individual currently
or formerly worked in the nation's coal mines and how long that employment lasted. 20 CFR 725.404(a) authorizes this information
collection. This information collection is currently approved for use through October 31, 2026.

This information collection is subject to the 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 1240-0038.

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 Miner's Claim for Benefits Under
the Black Lung Benefit's Act and Employment History. OWCP is particularly interested in comments that:

• 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;
• 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;
• Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and • 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 https://regulations.gov and at DOL-OWCP located at 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room S3524, 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 Miner's Claim for Benefits Under the Black Lung Benefit's Act and Employment
History. 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: Extension without Change of a Currently Approved Collection.

Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

OMB Number: 1240-0038.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Number of Respondents: 5,400.

Number of Responses: 10,800.

Annual Burden Hours: 9,450 hours.

Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $3,137.

OWCP Forms: Miner's Claim for Benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act CM-911 and Employment History CM-911a.

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 https://www.reginfo.gov.

Anjanette Suggs, Agency Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2026-07510 Filed 4-16-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-CR-P

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