Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC)
Comment Request
On October 30, 2017, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) published a Proposed Collection of Information and Comment Request seeking feedback on a new information collection related to the Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA) self-insurance program. 82 Federal Register 50166. The information collection would provide OWCP with sufficient information to determine whether a coal mine operator should be (or continue to be) authorized to self-insure. The information would also allow OWCP to determine the security amount a coal mine operator must deposit to guarantee that it will be able to meet its BLBA obligations. To facilitate this process, OWCP developed three new forms: CM-2017, CM-2017a, and CM-2017b.
OWCP carefully considered the comments received in response to the proposal and has made several changes in the proposed collection. On March 22, 2019, the Department of Labor published a second Notice and Request for Comments, noting that it had submitted this information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and inviting interested parties to submit comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at OMB. 84 Federal Register 10839. The proposed forms and the supporting statement for the information collection are available on the RegInfo.gov website. The supporting statement includes OWCP's response to the public comments received and explains the changes made to the information collection since the first proposal.
To submit comments, please follow the instructions in the Notice. OMB must receive your comments on or before April 22, 2019.
More information on the Black Lung Program and the Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation is available online.
