2013-26747. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Application for a Permit To Fire More Than 20 Boreholes and/or for the Use of Nonpermissible Blasting Units, Explosives, and Shot-Firing Units; Posting ...

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, “Application for a Permit to Fire More than 20 Boreholes and/or for the Use of Nonpermissible Blasting Units, Explosives, and Shot-firing Units; Posting Notices of Misfires,” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

DATES:

Submit comments on or before December 9, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free of charge from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAViewICR?​ref_​nbr=​201304-1219-004 (this link will only become active on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or sending an email to [e-mail].

Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-MSHA, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Fax: [phone] (this is not a toll-free number), email: [e-mail]. Commenters are encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments to the U.S. Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Attn: Information Policy and Assessment Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210, email: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [e-mail].

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This ICR seeks to maintain PRA authority for the process by which a coal mine operator applies for a permit to fire more than 20 shots and to use nonpermissible explosives and/or shot-firing units. An application contains the safeguards the mine operator will employ to protect miners while using requested blasting items. Federal Mine Safety and Health Act section 313, 30 U.S.C. 873, authorizes these applications. Regulations 30 CFR 75.1321 outlines the procedures by which a permit may be issued for the firing of more than 20 boreholes and/or the use of nonpermissible shot-firing units in underground coal mines. Regulations 30 CFR 77.1909-1 outlines the procedures by which a coal mine operator may apply for a permit to use nonpermissible explosives and/or shot-firing units in the blasting of rock while sinking a shaft or slope in an underground coal mine. In addition, this ICR seeks to maintain PRA authorization for the 30 CFR 75.1327 requirement that a qualified person post a warning to prohibit entry at each accessible entrance to the affected area when explosives have misfired.

These information collections are 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 it is approved by the OMB under the PRA 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. The DOL obtains OMB approval for these information collections under Control Number 1219-0025.

OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) years without renewal, and the current approval for this control number is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2013. The DOL seeks to extend PRA authorization for these information collections for three (3) more years, without any change to existing requirements. The DOL also notes that existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on July 3, 2013 (78 FR 40195).

Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1219-0025. The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:

• 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 submission of responses.

Agency: DOL-MSHA.

Title of Collection: Application for a Permit to Fire More than 20 Boreholes and/or for the Use of Nonpermissible Blasting Units, Explosives, and Shot-firing Units; Posting Notices of Misfires.

OMB Control Number: 1219-0025.

Affected Public: Private Sector—businesses or other for-profits.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 67.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 88.

Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 74.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $348.

Dated: November 4, 2013.

Michel Smyth,

Departmental Clearance Officer.