2010-31681. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Ventilation Plan and Main Fan Maintenance Record

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) hereby announces the submission of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, “Ventilation Plan and Main Fan Maintenance Record,” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

DATES:

Submit comments on or before January 18, 2011.

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 from the RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or sending an e-mail to [e-mail].

Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: [phone]/Fax: [phone] (these are not toll-free numbers), e-mail: [e-mail].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 section 103(h), 30 U.S.C. 813, authorizes the MSHA to collect information necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety and health of miners. Underground mines usually present harsh and hostile working environments. Pursuant to the statutory authority, the MSHA has issued regulations under which a mine operator is required to prepare a written plan of the mine ventilation system. The plan is required to be updated at least annually. Upon written request of the MSHA District Manager, the plan or revisions must be submitted to the MSHA for review and comment. In addition, the main ventilation fans for an underground mine must be maintained either according to manufacturers' recommendations or a written periodic schedule. Upon request of an authorized representative of the Secretary of Labor, this fan maintenance schedule must be made available for review. The records assure compliance with the standard and may serve as a warning mechanism for possible ventilation problems before they occur.

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 it is currently 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 if the collection of information does not display a currently valid OMB control number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection under OMB Control Number 1219-0016. The current OMB approval is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2010; however, it should be noted that information collections submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For additional information, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on September 16, 2010, (75 FR 56562).

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 ensure the appropriate consideration, comments should reference OMB Control Number 1219-0016. 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: Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

Title of Collection: Ventilation Plan and Main Fan Maintenance Record.

OMB Control Number: 1219-0016.

Affected Public: Private sector, Business or other for-profit.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 245.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 272.

Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 5894.

Total Estimated Annual Costs Burden: $0.

Dated: December 13, 2010.

Michel Smyth,

Departmental Clearance Officer.