2024-07974. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Training Plans and Records of Training, for Underground Miners and Miners Working at Surface Mines and Surface Areas of Underground Mines

ACTION:

Notice of availability; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES:

The OMB will consider all written comments that the agency receives on or before May 16, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Howell by telephone at 202-693-6782, or by email at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) Public Law 95-164, as amended, recognizes that education and training is an important element of Federal efforts to make the nation's mines safe. Section 115(a) of the Mine Act states that “each operator of a coal or other mine shall have a health and safety training program which shall be approved by the Secretary.” 30 CFR 48.3 and 48.23 require training plans for underground and surface mines, respectively. Training plans are required to be submitted for approval to the MSHA District Manager for the area in which the mine is located. These standards are intended to ensure that miners will be effectively trained in matters affecting their health and safety, with the goal of reducing the occurrence of injury and illness in the nation's mines. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on September 18, 2023 (88 FR 63978).

Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

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 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 OMB Control Number. See5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.

Agency: DOL-MSHA.

Title of Collection: Training Plans and Records of Training, for Underground Miners and Miners Working at Surface Mines and Surface Areas of Underground Mines.

OMB Control Number: 1219-0009.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profits.

Number of Respondents: 65,494.

Frequency: On occasion.

Number of Responses: 130,055.

Annual Burden Hours: 12,434 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $394,856.

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

Michael Howell,

Senior Paperwork Reduction Act Analyst.