[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 80 (Monday, April 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20660-20661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11110]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public
Comment and Recommendations; Hazardous Condition Complaints
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a preclearance
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to
ensure that 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 on respondents can be properly assessed.
Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the
information collection related to the submission of hazardous
conditions complaints addressed in 30 CFR 43.2, 43.4, 43.7, and 43.8.
MSHA is particularly interested in comments which:
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 submissions of responses.
A copy of the proposed information collection request can be
obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the For Further
Information Contact section of this notice.
DATES: Submit comments on or before June 26, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Room 627,
Arlington, VA 22203-1984. Commenters are encouraged to send their
comments on a computer disk, or via E-mail to psilvey@msha.gov, along
with an original printed copy. Ms. Silvey can be reached at (703) 235-
1910 (voice) or (703) 235-5551 (facsimile).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
George M. Fesak, Director, Office of Program Evaluation and Information
Resources, U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Room 715, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203-
1984. Mr. Fesak can be reached at gfesak@msha.gov (Internet E-mail),
(703) 235-8378 (voice), or (703) 235-1563 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Under Section 103(g) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of
1977 (Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 813(g), a representative of miners or any
individual miner may submit a written notice of an alleged violation of
the Mine Act or mandatory health or safety standard or an imminent
danger situation. Such notification requires MSHA to make an immediate
inspection. A copy of the notice must be provided to the operator.
Title 30, CFR part 43 implements Section 103(g) of the Mine Act.
The regulations outline the procedures for submitting notification of
the alleged violation and the actions which MSHA must take after
receiving the notice. If MSHA determines that a special inspection is
not warranted, a written notice of negative finding shall be issued as
soon as possible following the determination. A miner or a
representative of miners has the option of requesting in writing an
information review of MSHA's decision that no inspection is warranted
or in those instances where an MSHA inspector has refused to issue a
citation or order with regard to the violation alleged to have existed
by the miner.
II. Current Actions
MSHA is required to conduct inspections whenever and however
complaints of hazardous conditions are made to the Agency by miners or
representatives of miners. This is an Agency responsibility mandated by
the provisions of Section 103(g) of the Act and implemented through the
provisions of 30 C.F.R. Part 43. MSHA has minimized the paper work
burden by providing alternative toll free telephone extensions for
verbal and anonymous complaints and providing for the reduction of such
complaints to written format by agency personnel. MSHA's effectiveness
in enforcing the mandatory safety and health standards is dependent in
part on its ability to provide a timely response to hazardous condition
complaints in order to retain the confidence of miners and to encourage
compliance with health and safety standards between the mandated,
periodic inspection events at underground and surface mines and mine
facilities.
Type of Review: Revision (with changes to include Sec. 43.2 and
43.8).
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Hazardous Conditions Compliants--30 CFR Sec. 43.2, 43.4,
43.7, and 43.8.
OMB Number: 1219-0014.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit institutions.
[[Page 20661]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Total time per Burden
Cite/reference Total respondents Frequency responses response (hours)
(hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43.2 General................. 272 verbal 350 On occasion........... 622 .2 124
written 622
total.
43.4 Giving notice........... All burden
included under
43.2.
43.7 Informal review......... 15............... On occasion........... 15 .2 3
43.8 Informal review......... All burden
included under
43.7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.................... 637.............. On occasion........... 637 .2 127
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $8.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a
matter of public record.
Dated: April 21, 1998.
George M. Fesak,
Director, Program Evaluation and Information Resources.
[FR Doc. 98-11110 Filed 4-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M
