[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 142 (Friday, July 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39908-39909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19866]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public
Comment and Recommendations; Application for Waiver of Surface
Facilities Requirement
ACTION: Notice.
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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 Application for Waiver of Surface
Facilities Requirement. 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,
[[Page 39909]]
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 September 22, 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
Title 30 Sections 71.400 through 71.402 and 75.1712-1 through
75.1712-3 require coal mine operators to provide bathing facilities,
clothing change rooms, and sanitary flush toilet facilities in a
location that is convenient for use of the miners. If the operator is
unable to meet any or all of the requirements, he/she may apply for a
waiver. Title 30 CFR Sections 71.403, 71.404, 75.1712-4 and 75.1712-5
provide procedures by which an operator may apply for and be granted a
waiver. Applications are filed with the District Manager for the
district in which the mine is located and contain the name and address
of the mine operator, name and location of the mine, and a detailed
statement of the grounds upon which the waiver is requested and the
period of time for which it is requested. Waivers for surface coal
mines may be granted for a period not to exceed one year; requests for
an annual extension may be sought by the operator. Waivers for
underground coal mines may be granted for extended periods of time
based on the information provided by the mine operator in the request
for a waiver.
The purpose for the waiver is to assure the conditions at the mine
make it impractical for the mine operator to provide the required
facilities, and to document the circumstances for granting of the
waiver. This gives the mine operator written documentation that the
requirement(s) of the standard have been waived by MSHA and MSHA
inspection personnel will not require the mine operator to comply with
the part(s) of the standard included in the waiver. Without this
written documentation MSHA inspection personnel can not be assured that
a mine operator is not required to provide the required sanitary
facilities.
II. Current Actions
This information is necessary in order to assure the mine operator
is not required to provide the sanitary facilities as required by the
standard. This information provides written documentation that MSHA has
waived the requirements for the applicable part(s) of the standard as
outlined in the waiver.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Application for Waiver of Surface Facilities Requirement.
OMB Number: 1219-0024.
Agency Number: MSHA 212.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
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Average time
Cite/reference Total Frequency Total per response: Burden (hrs.)
respondents responses (minutes)
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71.403 71.404, Initial......................... 204 On Occassion........................... 204 30 102
71.403 71.404, Extensions...................... 519 Annually............................... 519 20 173
75.1712-4 75.1712-5, Initial................... 215 On occassion........................... 217 30 108.5
75.1712-4 75.1712-5, Extension................. 2 On Occassion........................... 2 20 1
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Totals..................................... 940 ..................................... 940 384
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Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
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: July 17, 1998.
George M. Fesak,
Director, Program Evaluation and Information Resources.
[FR Doc. 98-19866 Filed 7-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M
