2010-18350. Office of the Secretary; Submission for OMB review; comment request

ACTION:

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) hereby announces the submission of the following public 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 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35). A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation; including, among other things, a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain or by contacting Linda Watts Thomas on 202-693-4223 (this is not a toll-free number) and e-mail mail to: [e-mail].

Interested parties are encouraged to send written comments 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, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: [phone]/Fax [phone] (these are not toll-free numbers), e-mail: [e-mail] within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal Register. In order to ensure the appropriate consideration, comments should reference the applicable OMB Control Number (see below).

The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:

(1) 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;

(2) 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;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) 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.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Title of Collection: Application for a Permit to Fire More than 20 Boreholes for the use of Nonpermissible Blasting Units, Explosives and Shot-firing Units.

OMB Control Number: 1219-0025.

Frequency: Mandatory.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Cost to Federal Government: $8,902.

Total Burden Respondents: 68.

Total Number of Responses: 101.

Total Burden Hours: 79.

Total Hour Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $614.

Description: Under section 313 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 873, any explosives used in underground coal mines must be permissible. The Mine Act also provides that, under safeguards prescribed by the Secretary of Labor, a mine operator may permit the firing of more than 20 shots and the use of nonpermissible explosives in sinking shafts and slopes from the surface in rock. Title 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. In those instances in which there is a misfire of explosives, 30 CFR 75.1327 requires that a qualified person post each accessible entrance to the affected area with a warning to prohibit entry. Title 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 shafts or slopes for underground coal mines. For additional information, see related notice published in the Federal Register on January 29, 2010 (Vol. 75 page 4848).

Dated: July 8, 2010.

Linda Watts Thomas,

Acting Departmental Clearance Officer.