[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 161 (Friday, August 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45574-45575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21699]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public
Comment and Recommendations; Mine Operator Dust Data Cards
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 Mine Operator Dust Data Cards.
MSHA is particularly interested in comments which:
evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary
[[Page 45575]]
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 October 19, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Theresa M. O'Malley, Program Analysis
Officer, Office of Program Evaluation and Information Resources, 4015
Wilson Boulevard, Room 715, Arlington, VA 22203-1984. Commenters are
encouraged to send their comments on a computer disk, or via Internet
E-mail to tomalley@msha.gov, along with an original printed copy.
Ms. O'Malley can be reached at (703) 235-1470 (voice), or (703)
235-1563 (facsimile).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theresa M. O'Malley, Program Analysis
Officer, Office of Program Evaluation and Information Resources, U.S.
Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Room 719,
4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203-1984. Mrs. O'Malley can be
reached at TOMalley@msha.gov (Internet E-mail), (703) 235-1470 (voice),
or (703) 235-1563 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 202(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
(Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 842, and at 30 CFR Parts 70 and 71, and 90
require coal mine operators to continuously maintain an average
concentration of respirable coal mine dust in the mine atmosphere
during each shift to which each miner in the active workings of each
mine is exposed at or below 2.0 milligrams of respirable dust per cubic
meter of air on each shift to prevent overexposure by miners.
Regulations promulgated under the Mine Act further require the mine
operator during each bimonthly period to collect and submit dust
samples to MSHA for analysis to determine compliance with the
standards, along with reporting certain information to MSHA on a dust
data card that accompanies the dust samples. See 30 CFR 70.209, 71.209,
and 90.209.
Specific occupations/work positions, areas of the mine, and miners
are designated by regulation or by the mine operator's approved
ventilation. These sites are designated for sampling because there is a
past history of high respirable dust levels or because a miner has
already demonstrated evidence of the early stages of coal workers'
pneumoconiosis.
II. Current Actions
This request for a collection of information contains provisions
whereby mine operators can continue to verify their compliance with
mandatory regulations.
Type of Review: Revision.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Mine Operator Dust Data Card.
OMB Number: 1219-0011.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
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Average time
Cite/reference Total Frequency Total per response Burden hours
respondents responses (hours)
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70/.209, 71.209, 90.209, Dust 1,281 Bi-monthly....... 54,000 .7135 hours 38,532
Sampling and Monitoring.
70.201(c), 71.201(c), 1,281 On occasion...... 630 1.0 630
90.201(c) MSHA monitored
samples.
70.202(b), 71.202(b), 1,281 Annually......... 230 6.6 1,528
90.202(b), Certification.
70.220(a), 71.220(a), 1,281 Annually......... 3,200 .50 1,600
90.220(a), Status Change
Reports.
71,300....................... 1,281 Annually......... 45 2.98 134
71.301(d) Posting of Plan.... 1,281 Annually......... 6 .24 11
90.300....................... 1,281 Annually......... 6 2.67 16
90.301(d).................... 1,281 Annually......... 6 .50 3
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Total.................... .............. ................. 58,162 .7299 42,454
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Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $990,887.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $2,136,598.
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: August 16, 1999.
Theresa M. O'Malley,
Program Analysis Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-21699 Filed 8-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M
