[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52060-52061]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21194]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request; Health Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter
Exposure (Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mines)
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety
and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection
request (ICR) titled, ``Health Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter
Exposure (Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mines),'' to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.).
DATES: Submit comments on or before September 27, 2012.
ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation;
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the
RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, on the
day following publication of this notice or by contacting Michel Smyth
by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or
sending an email to DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.
Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-MSHA, Office of
Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC
20503, Telephone: 202-395-6929/Fax: 202-395-6881 (these are not toll-
free numbers), email: OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Diesel particulate matter (DPM) is a
probable carcinogen that consists of tiny particles present in diesel
engine exhaust that can readily penetrate into the deepest recesses of
the lungs. Despite ventilation, the confined underground mine work
environment may contribute to significant concentrations of particles
produced by equipment used in the mine. Underground miners are exposed
to higher concentrations of DPM than any other occupational group. As a
result, they face a significantly greater risk than other workers do of
developing such diseases as lung cancer, heart failure, serious
allergic responses, and other cardiopulmonary problems.
The DPM regulation established a permissible exposure limit to
total carbon, which is a surrogate for measuring a miner's exposure to
DPM. These regulations include a number of other requirements for the
protection of miners' health. The DPM regulations contain information
collection requirements for underground metal and non-metal mine
operators under
[[Page 52061]]
Regulations 30 CFR 57.5060, 57.5065, 57.5066, 57.5070, 57.5071, and
57.5075(a) and (b)(3).
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 it is approved by the OMB under the PRA 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 if the
collection of information does not display a valid Control Number. See
5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this
information collection under Control Number 1219-0135. The current
approval is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2012; however, it
should be noted that existing information collection requirements
submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they
undergo review. For additional information, see the related notice
published in the Federal Register on June 4, 2012 (77 FR 33002).
Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB,
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in
the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in
the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1219-0135.
The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
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 submission of responses.
Agency: DOL-MSHA.
Title of Collection: Health Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter
Exposure (Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mines).
OMB Control Number: 1219-0135.
Affected Public: Private sector--businesses or other for-profits.
Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 173.
Total Estimated Number of Responses: 28,022.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 3,329.
Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $509,532.
Dated: August 22, 2012.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-21194 Filed 8-27-12; 8:45 a.m.]
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