[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58172-58173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23012]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0082]
Proposed Renewal of Existing Information Collection; Records of
Preshift and Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas of Slope and
Shaft Sinking Operations at Coal Mines
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections
of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
This program helps to assure 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 is
soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information
collection for 30 CFR 77.1901. OMB last approved this information
collection request on January 8, 2010. The package expires on January
31, 2013.
DATES: All comments must be postmarked or received by midnight Eastern
Time on November 19, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements
of this notice must be clearly identified with ``OMB 1219-0082'' and
sent to both the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Mine
Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Comments to MSHA may be sent
by any of the methods listed below.
Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
Facsimile: 202-693-9441, include ``OMB 1219-0082'' in the
subject line of the message.
Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350,
Arlington, VA 22209-3939. For hand delivery, sign in at the
receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.
Comments to OMB may be sent by mail addressed to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC
20503, Attn: Desk Officer for MSHA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Moxness, Chief, Economic Analysis
Division, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at
[email protected] (email); 202-693-9440 (voice); or 202-693-9441
(facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
(Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes MSHA to collect information
necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety and health of
miners. The sinking of slopes and shafts is a particularly hazardous
operation where conditions change drastically in short periods of time.
Explosive methane and other harmful gases can be expected to infiltrate
the work environment at any time. The working environment is typically
a confined area in close proximity to moving equipment. Accordingly, 30
CFR 77.1901 requires operators to conduct examinations of slope and
shaft areas for hazardous conditions, including tests for methane and
oxygen deficiency, within 90 minutes before each shift, once during
each shift, and before and after blasting. The surface area surrounding
each slope and shaft is also required to be inspected for hazards.
The standard also requires that a record be kept of the results of
the inspections. The record includes a description of any hazardous
condition found and the corrective action taken to abate it. The record
is necessary to ensure that the inspections and tests are conducted in
a timely fashion and that corrective action is taken when hazardous
conditions are identified, thereby ensuring a safe working environment
for the slope and shaft sinking employees. The record is maintained at
the mine site for the duration of the operation.
This information collection addresses the recordkeeping associated
with:
Sec. 77.1901 Records of preshift and onshift inspections.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed extension of the information
collection related to this safety standard on records of preshift and
onshift inspections of slope and shaft areas of slope and shaft sinking
operations at coal mines. MSHA is particularly interested in comments
that:
Evaluate whether the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information has practical utility;
Evaluate the accuracy of the MSHA's estimate of the burden
of the collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected; and
Address 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) to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond.
The public may examine publicly available documents, including the
public comment version of the supporting statement, at MSHA, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room
2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939. OMB clearance requests are available on
MSHA's Web site at http://www.msha.gov under ``Rules & Regs'' on the
right side of the screen by selecting Information Collections Requests,
Paperwork Reduction Act Supporting Statements. The document will be
available on MSHA's Web site for 60 days after the publication date of
this notice. Comments submitted in writing or in electronic form will
be made available for public inspection. Because comments will not be
edited to remove any identifying or contact information, MSHA cautions
the commenter against including any information in the submission that
should not be publicly disclosed. Questions about the information
collection requirements may be directed to the person listed in
[[Page 58173]]
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
III. Current Actions
The information obtained from mine operators is used by MSHA during
inspections to determine compliance with safety and health standards.
MSHA has updated the data in respect to the number of respondents and
responses, as well as the total burden hours and burden costs
supporting this information collection extension request.
Summary
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Records of Preshift and Onshift Inspections of Slope and
Shaft Areas of Slope and Shaft Sinking Operations at Coal Mines.
OMB Number: 1219-0082.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR 77.1901.
Total Number of Respondents: 27.
Frequency: Various.
Total Number of Responses: 11,880
Total Burden Hours: 14,850 hours.
Total Other Annual Cost Burden: $0.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and 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.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).
Dated: September 13, 2012.
George F. Triebsch,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-23012 Filed 9-18-12; 8:45 am]
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