[Federal Register: June 2, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 106)]
[Notices]
[Page 31140-31141]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jn04-81]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public
Comment and Recommendations; Training Plans and Certificate of Training
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
[[Page 31141]]
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.
DATES: Submit comments on or before August 2, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Melissa Stoehr, Acting Chief, Records
Management Branch, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2134, Arlington, VA
22209-3939. Commenters are encouraged to send their comments on
computer disk, or via e-mail to stoehr.melissa@dol.gov. Ms. Stoehr can
be reached at (202) 693-9827 (voice), or (202) 693-9801 (facsimile).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the employee listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act),
recognizes that the role of education and training in the improvement
of miner health and safety is an important element of federal efforts
to make the nation's mines safer places in which to work. Section
115(a) of the Mine Act states that ``each operator of a coal or other
mine shall have a health and safety program which shall be approved by
the Secretary.'' Title 30, CFR 48.3 and 48.23 specifically address the
requirements for training plans. Section 115(a) of the Mine Act
requires that each mine operator have a program approved by the
Secretary for training miners in the health and safety aspects of
mining. Section 115(c) requires (a) that the mine operator certify on a
form approved by the Secretary that the miner has received the
specified training in each subject area of the approved health and
safety training plan; (b) that the certificates be maintained by the
operator and be available for inspection at the mine site; and (c) that
the miner is entitled to a copy of the certificate upon completion of
the training and when he leaves the operator's employ. Title 30, CFR
part 48 implements section 115 of the Act by setting forth the
requirements for obtaining approval of training programs and specifying
the kinds of training, including refresher and hazard training, which
must be provided to the miners. The standards are intended to ensure
that miners will be effectively trained and certified in matters
affecting their health and safety, with the ultimate goal being the
reduction of frequency and severity of the injuries in the nation's
mines.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the
information collection related to Training Plans. 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, e.g., permitting
electronic submissions of responses.
A copy of the proposed information collection request may be viewed
on the Internet by accessing the MSHA home page (http://www.msha.gov)
and selecting ``Statutory and Regulatory Information'' then ``Paperwork
Reduction Act submission (http://www.msha.gov/regspwork.htm)'', or by
contacting the employee listed above in the For Further Information
Contact section of this notice for a hard copy.
III. Current Actions
Approved training plans are used to implement training programs for
training new miners, training experienced miners, training miners for
new tasks, annual refresher training, and hazard training. The plans
are also used by MSHA to ensure that all miners are receiving the
training necessary to perform their jobs in a safe manner. MSHA Form
5000-23, Certificate of Training, is used by mine operators to record
mandatory training received by miners. Each form provides the mine
operator with a recordkeeping document, the miner with a certificate of
training, and MSHA a monitoring tool for determining compliance
requirement. Currently the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the
information collection related to Training Plans and Certificates of
Training.
Type of Review: Extension of Currently Approved Collection.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Training Plans and Certificate of Training.
OMB Number: 1219-0009 Extension.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Frequency: Annually and On Occasion.
Number of Respondents: 4,267.
Number of Annual Responses: 113,272.
Estimated Time Per Response: 8 hours to develop training plan; 5
minutes to prepare certificate of training.
Total Burden Hours: 19,519 hours.
Total Annualized Capital/startup Costs: $0.
Total Annual (Operating and Maintenance): $226,612.
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 at Arlington, Virginia, this 24th day of May, 2004.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 04-12377 Filed 6-1-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P