[Federal Register: November 13, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 219)]
[Notices]
[Page 64371-64372]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13no03-81]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public
Comment and Recommendations; Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations
in Underground Coal Mines
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 pre-clearance
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 extension of the information
collection related to the 30 CFR Sections 75.310, 312, 342, 351, 360,
361, 362, 363, 364, 370, 371, and 382.
DATES: Submit comments on or before January 12, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Jane Tarr, Management Analyst,
Administration and Management 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2171,
Arlington, VA 22209-3939. Commenters are encouraged to send their
comments on computer disk, or via Internet 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: Jane Tarr, Management Analyst, Records
Management Group, U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Room 2171, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209-3939. Ms. Tarr can be reached at stoehr.melissa@dol.gov (Internet e-
mail), (202) 693-9827 (voice), or (202) 693-9801 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
An underground mine is a maze of tunnels that must be adequately
ventilated with fresh air to provide a safe environment for miners.
Methane is liberated from the strata, and noxious gases and dusts from
blasting and other mining activities may be present. The explosive and
noxious gases and dusts must be diluted, rendered harmless, and carried
to the surface by the ventilating currents. Sufficient air must be
provided to maintain the level of respirable dust at or below 2
milligrams per cubic meter of air and air quality must be maintained in
accordance with MSHA standards. Mechanical ventilation equipment of
sufficient capacity must operate at all times while miners are in the
mine. Ground conditions are subject to frequent changes, thus
sufficient tests and examinations are necessary to ensure the integrity
of the ventilation system and to detect any changes that may require
adjustments in the system. Records of tests and examinations are
necessary to ensure that the ventilation system is being maintained and
that changes which could adversely affect the integrity of the system
or the safety of the miners are not occurring. These examination
requirements of Sec. Sec. 75.310, 75.312, 75.342, 75.351, 75.360
through 75.364, 75.370, 75.371, and 75.382 also incorporate
examinations of other critical aspects of the underground work
environment such as roof conditions and electrical equipment which have
historically cased numerous fatalities if not properly maintained and
operated.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is particularly interested in comments which:
[sbull] 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;
[sbull] 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;
[sbull] Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
[sbull] 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 in the For Further
Information Contact section of this notice, or viewed on the Internet
by accessing the MSHA home page (http://www.msha.gov) and then choosing
``Statutory and Regulatory
[[Page 64372]]
Information'' and ``Federal Register Documents.''
III. Current Actions
Records of tests and examinations are necessary to ensure that the
ventilation system is being maintained and that changes which could
adversely affect the integrity of the system or the safety of the
miners are not occurring.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in Underground
Coal Mines.
OMB Number: 1219-0088.
Frequency: On Occasion.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Respondents: 711.
Average Time Per Response: 1.1 hour.
Total Burden Hours: 2,068,839.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $75,828.
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 5th day of November, 2003.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 03-28405 Filed 11-12-03; 8:45 am]
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