[Federal Register: June 29, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 125)]
[Notices]
[Page 35729]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29jn07-86]
[[Page 35729]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public
Comment and Recommendations; Records of Results of Examinations of
Self-Rescuers
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
DATES: Submit comments on or before August 28, 2007.
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 Self-Rescue devices are subjected to harsh in-mine conditions
that may result in damage to the device which could cause the device to
malfunction or provide less than adequate protection. The 90-day
examination of the device is necessary in order to provide for early
detection of potential problems that would otherwise go undetected.
Requiring the mine operator to certify the examination was made and to
record any identified defects gives credibility to the program and
decreases the likelihood of a person being required to use a device
that may not function as designed. In addition, this information is
useful in determining how durable a device may be when subjected to the
harsh conditions that are encountered during in-mine use. This allows
for early detection of design problems that may require the
manufacturer to make changes to a device in order to assure the device
will continue to function as designed and provide adequate protection
in the event of an emergency.
II. Desired Focus
Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension. MSHA 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 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 choosing ``Rules and Regs'', then choosing ``Fed Reg Docs.''
III. Current Actions
Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the
information collection related to examination and certification of
self-rescue devices. Because of the rugged underground mining
environment to which SCSRs are subjected, the potential for these
devices being rendered inoperative is high. In the event of a mine
fire, mine explosion, or mine inundation, the use of self-rescuers can
be the difference between life and death. Therefore it is essential
that these devices be examined regularly and that they are maintained
in usable and operative condition. These minimum certification and
recordkeeping requirements are necessary in order to maintain
credibility in the program and provide reasonable assurance that mine
operators conduct the required 90-day examination of the self-rescue
devices. MSHA increased the inspection effort to include quarterly
evaluation of the mine operators records as well as a physical
examination of a representative number of self-rescue devices. On
December 8, 2006, a new final rule entitled Emergency Mine Evacuation
was published. The rule affected 30 CFR parts 48, 50, and 75.
Specifically, the new rule affecting the estimate of the recordkeeping
burdens imposed by 30 CFR 75.1714-3(e) is Sec. 75.1714-4, Additional
self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs) which requires that in addition to
the requirements in Sec. Sec. 75.1714, 75.1714-1, 75.1714-2, and
75.1714-3, the mine operator shall provide for each person who is
underground at least one additional SCSR device which provides
protection for a period of one hour or longer, to cover all persons in
the mine. Due to the large number of devices in use in the mining
industry, (approximately 62,000 devices) it is essential that mine
operators continue to certify that the 90-day examination was conducted
on each device, and record the results for devices that failed the 90-
day examination.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Records of Results of Examinations of Self-Rescuers.
OMB Number: 1219-0044.
Recordkeeping: One Year.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Total Respondents: 719.
Total Responses: 250,344.
Average Time per Response: 30 minutes.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 124,375 hours.
Estimated Total Burden Cost: $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
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 25th day of June, 2007.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. E7-12524 Filed 6-28-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P