[Federal Register: June 28, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 124)]
[Notices]
[Page 36831-36832]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jn06-125]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request
June 20, 2006.
The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public
information collection requests (ICR) to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35). A copy of
each ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by
contacting Darrin King on 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number)
or e-mail: king.darrin@dol.gov.
Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Mine Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA), Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235,
Washington, DC 20503, 202-395-7316 (this is not a toll-free number),
within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal
Register.
The OMB 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 submission of responses.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
Title: Miner Operator Dust Cards.
OMB Number: 1219-0011.
Frequency: On occasion and bi-monthly.
Type of Response: Recordkeeping; Reporting; and Third party
disclosure.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 950.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 41,100.
Average Response Time: Varies by task.
Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 32,875.
Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing
services): $2,989,172.
Description: 30 CFR 70.201(c), 71.201(c), and 90.201(c), authorizes
the District Manager to require the mine operator to submit the
dates(s) when sampling will begin. Only a certified person is allowed
to conduct the respirable dust sampling required by these parts.
Sections 70.202(b), 71.202(b), and 90.202(b), requires that the
person must pass the MSHA examination on sampling of respirable coal
mine dust.
Sections 70.220(a), 71.220(a), and 90.220(a), requires the operator
to report status changes to MSHA in writing within 3 working days after
the status change has occurred.
Sections 70.209, 71.209, and 90.209, requires persons who are
certified by MSHA to take respirable dust samples to complete the dust
data card that accompanies each sample being submitted for analysis.
Sections 71.300 and 90.300 require a coal mine operator to submit
to MSHA for approval a written respirable dust control plan within 15
calendar days after the termination date of a citation for violation of
the applicable dust standard.
Section 71.301(d) requires the respirable dust control plan to be
posted on the mine bulletin board, however, 90.301(d) prohibits posting
of the dust control plan for P-90 miners and, instead, requires a copy
be provided to the affected P-90 miner.
Prolonged exposure to excessive amounts of respirable coal mine
dust can cause respiratory problems, ranging from mild impairment of
respiratory function to more severe diseases such as coal workers'
pneumoconiosis (CWP) and silicosis. These diseases are debilitating,
and in severe cases, disabling and fatal.
The information provided by the mine operator on the dust data card
that accompanies each dust sample submitted to MSHA for processing; the
reporting of when such samples will be taken when District Manager
requests; and the reporting of any changes in operation status
affecting sampling, is vital to effectively administer and assess the
effectiveness of the operator sampling program. MSHA has used the
information received from the current collection not only to determine
which mine operators have fully complied with the sampling provisions
stipulated in the regulations but also which failed to adequately
protect miners from excessive dust concentrations and needed to take
appropriate measures to improve the quality of the mine air that miners
breathe. Also, once the dust samples submitted by coal mine operators
are processed by MSHA, it uses the collected information for reporting
the results of respirable dust samples to the appropriate mine
operators under Sec. Sec. 70.210(a), 71.210(a) and 90.210(a), so that
the results can be posted on the mine bulletin board for viewing by all
miners as required by Sec. Sec. 70.210(b) and 71.210(c). These results
enable the Agency to more effectively evaluate the effectiveness of the
operator's dust control systems, to better identify which particular
operators should be targeted for compliance assistance efforts, and to
plan and undertake special health emphasis initiatives.
Mine operators whose samples exceed the applicable standard are
either notified to submit additional samples (involving DA, DWP, or P-
90 miner entity types only) or are cited for violating the applicable
standard. As discussed earlier, once cited by MSHA, the operator must
promptly take corrective action and then submit five abatement samples
to demonstrate that dust levels have been reduced within the applicable
standard.
Once a respirable dust control plan, submitted in accordance with
either Sec. 71.300 or 90.300, is approved by MSHA, its provisions must
be employed and complied with on a continuous basis. Posting of the
plan in accordance with Sec. 71.301(d) allows the affected miners to
acquaint themselves with the types and locations of dust control
measures that are required to be employed and maintained. MSHA
inspectors use the information provided in the plan to determine
whether the operator is complying with all plan provisions, and to
assess the plan's
[[Page 36832]]
continued effectiveness in maintaining compliance with the applicable
standard.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
Title: Underground Retorts.
OMB Number: 1219-0096.
Frequency: On occasion.
Type of Response: Reporting.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 1.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1.
Average Response Time: 160 hours.
Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 160.
Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing
services): $0.
Description: This regulation pertains to the safety requirements to
be followed by the mine operators in the use of underground retorts to
extract oil from shale by heat or fire. Prior to ignition of retorts,
the mine operator must submit a written plan indicating the acceptable
levels of combustible gases and oxygen; specifications and location of
off-gas monitoring procedures and equipment; procedures for ignition of
retorts and details of area monitoring and alarm systems for hazardous
gases and actions to be taken to assure safety of miners.
Plans for operating retorts are required because the retort process
involves the use of fire in an underground mine in which hazardous
gases may be present. Approved retort plans are monitored by MSHA to
ensure that combustible gases are kept at acceptable levels and do not
expose the miners to explosive or other hazardous conditions.
Ira L. Mills,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-10177 Filed 6-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P