Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; 30 CFR 77.1901, Records of Preshift and Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public

Comment and Recommendations; 30 CFR 77.1901, Records of Preshift and

Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas

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 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 proposed reinstatement of the

information collection related to Records of Preshift and Onshift

Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas. 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;

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* 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 can be

obtained by contacting the employee listed in the For Further

Information Contact section of this notice.

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 28, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office of

Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Room 627,

Arlington, VA 22203-1984. Commenters are encouraged to send their

comments on a computer disk, or via E-mail to [email protected], along

with an original printed copy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

George M. Fesak, Director, Office of Program Evaluation and Information

Resources, U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health

Administration, Room 715, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203-

1984. Mr. Fesak can be reached at [email protected] (Internet E-mail),

(703) 235-8378 (voice), or (703) 235-1563 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

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. Mandatory

safety standard 30 CFR 77.1901 requires coal mine 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 and 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 consists of 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. The record is maintained at the mine site

for the duration of the operation.

II. Current Actions

MSHA proposes to continue the information collection requirement

related to records of preshift and onshift inspections of slope and

shaft areas for an additional 3 years. MSHA believes that eliminating

this requirement would expose miners to unnecessary risk of injury or

death. The records are used by slope and shaft supervisors and

employees, State mine inspectors, and Federal mine inspectors. The

records show that the examinations and tests were conducted and give

insight into the hazardous conditions that have been encountered and

those that may be encountered. The records of inspections greatly

assist those who use them in making decisions that will ultimately

affect the safety and health of slope and shaft sinking employees.

Type of Review: Reinstatement without change.

Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Records of Preshift and Onshift Inspections of Slope and

Shaft Areas.

OMB Number: 1219-0082.

Recordkeeping: Records are required to be kept for the duration of

the operation.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit institutions.

Cite/Reference/Form/etc.: 30 CFR 77.1901.

Total Respondents: 30.

Frequency: Twice per shift.

Total Responses: 10,164.

Average Time per Response: 1.25 hours.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 12,705 hours.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $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: May 20, 1997.

George M. Fesak,

Director, Program Evaluation and Information Resources.

[FR Doc. 97-13935 Filed 5-27-97; 8:45 am]

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