Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Records of All Certified And Qualified Persons; and Man Hoist Operators Physical Fitness

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public

Comment and Recommendations; Records of All Certified And Qualified

Persons; and Man Hoist Operators Physical Fitness

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 extension of the

information collection related to the Record of all Certified and

Qualified Persons; and Man Hoist Operators Physical Fitness. 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 can be

obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

DATES: Submit comments on or before November 30, 1998.

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. Ms. Silvey can be reached at (703) 235-

1910 (voice) or (703) 235-5551 (facsimile).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

[[Page 51962]]

Theresa M. O'Malley, Program Analysis Officer, 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. Mrs. O'Malley can be reached at

[email protected] (Internet E-mail), (703) 235-8378 (voice), or (703)

235-1563 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

30 CFR Sections 75.155, 75.159, 75.160, 75.161, 77.105, 77.107,

77.107-1, and 77.106. Sections 75.155 and 77.105 explain the

qualifications to be a qualified hoisting engineer or a qualified hoist

man on a slope or shaft sinking operation. These requirements are

necessary so that it can be determined who is qualified to perform

these tasks and how they can become qualified.

Sections 75.159 and 77.106 requires the operator of a mine to

maintain a list of all certified and qualified persons designated to

perform certain duties around a mine. This list must be posted.

II. Current Actions

30 CFR 75.155, 75.159, 75.161, and 77.105, 77.106, and 77.107-1,

require coal operators to maintain a list of persons who are certified

and those who are qualified to perform duties which requires

specialized expertise at underground and surface coal mines, i.e.,

conduct test for methane and oxygen deficiency, conduct tests of air

flow, perform electrical work, repair energized surface high-voltage

lines, and perform duties of hoisting engineer. The regulations also

require the mine operator to have an approved training plan so that the

qualified and certified people can properly perform their tasks. The

recorded information is necessary to ensure that only persons who are

properly trained and have the required number of years of experience

are permitted to perform these duties. MSHA does not specify a format

for the recordkeeping; however, it normally consists of the names of

the certified and qualified person listed in two columns on a sheet of

paper. One column is for certified persons and the other is for

qualified persons.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Records of All Certified And Qualified Persons; and Man

Hoist Operators Physical Fitness.

OMB Number: 1219-0049 (current OMB number; however, OMB will be

requested to provide a new number pending reapproval because the Agency

is separating these sections from the currently approved 1219-0049).

Recordkeeping: One year.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

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Total Total Average time per

Cite/reference respondents Frequency responses response Burden

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75.155....................... 0 0 0 0................ 0

75.159....................... 1,064 4 4,256 5 minutes........ 353

75.161....................... 1,064 1 1,064 8 hrs............ 8,512

77.105....................... 0 0 0 0................ 0

77.106....................... 1,699 4 6,796 5 minutes........ 564

77.107-1..................... 1,699 1 1,699 8 hrs............ 13,592

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Totals................... 5,526 10 13,815 16.16 hours...... 23,021

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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: September 24, 1998.

George M. Fesak,

Director, Program Evaluation and Information Resources.

[FR Doc. 98-26000 Filed 9-28-98; 8:45 am]

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