Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Mine Operator Dust Data Cards

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public

Comment and Recommendations; Mine Operator Dust Data Cards

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 Mine Operator Dust Data Cards.

MSHA is particularly interested in comments which:

evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is

necessary

[[Page 45575]]

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 October 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Theresa M. O'Malley, Program Analysis

Officer, Office of Program Evaluation and Information Resources, 4015

Wilson Boulevard, Room 715, Arlington, VA 22203-1984. Commenters are

encouraged to send their comments on a computer disk, or via Internet

E-mail to [email protected], along with an original printed copy.

Ms. O'Malley can be reached at (703) 235-1470 (voice), or (703)

235-1563 (facsimile).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 719,

4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203-1984. Mrs. O'Malley can be

reached at TOM[email protected] (Internet E-mail), (703) 235-1470 (voice),

or (703) 235-1563 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Section 202(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977

(Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 842, and at 30 CFR Parts 70 and 71, and 90

require coal mine operators to continuously maintain an average

concentration of respirable coal mine dust in the mine atmosphere

during each shift to which each miner in the active workings of each

mine is exposed at or below 2.0 milligrams of respirable dust per cubic

meter of air on each shift to prevent overexposure by miners.

Regulations promulgated under the Mine Act further require the mine

operator during each bimonthly period to collect and submit dust

samples to MSHA for analysis to determine compliance with the

standards, along with reporting certain information to MSHA on a dust

data card that accompanies the dust samples. See 30 CFR 70.209, 71.209,

and 90.209.

Specific occupations/work positions, areas of the mine, and miners

are designated by regulation or by the mine operator's approved

ventilation. These sites are designated for sampling because there is a

past history of high respirable dust levels or because a miner has

already demonstrated evidence of the early stages of coal workers'

pneumoconiosis.

II. Current Actions

This request for a collection of information contains provisions

whereby mine operators can continue to verify their compliance with

mandatory regulations.

Type of Review: Revision.

Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Mine Operator Dust Data Card.

OMB Number: 1219-0011.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

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Average time

Cite/reference Total Frequency Total per response Burden hours

respondents responses (hours)

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70/.209, 71.209, 90.209, Dust 1,281 Bi-monthly....... 54,000 .7135 hours 38,532

Sampling and Monitoring.

70.201(c), 71.201(c), 1,281 On occasion...... 630 1.0 630

90.201(c) MSHA monitored

samples.

70.202(b), 71.202(b), 1,281 Annually......... 230 6.6 1,528

90.202(b), Certification.

70.220(a), 71.220(a), 1,281 Annually......... 3,200 .50 1,600

90.220(a), Status Change

Reports.

71,300....................... 1,281 Annually......... 45 2.98 134

71.301(d) Posting of Plan.... 1,281 Annually......... 6 .24 11

90.300....................... 1,281 Annually......... 6 2.67 16

90.301(d).................... 1,281 Annually......... 6 .50 3

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Total.................... .............. ................. 58,162 .7299 42,454

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Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $990,887.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $2,136,598.

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: August 16, 1999.

Theresa M. O'Malley,

Program Analysis Officer.

[FR Doc. 99-21699 Filed 8-19-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-43-M