[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 121 (Wednesday, June 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34486-34487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16805]


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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.

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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. 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

[[Page 34487]]

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 August 24, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Patricia W. Silvery, 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
Theresa M. O'Malley, Program Analysis Officer, 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 22203-1948. Mrs. O'Malley can be reached at 
[email protected] (Internet E-mail), (703) 235-1470 (voice), or (703) 
235-1563 (facsimile).

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. Current Actions

    In 1997, a large number of problems were identified with self-
rescue devices that indicated either the 90-day examinations were not 
being conducted, or defective devices were not being removed from 
service. As a result of these problems, MSHA issued a Program 
Information Bulletin reminding the industry of the standard requiring 
the 90-day examination and certification of the self-rescue devices, 
and requiring devices that fail the 90-day examination to be removed 
from service. In addition, 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. 
However, due to the large number of devices in use in the mining 
industry (approximately 50,000 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. Although MSHA has increased the enforcement effort, 
the large number of devices in use in the mining industry make it 
impractical for MSHA to be able to examine each of the devices 
quarterly.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Records of Results of Examinations of Self-Rescuers.
    OMB Number: 1219-0044.
    Agency Number: MSHA 243.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Cite/Reference/Form/Etc: 30 CFR 75.1714-3.
    Total Respondents: 1,284.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Responses: 4,000.
    Average Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2,000 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost:
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $86,000).
    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: June 19, 1998.
Theresa M. O'Malley,
Acting Director, Program Evaluation and Information Resources.
[FR Doc. 98-16805 Filed 6-23-98; 8:45 am]
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