[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 146 (Thursday, July 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40744-40745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20379]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public
Comment and Recommendations; Record of Individual Exposure to Radon
Daughters
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 Individual Exposure to
Radon Daughters. 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 on 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 September 28, 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: Mrs. Theresa O'Malley, Program
Analysis Office, 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) 235-1470 (voice),
or (703) 235-1563 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
MSHA's primary goal is the protection of America's most precious
resource, the miner. To achieve this goal, this agency has to keep
information regarding the hazards faced and the progress made within
the industry to develop and maintain a safe and healthy work
environment. Records concerning the health and welfare of miners are
especially important, given that the nature of the exposure could
result in medical complications later in the miner's life. To this end,
the record keeping of Radon Daughters is essential information. Each
year the industry records and reports the exposure levels that its
workforce has faced during the past 12 months. This information is
archived and stored for retrieval by the exposed party, or legal
representative, should a medical release be deemed necessary. This
reporting of the exposure numbers also serves to inform MSHA of the
industry expansion or decrease as well as health threats incurred.
During the past calendar year MSHA has received an increased number
of industry responses. These responses indicated that an increasing
number of miners are being employed and exposed within this industry
grouping. Concurrently, the United States economy is calling for
production rates that are higher than those in recent years. The
increase in production has resulted in a larger number of employees
being exposed to Radon Daughters. MSHA needs to keep the recording
requirements for Radon Daughters to ensure that the records regarding
the miners' level of exposure today is available to them tomorrow and
throughout their lifetimes.
II. Current Actions
This information collection needs to be extended to provide miners
protection from radon daughter exposure.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Record of Individual Exposure to Radon Daughters.
OMB Number: 1219-0003.
Agency Number: MSHA 4000-9.
Recordkeeping: 2 years.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
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Average
Total Frequency Total time per
Cite/Reference respondents (weeks) responses response Burden
(hours)
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Sampling....................................... 20 50 50 5.00 5,000
Recording Results.............................. 20 50 50 1.50 1,500
Calculating Reporting.......................... 20 50 50 1.25 1,250
Clerical....................................... 20 50 50 .25 250
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Totals................................... ........... ........... 50 ........... 8,000
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[[Page 40745]]
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $182,500.
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: July 24, 1998.
George M. Fesak,
Director, Program Evaluation and Information Resources.
[FR Doc. 98-20379 Filed 7-29-98; 8:45 am]
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