[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]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M