[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 186 (Friday, September 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51377-51378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25686]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Examinations and Test of Electrical 
Equipment

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 Examinations and Tests of 
Electrical Equipment. 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 24, 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 [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, 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) 235-1470 (voice), 
or (703) 235-1563 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 51378]]

I. Background

    Inadequate maintenance of electric equipment is a major cause of 
serious electrical accidents in the coal mining industry. Improperly 
maintained electric equipment has also been responsible for many 
disastrous mine fires and explosions. The most recent example is the 
mine fire that occurred at the Wilberg Mine, resulting in the deaths of 
27 miners. It is imperative that mine operators adopt and follow an 
effective maintenance program to ensure that electric equipment is 
maintained in a safe operating condition if electrocutions, mine fires, 
and mine explosions are to be prevented.

II. Current Actions

    The subject regulations require the mine operator to establish an 
electrical maintenance program by specifying minimum requirements for 
the examination, testing, and maintenance of electric equipment. The 
regulations also contain recordkeeping requirements which may in some 
instances help operators in implementing an effective maintenance 
program. The subject records of tests and examinations are examined by 
coal miners, coal mine officials, and MSHA inspectors. MSHA inspectors 
examine the records to determine if the required tests and examinations 
have been conducted and to identify units of electric equipment that 
may be creating excessive safety problems, and to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the coal mine operator's electrical maintenance 
programs. By comparing the records with the actual condition of 
electric equipment, MSHA inspectors may in some cases be able to 
identify weaknesses in the coal mine operator's electrical maintenance 
programs and require that he weaknesses by corrected.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Examination and Tests of Electrical Equipment.
    OMB Number: 1219-0067.
    Agency Number: MSHA 224.
    Recordkeeping: 1 year.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

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                                                                         Total     Average time per     Burden
        Cite/reference          Total respondents      Frequency       responses       response         hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
75.512........................  16,742...........  Weekly...........      870,584  42 minutes......      593,762
75.703-3(d)(11)...............  Included with      .................  ...........  ................  ...........
                                 75.512 calculati
                                 on.
77.502........................  25,485...........  Monthly..........      305,820  1 hour..........      228,091
75.800-4 and 77.800-2.........  3,115............  Monthly..........       37,380  45 minutes......       28,035
77.900-2......................  1,699............  Monthly..........       20,388  45 minutes......       15,291
75.900-4......................  5,970............  Monthly..........       71,640  1.5 hours.......      107,460
75.1001-1(c)..................  1,000............  6 months.........        2,000  1.5 hours.......        3,000
75.342(a)(4)..................  1,040............  Monthly..........       12,480  45 minutes......        9,360
75.351........................  647..............  Monthly..........        7,764  1.5 hours.......        9,705
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................  55,698...........  .................    1,328,056  ................      994,704
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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $30,000.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $390.
    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 22, 1998.
George M. Fesak,
Director, Program Evaluation and Information Resources.
[FR Doc. 98-25686 Filed 9-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M