[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 188 (Tuesday, September 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51961-51962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26000]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Records of All Certified And Qualified 
Persons; and Man Hoist Operators Physical Fitness

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 all Certified and 
Qualified Persons; and Man Hoist Operators Physical Fitness. 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 30, 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:

[[Page 51962]]

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) 235-8378 (voice), or (703) 
235-1563 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    30 CFR Sections 75.155, 75.159, 75.160, 75.161, 77.105, 77.107, 
77.107-1, and 77.106. Sections 75.155 and 77.105 explain the 
qualifications to be a qualified hoisting engineer or a qualified hoist 
man on a slope or shaft sinking operation. These requirements are 
necessary so that it can be determined who is qualified to perform 
these tasks and how they can become qualified.
    Sections 75.159 and 77.106 requires the operator of a mine to 
maintain a list of all certified and qualified persons designated to 
perform certain duties around a mine. This list must be posted.

II. Current Actions

    30 CFR 75.155, 75.159, 75.161, and 77.105, 77.106, and 77.107-1, 
require coal operators to maintain a list of persons who are certified 
and those who are qualified to perform duties which requires 
specialized expertise at underground and surface coal mines, i.e., 
conduct test for methane and oxygen deficiency, conduct tests of air 
flow, perform electrical work, repair energized surface high-voltage 
lines, and perform duties of hoisting engineer. The regulations also 
require the mine operator to have an approved training plan so that the 
qualified and certified people can properly perform their tasks. The 
recorded information is necessary to ensure that only persons who are 
properly trained and have the required number of years of experience 
are permitted to perform these duties. MSHA does not specify a format 
for the recordkeeping; however, it normally consists of the names of 
the certified and qualified person listed in two columns on a sheet of 
paper. One column is for certified persons and the other is for 
qualified persons.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Records of All Certified And Qualified Persons; and Man 
Hoist Operators Physical Fitness.
    OMB Number: 1219-0049 (current OMB number; however, OMB will be 
requested to provide a new number pending reapproval because the Agency 
is separating these sections from the currently approved 1219-0049).
    Recordkeeping: One year.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

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                                    Total                           Total      Average time  per
        Cite/reference           respondents      Frequency       responses         response          Burden
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75.155.......................               0               0               0  0................               0
75.159.......................           1,064               4           4,256  5 minutes........             353
75.161.......................           1,064               1           1,064  8 hrs............           8,512
77.105.......................               0               0               0  0................               0
77.106.......................           1,699               4           6,796  5 minutes........             564
77.107-1.....................           1,699               1           1,699  8 hrs............          13,592
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    Totals...................           5,526              10          13,815  16.16 hours......          23,021
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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
    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 24, 1998.
George M. Fesak,
Director, Program Evaluation and Information Resources.
[FR Doc. 98-26000 Filed 9-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M