[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 93 (Friday, May 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26460-26462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12220]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendation; Mine Accident, Injury and Illness Report

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 Quarterly Mine Employment 
and Coal Production Report (30 CFR 50.30, Form 7000-2).
    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 contact the employee listed below in the For Further 
Information Contact section of this notice.

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 13, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Theresa M. O'Malley, Chief, Records 
Management Branch, Program Evaluation and Information Resources, 4015 
Wilson Boulevard, Room 735A, 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. Mrs. O'Malley

[[Page 26461]]

can be reach at (703) 235-1470 (voice) or (703) 235-1563 (facsimile).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Theresa M. O'Malley, Chief, 
Records Management Branch, Office of Program Evaluation and Information 
Resources, U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, Room 735A, 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

    The reporting and recordkeeping provisions in 30 CFR 50, 
Notification, Investigation, Reports and Records of Accidents, Injuries 
and Illnesses, Employment and Coal Production in Mines, are essential 
elements in MSHA's Congressional mandate to reduce work-related 
injuries and illnesses among the nation's miners.
    Section 50.10 requires mine operators and mining contractors to 
immediately notify MSHA in the event of an accident. This immediate 
notification is critical to MSHA's timely investigation and assessment 
of the probable cause of the accident.
    Section 50.11 requires that the operator or contractor investigate 
each accident and occupational injury and prepare a report. The 
operator or contractor may not use MSHA Form 7000-1 as a report, unless 
the mine employs fewer than 20 miners and the occurrence involves an 
occupational injury not related to an accident.
    Section 50.20(a) requires mine operators and mining contractors to 
report each accident, injury, or illness to MSHA on Form 7000-1 within 
10 working days after an accident or injury has occurred or an 
occupational illness has been diagnosed. The use of MSHA Form 7000-1 
provides for uniform information gathering across the mining industry.
    MSHA tabulates and analyzes the information from MSHA Form 7000-1, 
along with data from MSHA Form 7000-2, Quarterly Mine Employment and 
Coal Production Report (OMB No. 1219-0006), to compute incidence and 
severity rates for various injury types. These rates are used to 
analyze trends and to assess the degree of success of the health and 
safety efforts of MSHA and the mining industry.
    Accident, injury, and illness data when correlated with employment 
and production data provide information that allows MSHA to improve its 
safety and health enforcement programs, focus its education and 
training efforts, and establish priorities for its technical assistance 
activities in mine safety and health. Maintaining a current database 
allows MSHA to identify and direct increased attention to those mines, 
industry segments, and geographical areas where hazardous trends are 
developing. This could not be done effectively utilizing historical 
data. The information collected under Part 50 is the most comprehensive 
and reliable occupational data available concerning the mining 
industry.
    Section 103(d) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act) mandates that each accident be investigated by the operator 
to determine the cause and means of preventing a recurrence. Records of 
such accidents and investigations shall be kept and made available to 
the Secretary or his/her authorized representative and the appropriate 
State agency. Section 103(h) requires operators to keep any records and 
make any reports that are reasonably necessary for MSHA to perform its 
duties under the Mine Act. Section 103(j) of the Mine Act requires 
operators to notify MSHA of the occurrence of an accident and to take 
appropriate measures to preserve any evidence which would assist in the 
investigation into the cause or causes of the accident.

II. Current Actions

    MSHA is seeking approval of the existing information collection 
requirements as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as 
amended.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Mine Accident, Injury and Illness Report.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Recordkeeping: 5 years after submission date.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR 50.10, 50.11 and 50.20.

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                                                                         Annual     Average time per     Burden
     Regulatory reference          Responses          Frequency        responses        response         hours
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50.10, Immediate Notification  91 fatals,......  One-time...........        2,247  30 minutes........      1,124
                               2,156 other.....
50.11(b), Investigation of     48 fatals,......  One-time...........       22,329  80 hours..........     50,013
 Accidents/Occupational        20,670 nonfatal,                                    2 hours...........
 Injuries.                     1,611 other.....                                    3 hours...........
50.11(b), Separate Reports     43 fatals,......  One-time...........          588  40 hours..........      3,355
 <20 employees.                545 other.......                                    3 hours...........
50.20 Reports................  22,997 initial,.  One-time...........       34,934  30 minutes........     15,438
                               11,937 follow-up                                    20 minutes........
Verify Data Mailer...........  10,000..........  Annually...........       10,000  30 minutes........      5,000
Correct Data Mailer..........  246.............  Annually...........          246  15 minutes........         62
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    Totals...................  ................  ...................  ...........  ..................     74,992
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[[Page 26462]]

    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $19,199.
    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: May 10, 1999.
George M. Fesak,
Director, Program Evaluation and Information Resources.
[FR Doc. 99-12220 Filed 5-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M