[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77526-77528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31765]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request, Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Mine Operator Dust Cards

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 77527]]

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a pre-clearance 
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)(c)(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 extension of the information 
collection related to the 30 CFR sections 70.209, 71.209, and 90.209--
Mine Operator Dust Data Card; 70.201(c), 71.201(c), 90.201(c)--
Reporting Operator Sampling Dates; 70.202(b), 71.202(b), and 
90.202(b)--Dust Sampling Certification; 70.220(a), 71.220(a), and 
90.220(a)--Reporting Status Changes; and 71.300, 71.301(d), 90.300, and 
90.301(d)--Respirable Dust Control Plan.

DATES: Submit comments on or before February 18, 2003.
    Addresses: Send comments to Jane Tarr, Manaagement Analyst, 
Administration and Management 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2171, 
Arlington, VA 22209-3939. Commenters are encouraged to send their 
comments on computer disk, or via Internet e-mail to [email protected]. Ms. Tarr can be reached at (202) 693-9824 (voice), or 
(202) 693-9801 (facsimile).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Tarr, Management Analyst, Records 
Management Group, U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, Room 2171, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209-
3939. Ms. Tarr can be reached at [email protected] (Internet E-mail), 
(202) 693-9824 (voice), or (202) 693-9801 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    30 CFR, 70.201(c), 71.201(c), and 90.201(c), authorizes the 
District Manager to require the mine operator to submit and dates(s) 
when sampling will begin. Only a certified person is allowed to conduct 
the respirable dust sampling required by these parts.
    Sections 70.202(b), 71.202(b), and 90.202(b), requires that the 
person must pass the MSHA examination on sampling of respirable coal 
mine dust.
    Sections 70.220(a), 71.220(a), requires the operator to report 
status changes to MSHA in writing within 3 working days after the 
status change has occurred.
    Sections 70.209, 71.209, and 90.209, requires persons who are 
certified by MSHA to take respirable dust samples to complete the dust 
data card that accompanies each sample being submitted for analysis.
    Sections 71.300 and 90.300 require a coal mine operator to submit 
to MSHA for approval a written respirable dust control plan with 15 
calendar days after the termination data of a citation for violation of 
the applicable dust standard.
    Section 71.301(d) requires the respirable dust control plan to be 
posted on the mine bulletin board however, 90.301(d) prohibits posting 
of the dust control plan for P-90 miners and, instead, requires a copy 
be provided to the affected P-90 miner.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is particularly interested in comments which:
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    [sbull] Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of the appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technologies 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 in the For Further 
Information Contact section of this notice, or viewed on the Internet 
by accessing the MSHA Home Page (http://www.msha.gov) and then choosing 
``Statutory and Regulatory Information'' and ``Federal Register 
Documents.''

III. Current Actions

    The information provided by the mine operator on the dust data card 
that accompanies each dust sample, the reporting of when such samples 
will be collected to allow MSHA to observe the actual collection, and 
the reporting of any changes in operation status affecting sampling, is 
vital to effectively administer the operator sampling program. This 
allows MSHA to determine not only whether mine operators have compiled 
with the sampling requirements stipulated in the regulations but also 
which operators were in noncompliance with the applicable dust 
standard. After processing, results are reported back to mine operators 
for posting on the mine bulletin board and viewing by miners. MSHA also 
uses this information to plan enforcement activities and evaluate 
programs.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Mine Operator Dust Cards.
    OMB Number: 1219-0011.
    Recordkeeping: 30 CFR, 70.201(c), 71.201(c), and 90.201(c), 
authorizes the District Manager to require the mine operator to submit 
the dates(s) when sampling will begin. Only a certified person is 
allowed to conduct the respirable dust sampling required by these 
parts.
    Sections 70.202(b), 71.202(b), and 90.202(b), require that the 
person must pass the MSHA examination on sampling of respirable coal 
mine dust.
    Sections 70.220(a), 71.220(a), and 90.220(a), require the operator 
to report status changes to MSHA in writing within 3 working days after 
the status change has occurred.
    Sections 70.209, 71.209, and 90.209, require persons who are 
certified by MSHA to take respirable dust samples to complete the dust 
data card that accompanies each sample being submitted for analysis.
    Sections 71.300 and 90.300 require a coal mine operator to submit 
to MSHA for approval a written respirable dust control plan with 15 
calendar days after the termination date of a citation for violation of 
the applicable dust standard.
    Section 71.301(d) requires the respirable dust control plan to be 
posted on the mine bulletin board however, 90.301(d) prohibits posting 
of the dust control plan for P-90 miners and, instead, requires a copy 
be provided to the affected P-90 miner.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

[[Page 77528]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Total                           Avg. time/
                   Section                      respondents    Total responses      response       Burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70.209......................................            1,911           36,000              .83           29,998
71.209......................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
90.209......................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
(submit)....................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
70.209......................................            1,911           50,200              .17            8,534
71.209......................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
90.209......................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
(monitor)...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
70.201(c)...................................            1,911              630                1              630
71.201(c)...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
90.201(c)...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
70.202(b)...................................  ...............              182                8            1,456
71.201(b)...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
90.201(b)...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
(Train and Test)............................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
70.202(b)...................................            1,911               48              1.5               72
71.201(b)...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
90.201(b)...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
(Test only).................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
70.220(a)...................................            1,911            3,200               .5            1,600
71.220(a)...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
90.220(a)...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
71.300......................................            1,900               40                3              120
(new).......................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
71.300......................................            1,900                5              1.2                6
(revised)...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
71.300......................................  ...............              N/a  ...............                8
(copy & mail)...............................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
71.301(d)...................................            1,900               45              .24               11
90.300......................................            1,900                4                3               12
(new).......................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
90.300......................................            1,900                2              1.5                3
(revised)...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
90.300......................................  ...............              N/a  ...............                1
(copy & mail)...............................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
90.301(d)...................................            1,900                6              .33                2
                                             ------------------
    Total...................................            1,900           90,362  ...............           42,453
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $990,887.
    Total Burden Cost (operation/maintaining): $2,136,598.
    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 at Arlington, Virginia, this 11th day of December, 2002.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 02-31765 Filed 12-17-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M