[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 2 (Friday, January 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 387-389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

December 17, 2002.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). A copy of 
each individual ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be 
obtained by calling the Department of

[[Page 388]]

Labor. To obtain documentation, contact Darrin King on (202) 693-4129 
or E-mail: [email protected].
    Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for MSHA, Office of Management and 
Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 ((202) 395-7316), within 30 
days from the date of this publication in the Federal Register.
    The OMB 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 appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
    Title: Independent Contractor Register.
    OMB Number: 1219-0040.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Type of Response: Recordkeeping.
    Number of Respondents: 15,292.
    Number of Annual Responses: 99,398.
    Average Response Time: 8 minutes.
    Total Estimated Burden Hours: 13,250.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $174,789.
    Description: 30 CFR 45.4(a) requires that each independent 
contractor provide the production-operator in writing the trade name, 
business address, and telephone number; a description and location at 
the mine where the work is to be performed; MSHA identification number, 
if any; and the contractor's business address of record. 30 CFR 45.4(b) 
requires each production-operator to maintain in writing the 
information required by paragraph (a) at the mine and to make this 
information available to any authorized representative of the Secretary 
upon request.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Training Plans, New Miner Training, Newly-Hired Experienced 
Miner Training.
    OMB Number: 1219-0131.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Frequency: On occasion and annually.
    Type of Response: Recordkeeping; reporting; and third party 
disclosure.
    Number of Respondents: 10,305.
    Number of Annual Response: 167,340.
    Average Response Time: Varies considerably by task and mine size; 
however, the total average time for all mines is approximately 1.6 
hours per response.
    Total Estimated Burden Hours: 263,274.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $520,683.
    Description: Paragraph 9a) of Sec.  46.3 requires mine operators to 
develop and implement a written training plan approved by MSHA that 
contains effective programs for training new miners and experienced 
miners, training miners for new tasks, annual refresher training, and 
hazard training.
    Paragraph (b) requires the following information, at a minimum, to 
be included in a training plan:
    (1) The company name, mine name, and MSHA mine identification 
number;
    (2) The name and position of the person designated by the operator 
who is responsible for the health and safety training at the mine. This 
person may be the operator;
    (3) A general description of the teaching methods and the course 
materials that are to be used in providing the training, including the 
subject areas to be covered and the approximate time to be spent on 
each subject area;
    (4) A list of the persons who will provide the training, and the 
subject areas in which each person is competent to instruct; and
    (5) The evaluation procedures used to determine the effectiveness 
of training.
    Paragraph (c) requires a plan that does not include the minimum 
information specified in paragraph (b) to be approved by MSHA. For each 
size category, the Agency estimates that 20 percent of mine operators 
will choose to write a plan and send it to MSHA for approval.
    Paragraph (d) requires mine operators to provide miners' 
representatives with a copy of the training plan. At mines where no 
miners' representatives has been designated, a copy of the plan must be 
posted at the mine or a copy must be provided to each miner.
    Paragraph (e) provides that within 2 weeks following receipt or 
posting of the training plan, miners or their representatives may 
submit written comments on the plan to mine operators, or to the 
Regional Manager, as appropriate. The burden hours and costs of this 
provision are not borne by mine operators, but my miners and their 
representatives.
    Paragraph (g) requires that the miners' representative with a copy 
of the approved plan within one week after approval. At mines where no 
miners' representatives has been designated, a copy of the plan must be 
posted at the mine or a copy must be provided to each miner.
    Paragraph (h) allows mine operators, miners, and miners' 
representatives to appeal a decision of the Regional Manager in writing 
to the Director for Education Policy and Development. The Director 
would issue a decision on the appeal within 30 days after receipt of 
the appeal.
    Paragraph (i) requires mine operators to make available at the mine 
site a copy of the current training plan for inspection by MSHA and for 
examination of miners and their representatives. If the training plan 
is not maintained at the mine site, mine operators must have the 
capability to provide the plan upon request by MSHA, miners, or their 
representatives.
    Paragraph (a) of Sec.  46.5 requires mine operators to provide each 
new miner with no less than 24 hours of training. Miners who have not 
received the full 24 hours of new miner training must work where an 
experienced miner can observe that the new miner is working in a safe 
manner.
    Paragraph (a) of Sec.  46.6 requires mine operators to provide each 
newly hired experienced miner with certain training before the miner 
begins work.
    Paragraph (a) of Sec.  46.7 requires, before a miner performs a 
task for which he or she has no experience, that the mine operator 
training the miner in the safety and health aspects and safe work 
procedures specific to that task. If changes have occurred in a miner's 
regularly assigned task, the mine operator must provide that miner with 
training that addresses the changes.
    Paragraph (a) of Sec.  46.8 requires, at least every 12 months, 
that the miner operator provide each miner with no less than 8 hours of 
refresher training.
    Paragraph (a) of Sec.  46.9 requires the mine operators upon 
completion of each

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training program, to record and certify on MSHA Form 5000-23 (OMB 
Control No. 1219-0070/Expiration Date: 11/30/2004), or on a form that 
contains the required information, that the miner has completed the 
training.
    Paragraph (a) of Sec.  46.11 requires the mine operator to provide 
site-specific hazard training to non-miners, including the following 
persons: scientific workers; delivery workers and customers; 
occasional, short-term maintenance or service workers, or 
manufacturers' representatives; and outside vendors, visitors, office 
or staff personnel who do not work at the mine site on a continuing 
basis.


Ira L. Mills,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-10 Filed 1-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M