[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 137 (Thursday, July 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42428-42429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18092]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Records of Preshift and Onshift 
Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas (Pertains to Slope and Shaft 
Sinking Operation at Coal Mines)

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, DOL.

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 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)(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 extension of the information 
collection related to the 30 CFR Sections 77.1901--Records of Preshift 
and Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 15, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Jane Tarr, Management Analyst, 
Administration and Management 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2171, 
Arlington, VA 22209-3939. Commenters are encouraged to send their 
comments

[[Page 42429]]

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

    Section 77.1901 requires operators to conduct examinations of slope 
and shaft areas for hazardous conditions, including tests for methane 
and oxygen deficiency, within 90 minutes before each shift, once during 
each shift, and before and after blasting. The surface area surrounding 
each slope and shaft is also required to be inspected for hazards.
    Section 77.1901 also requires that records be kept of the results 
of the inspections. The record includes a description of any hazardous 
condition found and the corrective action taken to abate it. These 
records are necessary to ensure that the inspections and tests are 
conducted in a timely fashion and that corrective action is taken when 
hazardous conditions are identified, thereby ensuring a safe working 
environment for the slope and shaft sinking employees. The record is 
maintained at the mine site for the duration of the operation.

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 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 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

    Section 77.1901 requires operators to conduct examinations of slope 
and shaft areas for hazardous conditions, including tests for methane 
and oxygen deficiency, within 90 minutes before each shift, once during 
each shift, and before and after blasting. The surface area surrounding 
each slope and shaft is also required to be inspected for hazards. 
Section 77.1901 also requires that records be kept of the results of 
the inspections.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Records of Preshift and Onshift Inspections of Slope and 
Shaft Areas.
    OMB Number: 1219-0082.
    Recordkeeping: The standard also requires that a record be kept of 
the results of the inspections. The record includes a description of 
any hazardous condition found and the corrective action taken to abate 
it. The record is necessary to ensure that the inspections and tests 
are conducted in a timely fashion and that corrective action is taken 
when hazardous conditions are identified, thereby ensuring a safe 
working environment for the slope and shaft sinking employees. The 
record is maintained at the mine site for the duration of the 
operation.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Respondents: 35.
    Average Time Per Response: 1.25 hours.
    Total Burden Hours: 14,823 hours.
    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 at Arlington, Virginia, this 8th day of July, 2003.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 03-18092 Filed 7-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P