[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64371-64372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28405]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations 
in Underground Coal Mines

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 75.310, 312, 342, 351, 360, 
361, 362, 363, 364, 370, 371, and 382.

DATES: Submit comments on or before January 12, 2004.

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 on computer disk, or via Internet e-mail to 
[email protected]. Ms. Stoehr can be reached at (202) 693-9827 
(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) 693-9827 (voice), or (202) 693-9801 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    An underground mine is a maze of tunnels that must be adequately 
ventilated with fresh air to provide a safe environment for miners. 
Methane is liberated from the strata, and noxious gases and dusts from 
blasting and other mining activities may be present. The explosive and 
noxious gases and dusts must be diluted, rendered harmless, and carried 
to the surface by the ventilating currents. Sufficient air must be 
provided to maintain the level of respirable dust at or below 2 
milligrams per cubic meter of air and air quality must be maintained in 
accordance with MSHA standards. Mechanical ventilation equipment of 
sufficient capacity must operate at all times while miners are in the 
mine. Ground conditions are subject to frequent changes, thus 
sufficient tests and examinations are necessary to ensure the integrity 
of the ventilation system and to detect any changes that may require 
adjustments in the system. Records of tests and examinations are 
necessary to ensure that the ventilation system is being maintained and 
that changes which could adversely affect the integrity of the system 
or the safety of the miners are not occurring. These examination 
requirements of Sec. Sec.  75.310, 75.312, 75.342, 75.351, 75.360 
through 75.364, 75.370, 75.371, and 75.382 also incorporate 
examinations of other critical aspects of the underground work 
environment such as roof conditions and electrical equipment which have 
historically cased numerous fatalities if not properly maintained and 
operated.

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

[[Page 64372]]

Information'' and ``Federal Register Documents.''

III. Current Actions

    Records of tests and examinations are necessary to ensure that the 
ventilation system is being maintained and that changes which could 
adversely affect the integrity of the system or the safety of the 
miners are not occurring.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in Underground 
Coal Mines.
    OMB Number: 1219-0088.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Respondents: 711.
    Average Time Per Response: 1.1 hour.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,068,839.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $75,828.
    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 5th day of November, 2003.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 03-28405 Filed 11-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P