[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75280-75281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31980]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Qualification and Certification Program

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) 
soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information 
collection related to the Title 30 CFR 75.153(a)(2) and 77.103(a)(2) 
require that a program be provided for the qualification of certain 
experienced personnel as mine electricians. A qualified person is one 
who has had at least one year of experience in performing electrical 
work underground in a coal mine, in the surface work area of an 
underground coal mine, in a surface coal mine, in a noncoal mine, in 
the mine equipment manufacturing industry, or in any other industry 
using or manufacturing similar

[[Page 75281]]

equipment, and has satisfactorily completed a coal mine electrical 
training program.

DATES: Submit comments on or before March 15, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Melissa Stoehr, Director of Management 
Services Division, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2134, 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: Melissa Stoehr, Director of Management 
Services Division, U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, Room 2134, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209-
3939. Ms. Stoehr can be reached at Stoehr.melissa@dol/gov, (202) 693-
9827 (voice), or (202) 693-9801 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Persons performing tasks and certain required examinations at coal 
mines which are related to miner safety and health, and which required 
specialized experience, are required to be either ``certified'' or 
``qualified''. The regulations recognize State certification and 
qualification programs. However, where state programs are not 
available, under the Mine Act and MSHA standards, the Secretary may 
certify and qualify persons for as long as they continue to satisfy the 
requirements needed to obtain the certification or qualification, 
fulfill any applicable retraining requirements, and remain employed at 
the same mine or by the same independent contractor. Applications for 
Secretarial certification must be submitted to the MSHA Qualification 
and Certification Unit in Denver, Colorado. MSHA Form 5000-1 provides 
the coal mining industry with a standardized reporting format that 
expedites the certification process while ensuring compliance with the 
regulations. The information provided on the forms enables the 
Secretary of Labor's delegate--MSHA, Qualification and Certification 
Unit--to determine if the applicants satisfy the requirements to obtain 
the certification or qualification. Persons must meet certain minimum 
experience requirements depending on the type of certification or 
qualification applied for.

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

    This request for collection of information contains provisions 
whereby persons may be temporarily qualified or certified to perform 
tests and examinations; requiring specialized expertise; related to 
inner safety and health at coal mines.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Qualification and Certification Program.
    OMB Number: 1219-0001.
    Recordkeeping: MSHA Form 5000-1 is used by instructors, who may be 
mining personnel, consultants, or college professors, to report to MSHA 
those miners who have satisfactorily completed a coal mine electrical 
training program. Based on the information submitted on Form 5000-1, 
MSHA issues certification cards that identify these individuals as 
qualified to perform certain tasks at the mine.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Respondents: 3,921.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: .083.
    Total Burden Hours: 12,765.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $69.
    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 19th day of December, 2003.
Lynnette M. Haywood,
Deputy Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 03-31980 Filed 12-29-03; 8:45 am]
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