[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12348-12349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5861]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

March 4, 2004.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection request (ICR) 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 
this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by 
contacting the Department of Labor (DOL). To obtain documentation, 
contact Ira Mills on 202-693-4122 (this is not a toll-free number) or 
e-mail: [email protected].
    Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL, Office of Management and 
Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, 202-395-7316 (this is not a 
toll-free number), within 30 days from the date of this publication in 
the Federal Register.
    The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:
     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;
     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;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     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.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Title: Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in Underground 
Coal Mines.
    OMB Number: 1219-0088.
    Frequency: On occasion; Monthly; Weekly; or Daily.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 711.
    Number of Annual Responses: 2,144,014.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Varies from 3 minutes for 
countersigning activities to 16 hours to update a ventilation plan.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,068,839 hours.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $190.492.
    Description: 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

[[Page 12349]]

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 30 CFR 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.

Ira L. Mills,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-5861 Filed 3-15-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M