[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12713-12714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6019]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Operations Under Water

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a preclearance 
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.

DATES: Submit comments on or before May 17, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Darrin King, Chief, Records Management 
Branch, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2139, Arlington, VA 22203-1984. 
Commenters are encouraged to send their comments on a computer disk, or 
via Internet E-mail to [email protected], along with an original 
printed copy. Mr. King can be

[[Page 12714]]

reached at (202) 693-9838 (voice), or (703) 693-9801 (facsimile).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The proposed information collection 
request may be viewed on the Internet by accessing the MSHA Home Page 
(http://www.msha.gov) and selecting Statutory and Regulatory 
Information then Paperwork Reduction Act submission (http://www.msha.gov/regspwork.htm), or by contacting Darrin King, Records 
Management Branch, U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, Room 2139, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203-
1984. Mr. King can be reached at [email protected] (Internet E-mail, 
(703) 693-9838(voice), or (703)693-9801 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Title 30, CFR 75.1716, 75.1716-1 and 75.1716-3 require operators of 
underground coal mines to notify MSHA of proposed mining under bodies 
of water and to obtain a permit to mine under a body of water if, in 
the judgment of the Secretary, it is sufficiently large to constitute a 
hazard to miners. This is a statutory provision contained in Section 
317(r) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The 
regulation is necessary to prevent the inundation of underground coal 
mines with water, which has the potential of drowning miners. The coal 
mine operator submits an application for the permit to the District 
Manager in whose district the mine is located. Applications contain the 
name and address of the mine; projected mining and ground support 
plans; a mine map showing the location of the river, stream, lake or 
other body of water and its relation to the location of all working 
places; a profile map showing the type of strata and the distance in 
elevation between the coal bed and the water involved.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection related to Operations Under Water. MSHA 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 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submissions of responses.

III. Current Action

    Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection related to Operations Under Water.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Operations Under Water.
    OMB Number: 1219-0020.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit (underground coal 
mines).
    Number of Respondents: 36.
    Annual Reponses: 36.
    Average Response Time: 5 hours.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 180.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $540.
    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 10th day of March, 2004.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 04-6019 Filed 3-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P