[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31140-31141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12377]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Training Plans and Certificate of Training

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 preclearance 
consultation

[[Page 31141]]

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 August 2, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Melissa Stoehr, Acting Chief, Records 
Management Branch, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2134, Arlington, VA 
22209-3939. Commenters are encouraged to send their comments on 
computer disk, or via e-mail to [email protected]. Ms. Stoehr can 
be reached at (202) 693-9827 (voice), or (202) 693-9801 (facsimile).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the employee listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), 
recognizes that the role of education and training in the improvement 
of miner health and safety is an important element of federal efforts 
to make the nation's mines safer places in which to work. Section 
115(a) of the Mine Act states that ``each operator of a coal or other 
mine shall have a health and safety program which shall be approved by 
the Secretary.'' Title 30, CFR 48.3 and 48.23 specifically address the 
requirements for training plans. Section 115(a) of the Mine Act 
requires that each mine operator have a program approved by the 
Secretary for training miners in the health and safety aspects of 
mining. Section 115(c) requires (a) that the mine operator certify on a 
form approved by the Secretary that the miner has received the 
specified training in each subject area of the approved health and 
safety training plan; (b) that the certificates be maintained by the 
operator and be available for inspection at the mine site; and (c) that 
the miner is entitled to a copy of the certificate upon completion of 
the training and when he leaves the operator's employ. Title 30, CFR 
part 48 implements section 115 of the Act by setting forth the 
requirements for obtaining approval of training programs and specifying 
the kinds of training, including refresher and hazard training, which 
must be provided to the miners. The standards are intended to ensure 
that miners will be effectively trained and certified in matters 
affecting their health and safety, with the ultimate goal being the 
reduction of frequency and severity of the injuries in the nation's 
mines.

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 Training Plans. 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 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 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 the employee listed above in the For Further Information 
Contact section of this notice for a hard copy.

III. Current Actions

    Approved training plans are used to implement training programs for 
training new miners, training experienced miners, training miners for 
new tasks, annual refresher training, and hazard training. The plans 
are also used by MSHA to ensure that all miners are receiving the 
training necessary to perform their jobs in a safe manner. MSHA Form 
5000-23, Certificate of Training, is used by mine operators to record 
mandatory training received by miners. Each form provides the mine 
operator with a recordkeeping document, the miner with a certificate of 
training, and MSHA a monitoring tool for determining compliance 
requirement. Currently the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) 
is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection related to Training Plans and Certificates of 
Training.
    Type of Review: Extension of Currently Approved Collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Training Plans and Certificate of Training.
    OMB Number: 1219-0009 Extension.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Frequency: Annually and On Occasion.
    Number of Respondents: 4,267.
    Number of Annual Responses: 113,272.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 8 hours to develop training plan; 5 
minutes to prepare certificate of training.
    Total Burden Hours: 19,519 hours.
    Total Annualized Capital/startup Costs: $0.
    Total Annual (Operating and Maintenance): $226,612.
    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 24th day of May, 2004.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 04-12377 Filed 6-1-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P