[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 113 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33074-33075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13260]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Record of Individual Exposure to Radon 
Daughters

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, DOL.

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 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 13, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Melissa Stoehr, Acting Chief, Records Management Division, 
1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2134, Arlington, VA 22209-3939. Commenters 
are encouraged to send their comments on a computer disk, or via e-mail 
to [email protected], along with an original printed copy. 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

    MSHA's primary goal is the protection of America's most precious 
mining resource, the miner. To achieve this goal, this agency has to 
keep information regarding the hazards faced and the progress made 
within the industry to develop and maintain a safe and healthy work 
environment. Records concerning the health and welfare of miners are 
especially important, given that the nature of the exposure could 
result in medical complications later in the miner's life. To this end, 
the record keeping of Radon Daughters is essential information. Each 
year the industry records and reports the exposure levels that its 
workforce has faced during the past 12 months. This information is 
archived and stored for retrieval by the exposed party, or legal 
representative, should a medical release be deemed necessary. This 
reporting of the exposure numbers also serves to inform MSHA of the 
industry expansion or decrease as well as health threats incurred.
    During the past calendar year MSHA has received a decreased number 
of industry responses. These responses indicated that a decreasing 
number of miners are being employed and exposed within this industry 
grouping. Concurrently, the United States economy is calling for 
production rates that are lower than those in recent years. The 
decrease in production has resulted in a smaller number of employees 
being exposed to Radon Daughters. Regardless of the number of miners 
exposed, MSHA needs to keep the recording requirements for Radon 
Daughters to ensure that the records regarding the miners' level of 
exposure today is available to them tomorrow and throughout their 
lifetimes.

II. Desired Focus

    Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection related to the Record of Individual Exposure to 
Radon Daughters. 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

    Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection related to provide miners protection from radon 
daughter exposure.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Record of Individual Exposure to Radon Daughters
    OMB Number: 1219-0003.
    Agency Form Number: MSHA 4000-9.
    Frequency: Weekly.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Total Burden Respondents: 2.
    Total Number of Responses: 100.
    Total Burden Hours: 800.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 8 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.

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                                                                                                                                   Average
                                                     Total                                                              Total      time per
                 Cite/reference                   respondents                        Frequency                        responses    response     Burden
                                                                                                                                   (hours)
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Sampling........................................            2  50 weeks............................................         100         5.00         500
Recording Results...............................            2  50 weeks............................................         100         1.50         150
Calculating Reporting...........................            2  50 weeks............................................         100         1.25         125
Clerical........................................            2  50 weeks............................................         100          .25          25
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[[Page 33075]]

 
    Totals......................................  ...........  ....................................................         100  ...........         800
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    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 7th day of June, 2004.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 04-13260 Filed 6-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P