[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42068-42069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15767]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Records of Results of Examinations of 
Self-Rescuers

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 September 13, 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 Self-Rescue devices are subjected to harsh in-mine conditions 
that may result in damage to the device which could cause the device to 
malfunction or provide less than adequate protection. The 90-day 
examination of the device is necessary in order to provide for early 
detection of potential

[[Page 42069]]

problems that would otherwise go undetected. Requiring the mine 
operator to certify the examination was made and to record any 
identified defects gives credibility to the program and decreases the 
likelihood of a person being required to use a device that may not 
function as designed. In addition, this information is useful in 
determining how durable a device may be when subjected to the harsh 
conditions that are encountered during in-mine use. This allows for 
early detection of design problems that may require the manufacturer to 
make changes to a device in order to assure the device will continue to 
function as designed and provide adequate protection in the event of an 
emergency.

II. Desired Focus

    Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension. 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 Submissions (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 examination and certification of 
self-rescue devices. In 1997, a large number of problems were 
identified with SCSR devices that indicated either the 90-day 
examinations were not being conducted, or defective devices were not 
being removed from service. As a result of these problems, MSHA issued 
a Program Information Bulletin reminding the industry of the standard 
requiring the 90-day examination and certification of the self-rescue 
devices, and requiring devices that fail the 90-day examination to be 
removed from service. In addition, MSHA increased the inspection effort 
to include quarterly evaluation of the mine operators records as well 
as a physical examination of a representative number of self-rescue 
devices. However, due to the large number of devices in use in the 
mining industry (approximately 50,000 devices), it is essential that 
mine operators continue to certify that the 90-day examination was 
conducted on each device, and record the results for devices that 
failed the 90-day examination. Although MSHA has increased the 
enforcement effort, the large number of devices in use in the mining 
industry make it impractical for MSHA to be able to examine each of the 
devices quarterly.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Records of Results of Examinations of Self-Rescuers.
    OMB Number: 1219-0044.
    Recordkeeping: One year.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR 75.1714-3.
    Total Respondents: 773.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Responses: 143,492.
    Average Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 71,748 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost: $0.
    Total Burden Cost (Capital/Startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (Operating/Maintaining): $0.
    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 in Arlington, Virginia, this 6th day of July, 2004.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 04-15767 Filed 7-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P