[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69959-69960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26451]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Qualification/Certification Program and 
Man Hoist Operators Physical Fitness

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 
ensure that requested data is 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 January 31, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Debbie Ferraro, Records Management Branch, 
1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2171, Arlington, VA 22209-3939. Commenters 
are encouraged to send their comments on computer disk, or via E-mail 
to [email protected]. Ms. Ferraro can be reached at (202) 693-9821 
(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

    Persons performing tasks and certain required examinations at coal 
mines related to miner safety and health,

[[Page 69960]]

which require specialized training, experience, and physical 
qualifications, are required to be either ``certified'' or 
``qualified''. The regulations recognized State certification and 
qualification programs. However, under the Federal Mine Safety and 
Health Act of 1977 and MSHA standards, where State programs do not 
exist, MSHA may certify and qualify persons for as long as they 
continue to satisfy the requirements needed to obtain the certification 
or qualification, fulfill any applicable retraining requirements, and 
remained employed at the same mine or by the same independent 
contractor.
    Applications for Secretarial qualification or certification are 
submitted to the MSHA Qualification and Certification Unit in Denver, 
Colorado. Form 5000-41 provides the coal mining industry with a 
standardized reporting format that expedited the certification and 
qualification process while ensuring compliance with the regulations. 
MSHA uses the form's information to determine if applicants satisfy the 
requirements to obtain the certification or qualification sought. 
Persons must meet certain minimum experience requirements depending on 
the type of certification or qualification.
    Sections 75.155 and 77.105 of Title 30 of the CFR explain the 
qualifications to be a qualified hoisting engineer or a qualified hoist 
man on a slope or shaft sinking operation. Sections 75.100 and 77.100 
pertain to the certification of certain persons to perform specific 
examinations and tests. Under Sec. Sec.  75.160, 75.161, 77.107 and 
77.107-1, the mine operator must have an approved training plan 
developed to train and retrain the qualified and certified people to 
effectively perform their tasks.
    Sections 75.159 and 77.106 requires the operator of a mine to 
maintain a list of all certified and qualified persons designated to 
perform certain duties, which require specialized expertise at 
underground and surface coal mines, i.e., conduct test for methane and 
oxygen deficiency, conduct tests of air flow, perform electrical work, 
repair energized surface high-voltage lines, and perform duties of 
hoisting engineer. The recorded information is necessary to ensure that 
only persons who are properly trained and have the required number of 
years of experience are permitted to perform these duties. MSHA does 
not specify a format for the recordkeeping; however, it normally 
consists of the names of the certified and qualified person listed in 
two columns on a sheet of paper. One column is for certified persons 
and the other is for qualified persons.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection requirement related to the Qualification/
Certification Program and Man Hoist Operators Physical Fitness. MSHA is 
particularly interested in comments that:
     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 can be 
obtained by contacting the employee listed in the ADDRESSES section of 
this notice or viewed on the Internet by accessing the MSHA Home page 
(http://www.msha.gov) and then choosing ``Statutory and Regulatory 
Information'' and ``Federal Register Documents.''

III. Current Actions

    This request for collection of information contains provisions 
whereby persons may be temporarily qualified or certified to perform 
tests and examinations; requiring specialized expertise; related to 
inner safety and health at coal mines.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Qualification/Certification Program and Man Hoist Operators 
Physical Fitness.
    OMB Number: 1219-0127.
    Frequency: Quarterly and on occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,989.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 9 hours.
    Recordkeeping: One year.
    Total Burden Hours: 17,723.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $902.
    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 23rd day of November, 2004.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management
[FR Doc. 04-26451 Filed 11-30-04; 8:45 am]
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