[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23233-23234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8843]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Hazard Communication

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 containing 
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 July 5, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and 
Health Administration, John Rowlett, Director, Management Services 
Division, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2134, Arlington, VA 22209-3939. 
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. Rowlett 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:

[[Page 23234]]

I. Background

    Section 101(a)(7) of the Mine Act requires, in part, that mandatory 
standards ``prescribe the use of labels or other appropriate forms of 
warning as are necessary to insure that miners are apprised of all 
hazards to which they are exposed, relevant symptoms and appropriate 
emergency treatment, and proper conditions and precautions for safe use 
or exposure.'' MSHA collected evidence from the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Occupational Health Survey of 
Mining and other sources indicating that there is chemical exposure 
occurring in every type of mine, although every miner may not be 
exposed. We are concerned that miners being exposed to chemicals may 
not know the hazards of those chemicals or the appropriate precautions 
to prevent injury or illness caused by exposure to a hazardous 
chemical.

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 Hazard Communication 
(HazCom). MSHA is particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of MSHA's functions, including 
whether the information has practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
     Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and
     Address 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), to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond.
    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

    The HazCom standard involves third-party information sharing. It 
requires mine operators and/or contractors to assess the hazards of 
chemicals they produce or use and provide information to their miners 
concerning the chemicals' hazards. The mine operators and/or 
contractors must develop a written hazard communication program that 
describes how they will inform miners of chemical hazards and safe 
handling procedures through miner training, labeling containers of 
hazardous chemicals, and providing miners access to material safety 
data sheets (MSDSs). The purpose of the information sharing is to 
provide miners with the right to know the hazards and identities of the 
chemicals they are exposed to while working, as well as the measures 
they can take to protect themselves from these hazards. Through HazCom 
mine operators and/or contractors also have the necessary information 
regarding the hazards of chemicals present at their mines, so that work 
methods are improved or instituted to minimize exposure to these 
chemicals. HazCom provides miners with access to this information, so 
that they can take action to protect themselves.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Hazard Communication.
    OMB Number: 1219-0133.
    Recordkeeping: 3 years.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR part 47.
    Total Respondents: 21,031.
    Total Responses: 845,370.
    Average Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 203,438.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $496,166.
    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 26th day of April, 2005.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 05-8843 Filed 5-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P