[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 76869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7962]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

December 20, 2005.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35). A copy of 
this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by 
contacting Darrin King on 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) 
or e-mail: [email protected].
    Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Mine Safety and Health 
Administration (MSHA), Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, 202-395-7316 (this is not a toll-free number), 
within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal 
Register.
    The OMB 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 submission of responses.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Title: Independent Contractor Registration and Identification.
    OMB Number: 1219-0040.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Type of Response: Recordkeeping and Reporting.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 17,395.
    Estimated Annual Responses: 100,665.
    Estimated Average Response Time: 8 minutes for a mine operator to 
maintain contractor information and 4 to 8 minutes to supply 
information for obtaining a contractor identification number.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 13,396.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $183,742.
    Description: Independent contractors performing services or 
construction at mines are subject to the Federal Mine Safety and Health 
Act of 1977. Title 30 CFR 45.4(b) requires mine operators to maintain a 
written summary of information concerning each independent contractor 
present on the mine site. The information includes the trade name, 
business address, and telephone number; a brief description and the 
location on the mine of the work to be performed; MSHA identification 
number, if any; and the contractor's business address of record. This 
information is required to be provided for inspection and enforcement 
purposes by the mine operator to any MSHA inspector upon request.
    Title 30 CFR 45.3 provides that independent contractors may 
voluntarily obtain a permanent MSHA identification number by submitting 
to MSHA their trade name and business address, a telephone number, an 
estimate of the annual hours worked by the contractor on mine property 
for the previous calendar year, and the address of record for service 
of documents upon the contractor. Independent contractors performing 
services or construction at mines are subject to the Federal Mine 
Safety and Health Act of 1977 and are responsible for violations of the 
Mine Act committed by them or their employees.
    Although Independent Contractors are not required to apply for the 
identification number, they will be assigned one by MSHA the first time 
they are cited for a violation of the Mine Act. MSHA uses the 
information to issue a permanent MSHA identification number to the 
independent contractor.

Ira L. Mills,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E5-7962 Filed 12-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P