[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 4, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16787-16788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4826]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-06-06BC]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call 404-639-5960 
and send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance 
Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail 
to [email protected].
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    National Survey of the Mining Population-New-National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Surveillance of occupational injuries, illnesses, and exposures has 
been an integral part of the work of the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) since its creation by the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970. To improve its surveillance 
capability related to occupational risks in mining, NIOSH is planning 
to conduct a national survey of mines and mine employees. No national 
surveys have specifically targeted the mining labor force since the 
1986 Mining Industry Population Survey (MIPS). The mining industry has 
experienced many changes in the last 20 years; consequently, the MIPS 
data are no longer representative of the current mining industry labor 
force.
    NIOSH conducted a pilot study for the proposed national survey in 
the fall of 2004 (OMB No. 0920-0633, Exp. Date 3/31/2005). The pilot 
study was designed to emulate the main study design in order to 
evaluate the effectiveness of the recruitment materials, questionnaire, 
and survey procedures in acquiring complete, high quality data from a 
sample of 45 mining operations. Objective data collected in the pilot 
study included overall response rates and individual item response 
rates. Subjective data were collected using telephone logs, and 
participant and non-participant debriefing interviews. Data captured in 
the pilot study were used to guide improvements to maximize the 
performance of the various components of the full-scale study.
    The proposed national survey will be based upon a probability 
sample of mining operations and their employees. The survey will be 
conducted in the five major mining sectors (coal, metal, nonmetal, 
stone, and sand and gravel). The major objectives of the survey will be 
to: (1) Obtain denominator data so that mine accident, injury, and 
illness reports can be evaluated in relation to the population at risk; 
(2) understand the demographic and occupational characteristics of the 
mining industry workforce; (3) estimate the number and occupational 
characteristics of independent contractor employees used by mining 
operations; and (4) obtain mine level information on selected 
variables. The sampled mining operations will provide all survey data; 
individual mine operator and independent contractor employees will not 
be directly surveyed. As a result of this study, surveillance 
researchers and government agencies will be able to identify groups of 
miners with a disproportionately high risk of injury or

[[Page 16788]]

illness. By capturing demographic (e.g., age, gender, race/ethnicity, 
education level) and occupational (e.g., job title, work location, work 
experience) characteristics of the mining workforce, these data will be 
a significant resource for the customization of interventions such as 
safety training programs.
    The target population of mines for this survey will be limited to 
mines in current operation and producing the commodity for which they 
were sampled. Separate sampling frames, stratified by underground and 
surface work location (with the exception of sand and gravel mines), 
and employment size will be developed for each major mining sector. 
Approximately 722 coal mines, 212 metal mines, 327 nonmetal mines, 572 
stone mines, and 439 sand and gravel mines will be sampled for the 
study. It is expected that this will yield 1,648 responding eligible 
mines, reporting data for approximately 24,452 employees. A survey 
packet will be mailed to each sampled mine. The mining operation will 
not be asked to report the names or any other identifying information 
for their employees. The survey respondent will have the option of 
completing either the survey questionnaire booklet or an Internet Web-
based survey questionnaire.
    The ultimate goal of the study is to provide surveillance data that 
will help to minimize and prevent work-related injuries and illnesses 
that harm miners and reduce productivity. NIOSH will use the 
information to calculate injury rates and customize safety and health 
interventions for various mining occupations. Once the study is 
completed, NIOSH will send a copy of the final report to each sampled 
mining operation. NIOSH expects to complete data collection no later 
than the Spring of 2007. There is no cost to respondents other than 
their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Table
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                                                             Number of        Average burden
             Respondents                   Number of       responses per    per response  (in     Total burden
                                          respondents        respondent           hours)             hours
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Responding Eligible Mining Operations             1,648                 1                  2              3,296
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    Dated: March 29, 2006.
Betsey Dunaway,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
 [FR Doc. E6-4826 Filed 4-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P