[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 105 (Thursday, June 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31214-31215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8457]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

May 25, 2006.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection requests (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 
each 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: Notification of Methane Detected in Mine Atmosphere.
    OMB Number: 1219-0103.
    Frequency: On occasion and weekly.
    Type of Response: Recordkeeping and Reporting.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 8.

[[Page 31215]]



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                                                                     Estimated
                                                                     number of        Average        Estimated
                    Collection of information                         annual       response time   annual burden
                                                                     responses                         hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notifying MSHA..................................................               1            0.25            0.25
Weekly Certification Record.....................................             416            0.08            34.5
Informing affected persons when a hazardous condition occurs....               8            0.17             1.3
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................             425  ..............              36
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0.
    Description: Sections 103(c), (I), and (j) of the Federal Mine 
Safety and Health Act of 1977 authorizes the inspection, recordkeeping 
and reporting requirements implemented in 30 CFR part 57, Subpart T--
Safety Standards for Methane in Metal and Nonmetal mines. Methane is a 
flammable gas found in underground mining. Methane is a colorless, 
odorless, tasteless gas, and it tends to rise to the roof of a mine 
because it is lighter than air. Although methane itself is nontoxic, 
its presence reduces oxygen content by dilution when mixed with air, 
and consequently can act as an asphyxiant when present in large 
quantities. Methane mixed with air is explosive in the range of 5 to 15 
percent, provided that 12 percent or more oxygen is present. The 
presence of dust containing volatile matter in the mine atmosphere may 
further enhance the explosion potential of methane in a mine.
    Metal and Nonmetal mine operators are required to notify MSHA as 
soon as possible if any of the following events occur: (a) There is an 
outburst that results in 0.25 percent or more methane in the mine 
atmosphere; (b) there is a blowout that results in 0.25 percent or more 
methane in the mine atmosphere; (c) there is an ignition of methane; 
(d) air sample results indicate 0.25 percent or more methane in the 
mine atmosphere of a Subcategory I-B, I-C, II-B, V-B, or Category VI 
mine. If methane reaches 2.0 percent in a Category IV mine; or methane 
reaches 0.25 percent in the mine atmosphere of a Subcategory I-B, II-B, 
V-B, and VI mines, MSHA shall be notified immediately so that it can 
determine if further action is necessary. Additionally, MSHA 
investigates these occurrences to determine that the mine is placed in 
the proper category.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Title: Safety Standards for Roof Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines 
and Underground Coal Mines.
    OMB Number: 1219-0121.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Type of Response: Recordkeeping.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Estimated        Average        Estimated
            Collection of information                Number of        annual       response time   annual burden
                                                    respondents      responses        (hours)          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Metal/Nonmetal Surface..........................              20              40            0.05               2
Metal/Nonmetal Underground......................             200             800            0.05              40
Underground Coal................................             634           2,536            0.05             127
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................             854           3,376  ..............             169
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    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0.
    Description: 30 CFR part 56/57.3203 and 75.204 address the quality 
of rock fixtures and their installation. Roof and rock bolts and 
accessories are an integral part of ground control systems and are used 
to prevent the fall of roof, face, and ribs. These standards require 
that metal and nonmetal and coal mine operators obtain a certification 
from the manufacturer that rock bolts and accessories are manufactured 
and tested in accordance with the 1995 American Society for Testing and 
Materials (ASTM) publication ``Standard Specification for Roof and Rock 
Bolts and Accessories'' (ASTM F432-95).
    The manufacturer's certification assures mine operators that the 
material they use meets technical requirements established to promote 
safety and eliminates the concern that mine operators need to have the 
same engineering knowledge of the ASTM standard as manufacturers. The 
certifications also are made available to an Authorized Representative 
of the Secretary to attest to the appropriate testing and manufacture 
of the rock bolts and accessories.

Darrin A. King,
Acting Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-8457 Filed 5-31-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P