[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 11 (Thursday, January 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 2310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-603]



[[Page 2310]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Qualification and Certification Program

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 pre-clearance 
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 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.
    Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information 
collection related to the Title 30, CFR Sec.  75.153(a)(2) and Sec.  
77.103(a)(2) require that a program be provided for the qualification 
of certain experienced personnel as mine electricians. A qualified 
person is one who has had at least one year of experience in performing 
electrical work underground in a coal mine, in the surface work area of 
an underground coal mine, in a surface coal mine, in a noncoal mine, in 
the mine equipment manufacturing industry, or in any other industry 
using or manufacturing similar equipment, and has satisfactorily 
completed a coal mine electrical training program.

DATES: Submit comments on or before March 19, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to, Debbie Ferraro, Management Services 
Division, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2171, Arlington, VA 22209-3939. 
Commenters are encouraged to send their comments on computer disk, or 
via Internet e-mail to [email protected]. Ms. Ferraro can be 
reached at (202) 693-9821 (voice), or (202) 693-9801 (facsimile).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 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 which are related to miner safety and health, and which required 
specialized experience, are required to be either ``certified'' or 
``qualified''. The regulations recognize State certification and 
qualification programs. However, where State programs are not 
available, under the Mine Act and MSHA standards, the Secretary 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 remain employed at 
the same mine or by the same independent contractor.
    Applications for Secretarial certification must be submitted to the 
MSHA Qualification and Certification Unit in Denver, Colorado. MSHA 
Form 5000-1 provides the coal mining industry with a standardized 
reporting format that expedites the certification process while 
ensuring compliance with the regulations. The information provided on 
the forms enables the Secretary of Labor's delegate--MSHA, 
Qualification and Certification Unit--to determine if the applicants 
satisfy the requirements to obtain the certification or qualification. 
Persons must meet certain minimum experience requirements depending on 
the type of certification or qualification applied for.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    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 FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT 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 
miner safety and health at coal mines.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Qualification and Certification Program.
    OMB Number: 1219-0001.
    Recordkeeping: MSHA Form 5000-1 is used by instructors, who may be 
mining personnel, consultants, or college professors, to report to MSHA 
those miners who have satisfactorily completed a coal mine electrical 
training program. Based on the information submitted on Form 5000-1, 
MSHA issues certification cards that identify these individuals as 
qualified to perform certain tasks at the mine.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Respondents: 2,294.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,346.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $210,801.
    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 11th day of January, 2007.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. E7-603 Filed 1-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P