[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 67 (Monday, April 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17589-17590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6604]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Operations Under Water

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 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.

DATES: Submit comments on or before June 8, 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: Contact the employee listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Title 30, CFR Sec.  75.1716, 75.1716-1 and 75.1716-3 require 
operators of underground coal mines to notify MSHA of proposed mining 
under bodies of water and to obtain a permit to mine under a body of 
water if, in the judgment of the Secretary, it is sufficiently large to 
constitute a hazard to miners. This is a statutory provision contained 
in Section 317(r) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. 
The regulation is necessary to prevent the inundation of underground 
coal mines with water, which has the potential of drowning miners. The 
coal mine operator submits an application for the permit to the 
District Manager in whose district the mine is located. Applications 
contain the name and address of the mine; projected mining and ground 
support plans; a mine map showing the location of the river, stream, 
lake or other body of water and its relation to the location of all 
working places; a profile map showing the type of strata and the 
distance in elevation between the coal bed and the water involved.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection related to Operations Under Water. MSHA 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 appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

III. Current Action

    Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection related to Operations Under Water.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Operations Under Water.
    OMB Number: 1219-0020.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 30.
    Annual Reponses: 30.
    Average Response Time: 5 hours.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 150.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $450.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of

[[Page 17590]]

Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; 
they will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated at Arlington, Virginia, this 4th day of April, 2007.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. E7-6604 Filed 4-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P