[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 125 (Friday, June 29, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 35729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-12524]



[[Page 35729]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Records of Results of Examinations of 
Self-Rescuers

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 August 28, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Melissa Stoehr, Acting Chief, Records 
Management Branch, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2134, Arlington, VA 
22209-3939. Commenters are encouraged to send their comments on 
computer disk, or via e-mail to [email protected]. Ms. Stoehr can 
be reached at (202) 693-9827 (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

    The Self-Rescue devices are subjected to harsh in-mine conditions 
that may result in damage to the device which could cause the device to 
malfunction or provide less than adequate protection. The 90-day 
examination of the device is necessary in order to provide for early 
detection of potential problems that would otherwise go undetected. 
Requiring the mine operator to certify the examination was made and to 
record any identified defects gives credibility to the program and 
decreases the likelihood of a person being required to use a device 
that may not function as designed. In addition, this information is 
useful in determining how durable a device may be when subjected to the 
harsh conditions that are encountered during in-mine use. This allows 
for early detection of design problems that may require the 
manufacturer to make changes to a device in order to assure the device 
will continue to function as designed and provide adequate protection 
in the event of an emergency.

II. Desired Focus

    Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension. 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 may be viewed 
on the internet by accessing the MSHA home page (http://www.msha.gov/) 
and choosing ``Rules and Regs'', then choosing ``Fed Reg Docs.''

III. Current Actions

    Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection related to examination and certification of 
self-rescue devices. Because of the rugged underground mining 
environment to which SCSRs are subjected, the potential for these 
devices being rendered inoperative is high. In the event of a mine 
fire, mine explosion, or mine inundation, the use of self-rescuers can 
be the difference between life and death. Therefore it is essential 
that these devices be examined regularly and that they are maintained 
in usable and operative condition. These minimum certification and 
recordkeeping requirements are necessary in order to maintain 
credibility in the program and provide reasonable assurance that mine 
operators conduct the required 90-day examination of the self-rescue 
devices. MSHA increased the inspection effort to include quarterly 
evaluation of the mine operators records as well as a physical 
examination of a representative number of self-rescue devices. On 
December 8, 2006, a new final rule entitled Emergency Mine Evacuation 
was published. The rule affected 30 CFR parts 48, 50, and 75. 
Specifically, the new rule affecting the estimate of the recordkeeping 
burdens imposed by 30 CFR 75.1714-3(e) is Sec.  75.1714-4, Additional 
self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs) which requires that in addition to 
the requirements in Sec. Sec.  75.1714, 75.1714-1, 75.1714-2, and 
75.1714-3, the mine operator shall provide for each person who is 
underground at least one additional SCSR device which provides 
protection for a period of one hour or longer, to cover all persons in 
the mine. Due to the large number of devices in use in the mining 
industry, (approximately 62,000 devices) it is essential that mine 
operators continue to certify that the 90-day examination was conducted 
on each device, and record the results for devices that failed the 90-
day examination.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Records of Results of Examinations of Self-Rescuers.
    OMB Number: 1219-0044.
    Recordkeeping: One Year.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Total Respondents: 719.
    Total Responses: 250,344.
    Average Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 124,375 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost: $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
    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 25th day of June, 2007.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. E7-12524 Filed 6-28-07; 8:45 am]
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