[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 179 (Thursday, September 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56560-56561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23085]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Health Standards for Diesel Particulate 
Matter Exposure (Underground Coal Mines) 30 CFR 75.1915/72.503, 72.510, 
72.520 and Part 7 or Part 36 as a Result of Sec.  72.500

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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to assure 
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 for 30 CFR 
75.1915/72.503, 72.510, 72.520 and Part 7 or Part 36 as a result of 
Sec.  72.500.

DATES: All comments must be received by midnight Eastern Daylight 
Savings Time on November 15, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Comments must clearly be identified with the rule title and 
may be submitted to MSHA by any of the following methods:
    (1) Electronic mail: [email protected].
    (2) Facsimile: (202) 693-9441.
    (3) Regular Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and 
Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939.
    (4) Hand Delivery or Courier: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2350, Arlington, VA 
22209-3939. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mario Distasio, Chief of the Economic 
Analysis Division, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 
MSHA, at [email protected] (e-mail), 202-693-9445 (voicemail), 
202-693-9441 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 101(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act), provides that the Secretary of Labor shall develop, 
promulgate, and revise as may be appropriate, improved mandatory health 
or safety standards for the protection of life and prevention of 
injuries in coal or other mines. In addition, Section 103(h) of the 
Mine Act mandates that mine operators keep any records and make any 
reports that are reasonably necessary for the Mine Safety and Health 
Administration to perform its duties under the Mine Act.
    MSHA established standards and regulations for diesel-powered 
equipment in underground coal mines that provide additional important 
protection for coal miners who work on and around diesel-powered 
equipment. The standards were designed to reduce the risks to 
underground coal miners of serious health hazards associated with 
exposure to high concentrations of diesel particulate matter. The 
standards contain information collection requirements for underground 
coal mine operators in Health Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter 
Exposure (Underground Coal Mines) 30 CFR 75.1915/72.503, 72.510, 72.520 
and Part 7 or Part 36 as a result of Sec.  72.500.
     After-treatment devices installed on diesel-powered 
equipment must be maintained according to manufacturer specifications. 
Since these devices are not usually on diesel machinery, maintenance 
personnel have to be trained to maintain them.
     Persons required to perform maintenance on diesel-powered 
equipment must successfully complete a training and qualification 
program in accordance with Sec.  75.1915(a). The mine operator must 
maintain a copy of the required training and qualification program and 
a record of the names of all qualified persons under the program.
     Underground coal mine operators are required to keep a 
record of those trained for one year.
     Underground coal mine operators exposed to diesel 
emissions are required to be trained annually. The training must 
include: Health risks associated with exposure to diesel particulate 
matter; methods used in the mine to control diesel particulate 
concentrations; identification of the personnel responsible for 
maintaining those controls; and actions miners must take to assure 
controls operate as intended.
     Underground coal mine operators are required to keep a 
record of the training for one year.
     Underground coal mine operators are required to maintain 
an inventory of diesel-powered equipment units, together with a list of 
information about any unit's emission control or filtration system. The 
list must be updated within 7 calendar days of any change.
     As a result of Sec.  72.503(d), which requires all 
permissible equipment to have after-treatment or filtration devices, 
diesel manufacturers are required to amend existing diesel machine 
approval applications under Part 7 or Part 36. Few machine approvals 
are approved under Part 36, while most machine approvals are approved 
under Part 7.

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 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 selecting ``Rules & Regs'', and then selecting ``FedReg.Docs''. On 
the next screen, select ``Paperwork Reduction Act Supporting 
Statement'' to view documents supporting the Federal Register notice.

[[Page 56561]]

III. Current Actions

    This request for collection of information contains notification 
and recordkeeping provisions for the Proposed Information Collection 
Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Health 
Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure (Underground Coal 
Mines) 30 CFR 75.1915/72.503, 72.510, 72.520 and Part 7 or Part 36 as a 
result of Sec.  72.500. MSHA does not intend to publish the results 
from this information collection and is not seeking approval to either 
display or not display the expiration date for the OMB approval of this 
information collection.
    There are no certification exceptions identified with this 
information collection and the collection of this information does not 
employ statistical methods.
    Type of Review: Extension
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration
    OMB Number: 1219-0124
    Frequency: On Occasion
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit
    Cost to Federal Government: $5,040
    Total Burden Respondents: 165
    Total Number of Responses: 165
    Total Burden Hours: 623
    Total Hour Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $6,425.39
    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.

Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2010-23085 Filed 9-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P