[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 79033]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31690]



[[Page 79033]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0024]


Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection; 
Application for Waiver of Surface Sanitary Facilities' Requirements 
(Pertaining to Coal Mines)

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments.

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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 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 applications for waiver of surface 
sanitary facilities' requirements at coal mines.

DATES: All comments must be received by midnight Eastern Standard Time 
on February 15, 2011.

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 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 813, authorizes MSHA to collect information 
necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety and health of 
miners.
    Title 30 CFR 71.400 through 71.402 and 75.1712-1 through 75.1712-3 
require coal mine operators to provide bathing facilities, clothing 
change rooms, and sanitary flush toilet facilities in a location that 
is convenient for use of the miners. If the operator is unable to meet 
any or all of the requirements, he/she may apply for a waiver. Title 30 
CFR 71.403, 71.404, 75.1712-4, and 75.1712-5 provide procedures by 
which an operator may apply for and be granted a waiver.
    Waivers for surface mines may be granted by the District Manager 
for a period not to exceed one year. If the waiver is granted, surface 
mine operators may apply for annual extensions of the approved waiver. 
Waivers for underground mines may be granted by the District Manager 
for the period of time requested by the underground mine operator as 
long as the circumstances that were used to justify granting the waiver 
remain in effect. Waivers are not transferable to a successor coal mine 
operator.

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.

III. Current Actions

    This notice contains the request for an extension of the existing 
collection of information in 30 CFR 71.403, 71.404, 75.1712-4, and 
75.1712-5, concerning applications for waivers or extensions of waivers 
for surface sanitary facilities' requirements at coal mines. 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: 1219-0024.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Cost to Federal Government: $3,044.
    Total Burden Respondents: 933.
    Total Number of Responses: 933.
    Total Burden Hours: 357.
    Total Hour Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $19,612.
    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 extension request; they will 
also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 13, 2010.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2010-31690 Filed 12-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P