[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79033-79034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31750]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0003]


Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection; Radiation 
Sampling and Exposure Records (Pertains to Underground Metal and 
Nonmetal 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

[[Page 79034]]

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 Radiation Sampling and Exposure 
Records, 30 CFR 57.5037 and 57.5040.

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

ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified clearly 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

    Under the authority of Section 103 of the Federal Mine Safety and 
Health Act of 1977, MSHA is required to--

    * * * issue regulations requiring operators to maintain accurate 
records of employee exposures to potentially toxic materials or 
harmful physical agents which are required to be monitored or 
measured under any applicable mandatory health or safety standard 
promulgated under this Act.

    Airborne radon and radon daughters exist in every uranium mine and 
can exist in several other mining commodities. Radon is radioactive 
gas. It diffuses into the underground mine atmosphere through the rock 
and the ground water. Radon decays in a series of steps into other 
radioactive elements, which are solids, called radon daughters. Radon 
and radon daughters are invisible and odorless. Decay of radon and its 
daughters results in emissions of alpha energy. Medical doctors and 
scientists have associated high radon daughter exposures with lung 
cancer. The health hazard arises from breathing air contaminated with 
radon daughters which are in turn deposited in the lungs. The lung 
tissues are sensitive to alpha radioactivity.
    Standard 30 CFR 57.5037 establishes the procedures to be used by 
the mine operator in sampling mine air for the presence and 
concentrations of radon daughters. Operators are required to conduct 
weekly sampling where concentrations of radon daughters exceed 0.3 
working levels (WL). Sampling is required bi-weekly where uranium mines 
have readings of 0.1 WL to 0.3 WL and every 3 months in non-uranium 
underground mines where the readings are 0.1 WL to 0.3 WL. Mine 
operators are required to make a record of the sampling and retain it 
for 2 years.
    Standard 30 CFR 57.5040 requires mine operators to calculate, 
record, and report to MSHA individual exposures to radon daughters on 
MSHA Form 4000-9 ``Record of Individual Exposure to Radon Daughters''. 
The calculations are based on the results of the weekly sampling 
required by 30 CFR 57.5037.

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 a request for public comment on the extension 
of the information collection for existing notification, recordkeeping, 
and reporting provisions for radiation sampling and exposure records. 
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: 1219-0003.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Cost to Federal Government: $747.
    Total Burden Respondents: 5.
    Total Number of Responses: 255.
    Total Burden Hours: 502 hours.
    Total Hour Burden Cost: $17,018.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and 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: December 14, 2010.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2010-31750 Filed 12-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P