[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16865-16866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6872]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection; 
Occupational Noise Exposure

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: 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/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995. 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.
    The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of an existing information 
collection, OMB Control Number 1219-0120, Occupational Noise Exposure. 
OMB last approved this information collection request (ICR) on March 
10, 2009.

DATES: All comments must be postmarked or received by midnight Eastern 
Daylight Time on May 21, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified with ``OMB Control Number 1219-
0120'' and sent to both the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and 
MSHA. Comments to MSHA may be sent by any of the methods listed below.
     Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
     Facsimile: 202-693-9441, include ``OMB 1219-0120'' in the 
subject line of the message.
     Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, 
Arlington, VA 22209-3939. If hand delivery, sign in at the 
receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.
    Comments to OMB may be sent by mail addressed to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 
20503, Attn: Desk Officer for MSHA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Moxness, Chief, Economic Analysis 
Division, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at 
[email protected] (email); 202-693-9440 (voice); or 202-693-9441 
(facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    This information collection was originally titled ``Noise exposure 
assessment; audiometric testing, evaluation, and records and training 
in all mines.'' OMB 1219-0120 has been renamed ``Occupational Noise 
Exposure'' to more clearly focus the title and purpose of the 
information collection on its central concern for the prevention of 
hearing loss resulting from occupational noise exposure.
    Noise is a harmful physical agent and one of the most pervasive 
health hazards in mining. Repeated exposure to high levels of sound 
over time causes occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), a 
serious, often profound physical impairment in mining, with far-
reaching psychological and social effects. NIHL can be distinguished 
from aging and other factors that can contribute to hearing loss and it 
can be prevented. According to the National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health (NIOSH), NIHL is among the ``top ten'' leading 
occupational illnesses and injuries.
    For many years, NIHL was regarded as an inevitable consequence of 
working in a mine. Mining, an intensely mechanized industry, relies on 
drills, crushers, compressors, conveyors, trucks, loaders, and other 
heavy-duty equipment for the excavation, haulage, and processing of 
material. This equipment creates high sound levels, exposing machine 
operators as well as employees working nearby. The Mine Safety and 
Health Administration (MSHA), the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, the military, and other organizations around the world 
have established and enforced standards to reduce the loss of hearing. 
Quieter equipment, isolation of workers from noise sources, and 
limiting the time workers are exposed to noise are among the many well-
accepted methods that will prevent the costly incidence of NIHL.

[[Page 16866]]

    MSHA's information collection request, OMB 1219-0120, addresses 
eight standards as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          30 CFR Citation                           Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Part 62                    Occupational Noise Exposure
  Sec.   62.110...................  Noise exposure assessment.
  Sec.   62.130...................  Permissible exposure level.
  Sec.   62.171...................  Audiometric test procedures.
  Sec.   62.172...................  Evaluation of audiograms.
  Sec.   62.174...................  Follow-up corrective measures when a
                                     standard threshold shift is
                                     detected.
  Sec.   62.175...................  Notification of results; reporting
                                     requirements.
  Sec.   62.180...................  Training.
  Sec.   62.190...................  Records.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Records of miner exposures to noise are necessary so that mine 
operators and MSHA can evaluate the need for and effectiveness of 
engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective 
equipment to protect miners from harmful levels of noise that can 
result in hearing loss. However, the Agency believes that extensive 
records for this purpose are not needed. These requirements are a 
performance-oriented approach to monitoring. Records of miner hearing 
examinations enable mine operators and MSHA to ensure that the controls 
are effective in preventing NIHL for individual miners. Records of 
training are needed to confirm that miners receive the information they 
need to become active participants in hearing conservation efforts.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of 
the information collection related to the occupational noise standard. 
MSHA is particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of MSHA's functions, including 
whether the information has practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA's estimate of the burden of 
the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
     Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and
     Address 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, to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond.
    The public may examine publicly available documents, including the 
public comment version of the supporting statement, at MSHA, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 
2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939. OMB clearance requests are available on 
MSHA's Web site at http://www.msha.gov under ``Rules & Regs'' on the 
right side of the screen by selecting Information Collections Requests, 
Paperwork Reduction Act Supporting Statements. The public comment 
version of the supporting statement will be available on MSHA's Web 
site for 60 days after the publication date of this notice. Comments 
submitted in writing or in electronic form will be made available for 
public inspection. Because comments will not be edited to remove any 
identifying or contact information, MSHA cautions the commenter against 
including any information in the submission that should not be publicly 
disclosed. Questions about the information collection requirements may 
be directed to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section of this notice.

III. Current Actions

    The information obtained from mine operators is used by MSHA during 
inspections to determine compliance with this standard in order to 
reduce occupation-related hearing loss in miners. MSHA has updated the 
data in respect to the number of respondents and responses, as well as 
the total burden hours and burden costs supporting this information 
collection extension request.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Occupational Noise Exposure.
    OMB Number: 1219-0120.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR Part 62.
    Total Number of Respondents: 13,245.
    Frequency: Various.
    Total Number of Responses: 177,992.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 12,455.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost: $33,880.
    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.

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

Patricia W. Silvey,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-6872 Filed 3-21-12; 8:45 am]
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