[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38087-38088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15503]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Occupational Noise Exposure

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety 
and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored Information Collection 
Request (ICR) titled, ``Occupational Noise Exposure,'' to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use 
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.).

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 26, 2012.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the 
RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, on the 
day following publication of this notice or by contacting Michel Smyth 
by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or 
sending an email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-MSHA, Office of 
Management and Budget, Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, 
Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 202-395-6929/Fax: 202-395-6881 (these 
are not toll-free numbers), email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 
202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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, 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 miners working nearby. The MSHA, Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration, 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.
    Records of miner exposures to noise are necessary so that mine 
operators and the 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 the 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.
    These information collections are subject to the PRA. A Federal 
agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, 
and the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the 
collection of information does not display a valid OMB Control Number. 
See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this 
information collection under OMB Control Number 1219-0120. The current 
OMB approval is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2012; however, it 
should be noted that existing information collection requirements 
submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they 
undergo review. For additional information, see the

[[Page 38088]]

related notice published in the Federal Register on March 22, 2012 (77 
FR 16865).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1219-0120. 
The OMB 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 submission of responses.
    Agency: DOL-MSHA.
    Title of Collection: Occupational Noise Exposure.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0120.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--Businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 13,245.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 207,633.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 14,289.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $34,327.

    Dated: June 20, 2012.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-15503 Filed 6-25-12; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P