[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58172-58173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23012]


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

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0082]


Proposed Renewal of Existing Information Collection; Records of 
Preshift and Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas of Slope and 
Shaft Sinking Operations at Coal Mines

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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

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. 
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 is 
soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information 
collection for 30 CFR 77.1901. OMB last approved this information 
collection request on January 8, 2010. The package expires on January 
31, 2013.

DATES: All comments must be postmarked or received by midnight Eastern 
Time on November 19, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements 
of this notice must be clearly identified with ``OMB 1219-0082'' and 
sent to both the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Mine 
Safety and Health Administration (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 1219-0082'' 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. For 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

    Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes MSHA to collect information 
necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety and health of 
miners. The sinking of slopes and shafts is a particularly hazardous 
operation where conditions change drastically in short periods of time. 
Explosive methane and other harmful gases can be expected to infiltrate 
the work environment at any time. The working environment is typically 
a confined area in close proximity to moving equipment. Accordingly, 30 
CFR 77.1901 requires operators to conduct examinations of slope and 
shaft areas for hazardous conditions, including tests for methane and 
oxygen deficiency, within 90 minutes before each shift, once during 
each shift, and before and after blasting. The surface area surrounding 
each slope and shaft is also required to be inspected for hazards.
    The standard also requires that a record be kept of the results of 
the inspections. The record includes a description of any hazardous 
condition found and the corrective action taken to abate it. The record 
is necessary to ensure that the inspections and tests are conducted in 
a timely fashion and that corrective action is taken when hazardous 
conditions are identified, thereby ensuring a safe working environment 
for the slope and shaft sinking employees. The record is maintained at 
the mine site for the duration of the operation.
    This information collection addresses the recordkeeping associated 
with:


Sec.  77.1901  Records of preshift and onshift inspections.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of the information 
collection related to this safety standard on records of preshift and 
onshift inspections of slope and shaft areas of slope and shaft sinking 
operations at coal mines. MSHA is particularly interested in comments 
that:
     Evaluate whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the 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 document 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

[[Page 58173]]

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 safety and health standards. 
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.

Summary

    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Records of Preshift and Onshift Inspections of Slope and 
Shaft Areas of Slope and Shaft Sinking Operations at Coal Mines.
    OMB Number: 1219-0082.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR 77.1901.
    Total Number of Respondents: 27.
    Frequency: Various.
    Total Number of Responses: 11,880
    Total Burden Hours: 14,850 hours.
    Total Other Annual Cost Burden: $0.
    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).

    Dated: September 13, 2012.
George F. Triebsch,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-23012 Filed 9-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P