[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 189 (Friday, September 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59667-59668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23997]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Respirable Coal Mine Dust Sampling

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety 
and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) titled, ``Respirable Coal Mine Dust Sampling,'' 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 October 29, 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, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 
20503, Fax: 202-395-6881 (this is not a toll-free number), 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].

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act) section 103(h), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes the MSHA to 
collect information necessary to carry out its duty to protect the 
safety and health of miners. Further, section 101(a) of the Mine Act, 
30 U.S.C. 811(a), authorizes the Secretary to develop, promulgate, and 
revise as may be appropriate improved mandatory health or safety 
standards for the protection of life and prevention of injuries in coal 
or other mines. The implementing standards in 30 CFR parts 70, 71, and 
90 require each coal mine operator to protect miners from exposure to 
excessive dust levels. The respirable coal mine dust sampling standards 
provide that each coal mine operator sample designated occupations or 
work locations of the mine on a bimonthly basis and submit these 
samples to the MSHA for analysis to determine whether the mine is 
complying with the applicable dust standards.
    This information collection is 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

[[Page 59668]]

to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if 
the collection of information does not display a valid Control Number. 
See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this 
information collection under Control Number 1219-0011. The current 
approval is scheduled to expire on October 31, 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 related notice published in the 
Federal Register on June 27, 2012.
    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 1219-0011. 
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: Respirable Coal Mine Dust Sampling.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0011.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 800.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 63,193.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 8,571.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $44,065.

    Dated: September 24, 2012.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-23997 Filed 9-27-12; 8:45 a.m.]
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