[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68151-68152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27759]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request: Main Fan Operation and Inspection (I-A, II-A, 
III, and V-A Mines)

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, ``Main Fan Operation and Inspection (I-A, II-A, 
III, and V-A Mines),'' 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 December 17, 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 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: Potentially gassy (explosive) conditions 
underground are largely controlled by main fans. When accumulations of 
explosive gases, such as methane, are not swept from the mine by the 
main fans, they may reasonably be expected to contact an ignition 
source. The results of such contacts are usually disastrous, and 
multiple fatalities may be reasonably expected to occur. The Main Fan 
Operation and Inspection standard contains significantly more stringent 
requirements for main fans in gassy mines than for main fans in other 
mines. Regulations 30 CFR 57.22204, which only applies to gassy metal 
and nonmetal underground mines, requires main fans to have pressure-
recording systems. The standard also requires main fans to be inspected 
daily while operating if persons are underground and certification made 
of such inspections by signature and date. Certifications and pressure 
recordings must be retained for one year and made available to 
authorized representatives of the Secretary.
    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 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 1219-0030. The current 
approval is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2013; 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 July 17, 2012 (77 FR 42004).
    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 1219-0030. 
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: Main Fan Operation and Inspection (I-A, II-A, 
III, and V-A Mines).
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0030.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 7.

[[Page 68152]]

    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 6,930.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 2,386.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $2,800.

    Dated: November 8, 2012.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-27759 Filed 11-14-12; 8:45 am]
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