[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54278-54279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21360]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0089]


Proposed Information Collection; Safety Defects; Examination, 
Correction and Records, (Pertains to Metal and Nonmetal (M/NM) Surface 
and Underground Mines)

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 continuing collections 
of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A). 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 (MSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
information collection for updating Safety Defects; Examination, 
Correction and Records.

DATES: All comments must be postmarked or received by midnight Eastern 
Standard Time on November 4, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements 
of this notice 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 for docket 
number [MSHA-2013-0026].
     Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, 
Arlington, VA 22209-3939. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 
21st floor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, Deputy Director, 
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.
    Compressed-air receivers and other unfired pressure vessels must be 
inspected by inspectors holding a valid National Board Commission and 
in accordance with the applicable chapters of the National Board 
Inspection Code, a Manual for Boiler and Pressure Vessels Inspectors, 
1979. Safety defects found on compressed-air receivers and other 
unfired pressure vessels have caused injuries and fatalities in the 
mining industry.
    Records of inspections must be kept in accordance with the 
requirements of the National Board Inspection Code and the records must 
be made available to the Secretary or an authorized representative.
    Fired pressure vessels (boilers) must be equipped with water level 
gauges, pressure gauges, automatic pressure-relief valves, blowdown 
piping and other safety devices approved by the American Society of 
Mechanical Engineers (ASME) to protect against hazards from 
overpressure, flameouts, fuel interruptions and low water level.
    Records of inspection and repairs must be retained by the mine 
operator in accordance with the requirements of the ASME Boiler and 
Pressure Vessel Code, 1977, and the National Board Inspection Code 
(progressive records--no limit on retention time) and shall be made 
available to the Secretary or an authorized representative.
    Operators must inspect equipment, machinery, and tools that are to 
be used during a shift for safety defects before the equipment is 
placed in operation. Defects affecting safety are required to be 
corrected in a timely manner. In instances where the defect makes 
continued operation of the equipment hazardous to persons, the 
equipment must be removed from service, tagged to identify that it is 
out of use, and repaired before use is resumed.
    Safety defects on self-propelled mobile equipment account for many 
injuries and fatalities in the mining industry. Inspection of this 
equipment prior to use is required to ensure safe operation. The 
equipment operator is required to make a visual and operational check 
of the various primary operating systems that affect safety, such as 
brakes, lights, horn, seatbelts, tires, steering, back-up alarm, 
windshield, cab safety glass, rear and side view mirrors, and other 
safety and health related items.
    Any defects found are required to be either corrected immediately, 
or reported to and recorded by the mine operator prior to the timely 
correction. A record is not required if the defect is corrected 
immediately, i.e. a defect that the operator can fix without a mechanic 
such as a light bulb that needs turned tighter. The precise format in 
which the record is kept is left to the discretion of the mine 
operator. Reports of uncorrected defects are required to be recorded by 
the mine operator and kept at the mine office from the date the defects 
are recorded, until the defects are corrected.
    A competent person designated by the operator must examine each 
working place at least once each shift for

[[Page 54279]]

conditions which may adversely affect safety or health. A record of 
such examinations must be kept by the operator for a period of one year 
and must be made available for review by the Secretary or an authorized 
representative.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    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;
     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.
    This information collection request is available on MSHA's Web site 
listed in order of OMB number at http://www.msha.gov/regs/fedreg/informationcollection/informationcollection.asp. The information 
collection request will be available on MSHA's Web site for 60 days 
after the publication date of this notice, and on http://www.regulations.gov. 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.
    The public may also examine publicly available documents at MSHA, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 
Room 2350, Arlington VA 22209-3939 by signing in at the receptionist's 
desk on the 21st floor.
    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

    This request for collection of information contains notification 
and recordkeeping provisions for the Proposed Information Collection 
Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Safety 
Defects; Examination, Correction and Records, 30 CFR 56/57.14100, 56/
57.13015, 56/57.13030, and 56/57.18002. MSHA does not intend to publish 
the results from this information collection and is not seeking 
approval to not display the expiration date for the OMB approval of 
this information collection.
    There are no certification exceptions identified with this 
information collection and the collection of this information does not 
employ statistical methods.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Safety Defects; Examination, Correction and Records, 30 CFR 
56/57.14100, 56/57.13015, 56/57.13030, and 56/57.18002 (Pertains to 
metal and nonmetal (M/NM) surface and underground mines).
    OMB Number: 1219-0089.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Total Number of Respondents: 12,375.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Number of Responses: 10,368,771.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,145,141 hours.
    Total Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper 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.

    Dated: August 28th, 2013.
George F. Triebsch,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-21360 Filed 8-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P