[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64538-64539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25393]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Safety Standards for Underground Coal Mine 
Ventilation--Belt Entry Used as an Intake Air Course To Ventilate 
Working Sections and Areas Where Mechanized Mining Equipment Is Being 
Installed or Removed

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, ``Safety Standards for Underground Coal Mine 
Ventilation--Belt Entry Used as an Intake Air Course to Ventilate 
Working Sections and Areas Where Mechanized Mining Equipment is Being 
Installed or Removed,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and approval for continued use, without change, in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.).

DATES: Submit comments on or before November 29, 2013.

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 free of charge 
from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201305-1219-001 (this link will only become active 
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]. Commenters are encouraged, but not 
required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments to the U.S. 
Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Attn: Information Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210, 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: Regulations 30 CFR 75.315 make it mandatory 
for a mine operator electing to use belt air to ventilate a working 
section or area where mechanized equipment is being installed or 
removed to maintain records used by coal mine supervisors, miners, and 
Federal and State mine inspectors to show required examinations and 
tests were conducted. These records give insight into hazardous 
conditions that have been or may be encountered. Inspection records 
help in making decisions that ultimately affect the safety and health 
of miners working in belt air mines. Federal Mine Safety and Health Act 
of 1977 section 103(h) (30 U.S.C. 813(h)) authorizes the MSHA to 
collect information necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the 
safety and health of miners.
    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 that 
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 1219-0138.
    OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) 
years without renewal, and the current approval for this collection is 
scheduled to expire on October 31, 2013. The DOL seeks to extend PRA 
authorization for this information collection for three (3) more years, 
without any change to existing requirements. It should also be noted 
that existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB 
receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For 
additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related 
notice published in the Federal Register on June 14, 2013 (78 FR 
35975).
    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

[[Page 64539]]

mention OMB Control Number 1219-0138. 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: Safety Standards for Underground Coal Mine 
Ventilation--Belt Entry Used as an Intake Air Course to Ventilate 
Working Sections and Areas Where Mechanized Mining Equipment is Being 
Installed or Removed.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0138.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 21.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 251.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 4,245.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $40,664.

    Dated: October 22, 2013.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-25393 Filed 10-28-13; 8:45 am]
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