[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70578-70579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28309]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Ventilation Plan and Main Fan Maintenance 
Record

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, ``Ventilation Plan and Main Fan Maintenance 
Record,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

DATES: Submit comments on or before December 26, 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=201309-1219-002 (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 by mail or courier 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; by Fax: 202-395-6881 (this is not a toll-free 
number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters are 
encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments 
by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor--OASAM, Office of 
the Chief Information Officer, Attn: Information Policy and Assessment 
Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; 
or by 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: This ICR seeks to maintain PRA authorization 
for the MSHA Ventilation Plan and Main Fan Maintenance Record 
information collection. Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
section 103(h), 30 U.S.C. 813, authorizes the MSHA to collect 
information necessary to carry out the Agency's duty in protecting the 
safety and health of miners. Underground mines usually present harsh 
and hostile working environments. Pursuant to the statutory authority, 
the MSHA has issued regulations under which a mine operator is required 
to prepare a written plan of the mine ventilation system. The

[[Page 70579]]

plan must be updated at least annually. Upon written request of the 
MSHA District Manager, the plan or revisions must be submitted to the 
MSHA for review and comment. In addition, the main ventilation fans for 
an underground mine must be maintained according to either 
manufacturers' recommendations or a written periodic schedule. Upon 
request of an authorized representative of the Secretary of Labor, this 
fan maintenance schedule must be made available for review. The records 
help ensure compliance with the standard and may serve as a warning 
mechanism for possible ventilation problems before they occur. The MSHA 
codified the regulations at 30 CFR 57.8520 and -.8525.
    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 1219-0016.
    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 January 31, 2013. The DOL seeks to extend PRA 
authorization for this information collection for three (3) more years, 
without any change to existing requirements. The DOL also notes 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 August 21, 2013 (78 FR 
51749).
    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 1219-0016. 
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: Ventilation Plan and Main Fan Maintenance 
Record.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0016.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 11.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 297.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 6,617.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: November 18, 2013.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-28309 Filed 11-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P