[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4494-4496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01557]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Safety Defects--Examination, Correction, and 
Records

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 Defects--Examination, Correction, and 
Records,'' 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 February 27, 2014.

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/

[[Page 4495]]

PRAViewICR?ref--nbr=201310-1219-001 (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, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are 
not toll-free numbers) 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: Departmental Information Compliance 
Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210; or by email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by email 
at [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks to extend PRA authorization 
for the Safety Defects--Examination, Correction, and Records 
information collection requirements. 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 in 
protecting the safety and health of miners. This ICR covers information 
collection requirements mentioned in this notice.
    Regulations 30 CFR 56.13015 and 57.13015 require compressed-air 
receivers and other unfired pressure vessels to be inspected by an 
inspector 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. A record of 
each inspection must be kept in accordance with National Board 
Inspection Code requirements, and the records must be made available to 
the Secretary or an authorized representative.
    Regulations 30 CFR 56.13030 and 57.13030 require that a fired 
pressure vessel (boiler) 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, a flameout, fuel 
interruption and low water level. These sections also require that a 
record of each inspection and repair 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.
    Regulations 30 CFR 56.14100 and 57.14100 require an operator to 
inspect equipment, machinery, and each tool to be used during a shift 
for safety defects before the equipment is placed in operation. Any 
defect affecting safety is required to be corrected in a timely manner. 
In an instance 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 assure 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 found defect found is 
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 an unsafe condition is not present upon examination 
prior to use if the defect is corrected immediately. The precise format 
in which the record is kept is left to the discretion of the mine 
operator. A report of an uncorrected defect is 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 conditions that 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.
    These information collection requirements are 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 these 
information collections under Control Number 1219-0089.
    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, 2014. The DOL seeks to extend PRA 
authorization for this information collection for three (3) more years, 
without any change to existing requirements. The DOL 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 September 3, 2013.
    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 1219-0089. 
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

[[Page 4496]]

other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    Agency: DOL-MSHA.
    Title of Collection: Safety Defects--Examination, Correction, and 
Records.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0089.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,375.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 10,368,771.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 1,145,141.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: January 22, 2014.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-01557 Filed 1-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P