[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11128-11129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04251]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0048]


Proposed Information Collection; Respirator Program Records

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 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 on the information collection for 
Respirator Program Records.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before April 28, 2014.

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 online instructions for submitting comments for docket 
number [MSHA-2013-0046].
     Regular Mail: Send comments to MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, 
Arlington, VA 22209-3939.
     Hand Delivery: MSHA, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, 
Arlington, VA. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.

[[Page 11129]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, Acting 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 101(a), 30 U.S.C. 811(a), allows MSHA to promulgate 
standards that would require operators to make and retain records from 
which MSHA would then be allowed to collect information. Section 
103(h), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 
1977 (Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 801 et seq., authorizes MSHA to collect 
information necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety 
and health of miners.
    Title 30 CFR 56.5005 and 57.5005 require, whenever respiratory 
equipment is used, that metal and nonmetal mine operators institute a 
respirator program governing selection, maintenance, training, fitting, 
supervision, cleaning, and use of respirators. These standards seek to 
control miner exposure to harmful airborne contaminants by using 
engineering controls to prevent contamination and vent or dilute the 
contaminated air. However, where accepted engineering control measures 
have not been developed or when necessary by the nature of work 
involved (for example, while establishing controls or occasional entry 
into hazardous atmospheres to perform maintenance or investigation), 
employees may work for reasonable periods of time in concentrations of 
airborne contaminants exceeding permissible levels if they are 
protected by appropriate respiratory protective equipment.
    Sections 56.5005 and 57.5005 incorporate by reference, requirements 
of the American National Standards Institute's Practices for 
Respiratory Protection (ANSI Z88.2-1969). These incorporated 
requirements mandate that miners who must wear respirators be fit-
tested to the respirators that they will use. Certain records are also 
required to be kept in connection with respirators, including: Written 
standard operating procedures governing the selection and use of 
respirators; records of the date of issuance of the respirator; and 
fit-test results.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Respirator Program Records. 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 MSHA's estimate of the burden of 
the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
     Suggest methods to 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 http://www.msha.gov/regs/fedreg/informationcollection/informationcollection.asp. The information collection request will be 
available on MSHA's Web site and on http://www.regulations.gov. MSHA 
cautions the commenter against providing any information in the 
submission that should not be publicly disclosed. Full comments, 
including personal information provided, will be made available on 
www.regulations.gov and www.reginfo.gov.
    The public may also examine publicly available documents at MSHA, 
1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, VA. Sign 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 provisions for 
Respirator Program Records. MSHA has updated the data with respect to 
the number of respondents, responses, burden hours, and burden costs 
supporting this information collection request.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0048.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 300.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 5,400.
    Annual Burden Hours: 3,074 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $90,000.
    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: February 21, 2014.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-04251 Filed 2-26-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P