[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80088-80089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27343]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0003]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Radiation Sampling 
and Exposure Records (Pertains to Underground Metal and Nonmetal 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 collections of information 
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 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 Radiation 
Sampling and Exposure Records (pertains to underground metal and 
nonmetal mines).

DATES: All comments must be received on or before January 17, 2017.

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-2016-0038.
     Regular Mail: Send comments to USDOL-MSHA, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 
4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452.
     Hand Delivery: USDOL-Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, VA 
22202-5452. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 4th floor via the 
East elevator.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, 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

    Under the authority of Section 103 of the Federal Mine Safety and 
Health Act of 1977, MSHA is required to issue regulations requiring 
operators to maintain accurate records of employee exposures to 
potentially toxic materials or harmful physical agents which are 
required to be monitored or measured under any applicable mandatory 
health or safety standard promulgated under this Act.
    Airborne radon and radon daughters exist in every uranium mine and 
in several other underground mining commodities. Radon is radioactive 
gas. It diffuses into the underground mine atmosphere through the rock 
and the ground water. Radon decays in a series of steps into other 
radioactive elements, which are solids, called radon daughters. Radon 
and radon daughters are invisible and odorless. Decay of radon and its 
daughters results in emissions of alpha energy.
    Medical doctors and scientists have associated high radon daughter 
exposures with lung cancer. The health hazard arises from breathing air 
contaminated with radon daughters which are in turn deposited in the 
lungs. The lung tissues are sensitive to alpha radioactivity.
    The amounts of airborne radon daughters to which most miners can be 
exposed with no adverse effects have been established and are expressed 
as working levels (WL). The current MSHA standard is a maximum personal 
exposure of 4 working level months (WLM) per year.
    Excess lung cancer in uranium miners, just as coal workers'

[[Page 80089]]

pneumoconiosis, silicosis, and other debilitating occupational 
diseases, has been recognized for many years. Thus, an adequate base of 
accurate exposure level data is essential to control miners' exposures 
and permit an evaluation of the effectiveness of existing regulations.
    The standard at 30 CFR 57.5037 established the procedures to be 
used by the mine operator in sampling mine air for the presence and 
concentrations of radon daughters. Operators are required to conduct 
weekly sampling where concentrations of radon daughters exceed 0.3 WL. 
Sampling is required bi-weekly where uranium mines have readings of 0.1 
WL to 0.3 WL and every 3 months in non-uranium underground mines where 
the readings are 0.1 WL to 0.3 WL. Mine operators are required to keep 
records of all mandatory samplings. Records must include the sample 
date, location, and results, and must be retained at the mine site or 
nearest mine office for at least 2 years.
    The standard at 30 CFR 57.5040 requires mine operators to calculate 
and record individual exposures to radon daughters on MSHA Form 4000-9 
``Record of Individual Exposure to Radon Daughters.'' The calculations 
are based on the results of the weekly sampling required by 30 CFR 
57.5037. Records must be maintained by the operator and submitted to 
MSHA annually.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Radiation Sampling and Exposure Records (pertains 
to underground metal and nonmetal mines).
     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.
    The information collection request will be available 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 USDOL-
Mine Safety and Health Administration, 201 12th South, Suite 4E401, 
Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 4th 
floor via the East elevator.
    Questions about the information collection requirements may be 
directed to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of 
this notice.

III. Current Actions

    This request for collection of information contains provisions for 
Radiation Sampling and Exposure Records (pertains to underground metal 
and nonmetal mines). 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: 1219-0003.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 5.
    Frequency: Weekly.
    Number of Responses: 505.
    Annual Burden Hours: 502 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $17,433.
    MSHA Forms: MSHA Form 4000-9, Record of Individual Exposure to 
Radon Daughters.
    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.

Sheila McConnell,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-27343 Filed 11-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P