[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 111 (Monday, June 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26951-26952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12100]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0NEW]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Performance Reports 
for MSHA Grants

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 
Performance Reports for MSHA Grants.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before August 11, 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-2017-0007.
     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

    Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes MSHA to collect information 
necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety and health of 
miners. Further, Sec. 101(a) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 811 authorizes 
the Secretary of Labor to develop, promulgate, and revise as may be 
appropriate, improved mandatory health or safety standards for the 
protection of life and prevention of injuries in coal and metal and 
nonmetal mines.
    MSHA is requesting approval of a new information collection for 
narrative reporting of grant requirements. One of MSHA's strategic 
goals is to ``improve workplace safety and health'' through the 
strategic objective ``secure safe and healthy workplaces, particularly 
in high-risk industries.'' MSHA's goal in accomplishing this objective 
is to ``prevent death, disease, and injury from mining and promote safe 
and healthful workplaces for the Nation's miners.'' Sec. 115 of the 
Mine Act, as amended, requires mine operators to have a health and 
safety training program. Under Sec. 503 of the Mine Act, as amended, 
the Secretary may award grants to States to assist in developing and 
enforcing State mining laws and regulations, to improve State workers' 
compensation and mining occupational disease laws and programs, and to 
improve safety and health conditions in the Nation's mines through 
Federal-State coordination and cooperation.
    Therefore, MSHA seeks the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
clearance of the information collections the Department of Labor (DOL) 
requires to carry out its grant program through MSHA. This information 
collection covers the performance reporting for MSHA for Narrative 
Reports. MSHA is seeking to transfer its DOL-approved burden on the 
Narrative Reports under OMB No. 1225-0086 to an MSHA information 
collection.

[[Page 26952]]

    Grantees are required by DOL regulations to submit project and 
final reports, as described below. Grantees are also required to submit 
final reports no later than 90 days after the end of the grant period.
    Technical Project Reports: A grantee submits a technical project 
report to MSHA no later than 30 days after quarterly deadlines. 
Technical project reports provide both quantitative and qualitative 
information and a narrative assessment of performance for the preceding 
three-month period. This includes the current grant progress against 
the overall grant goals. Between reporting dates, the grantee informs 
MSHA of significant developments or problems affecting the 
organization's ability to accomplish the work.
    Final Reports: At the end of the grant period, each grantee 
provides a project summary of its technical project reports, an 
evaluation report, and a close-out financial report. These final 
reports are due no later than 90 days after the end of the 12-month 
performance period.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Performance Reports for MSHA Grants. 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 
Performance Reports for MSHA Grants. 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: New collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0NEW.
    Affected Public: State, local or Tribal government, Not-for-profit 
Institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 60.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 300.
    Annual Burden Hours: 750 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $53.
    MSHA Forms: MSHA Form 5000-50, MSHA State Grant Program Performance 
Report.
    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. 2017-12100 Filed 6-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P