[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 115 (Friday, June 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27727-27728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12541]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0007]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Mine Accident, 
Injury, and Illness Report and Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal 
Production Report

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 the Mine 
Accident, Injury, and Illness Report and Quarterly Mine Employment and 
Coal Production Report.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before August 15, 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-2017-0016.
     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, Section 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 or other 
mines.
    The reporting and recordkeeping provisions in 30 CFR part 50, 
Notification, Investigation, Reports and Records of Accidents, Injuries 
and Illnesses, Employment and Coal Production in Mines, are essential 
elements in MSHA's Congressional mandate to reduce work-related 
injuries and illnesses among the nation's miners.
    Section 50.10 requires mine operators and independent contractors 
to immediately notify MSHA in the event of an accident. This immediate 
notification is critical to MSHA's timely investigation and assessment 
of the cause of the accident.
    Section 50.11 requires that the mine operator or independent 
contractor investigate each accident and occupational injury and 
prepare a report. The mine operator or independent contractor may not 
use MSHA Form 7000-1 as the investigation report, except if the 
operator or contractor employs fewer than 20 miners and the injury is 
not related to an accident.
    Section 50.20 requires mine operators and independent contractors 
to report each accident, injury, and illness to MSHA on Form 7000-1 
within 10 working days after an accident or injury has occurred or an 
occupational illness has been diagnosed. The use of MSHA Form 7000-1 
provides for uniform information gathering across the mining industry.
    Section 50.30 requires that all mine operators and independent 
contractors working on mine property report employment to MSHA 
quarterly on Form 7000-2, and that coal mine operators and independent 
contractors also report coal production.
    Accident, injury, and illness data, when correlated with employment 
and production data, provide information that allows MSHA to improve 
its safety and health enforcement programs, focus its education and 
training efforts, and establish priorities for its technical assistance 
activities in mine safety and health. Maintaining a current database 
allows MSHA to identify and direct increased attention to those mines, 
industry segments, and geographical areas where hazardous trends are 
developing. This could not be done effectively using historical data. 
The information collected under part 50 is the most comprehensive and 
reliable occupational data available concerning the mining industry.
    Section 103(d) of the Mine Act mandates that each accident be 
investigated by the operator to determine the cause and means of 
preventing a recurrence. Records of such accidents and investigations 
must be kept and made available to the Secretary or his authorized 
representative and the appropriate State agency. Section 103(h) 
requires

[[Page 27728]]

operators to keep any records and make any reports that are reasonably 
necessary for MSHA to perform its duties under the Mine Act. Section 
103(j) requires operators to notify MSHA of the occurrence of an 
accident and to take appropriate measures to preserve any evidence that 
would assist in the investigation into the causes of the accident.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to the Mine Accident, Injury, and Illness Report and 
Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report. 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 
the Mine Accident, Injury, and Illness Report and Quarterly Mine 
Employment and Coal Production Report. 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: 1219-0007.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 24,958.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 118,417.
    Annual Burden Hours: 162,326 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $2,617.
    MSHA Forms: MSHA Form 7000 1, Mine Accident, Injury, and Illness 
Report; MSHA Form 7000 2, Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production 
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. 2017-12541 Filed 6-15-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P