[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34698-34699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15672]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0127]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Certification and 
Qualification To Examine, Test, Operate Hoists and Perform Other Duties

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 Certification and 
Qualification to Examine, Test, Operate Hoists and Perform Other 
Duties.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before September 25, 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-2017-0025.
     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(a), 
authorizes the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) 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.
    Under section 103(a), authorized representatives of the Secretary 
or Secretary of Health and Human Services must make frequent 
inspections and investigations in coal or other mines each year for the 
purpose of, among other things, gathering information with respect to 
mandatory health or safety standards.
    Under 30 CFR 75.159 and 77.106 coal mine operators are required to 
maintain a list of persons who are certified and/or qualified to 
perform duties under Parts 75 and 77, such as conduct examinations for 
hazardous conditions, conduct tests for methane and oxygen

[[Page 34699]]

deficiency, conduct tests of air flow, perform electrical work, repair 
energized surface high-voltage lines, and perform duties of hoisting 
engineer. The recorded information is necessary to ensure that only 
persons who are properly trained and have the required number of years 
of experience are permitted to perform these duties. MSHA does not 
specify a format for the recordkeeping; however, it normally consists 
of the names of the certified and qualified persons listed in two 
columns on a sheet of paper. One column is for certified persons and 
the other is for qualified persons.
    Sections 75.100 and 77.100 pertain to the certification of certain 
persons to perform specific examinations and tests. Sections 75.155 and 
77.105 outline the requirements necessary to be qualified as a hoisting 
engineer or hoistman. Also, under Sections 75.160, 75.161, 77.107 and 
77.107-1, the mine operator must have an approved training plan 
developed to train and retrain the qualified and certified persons to 
effectively perform their tasks.
    These standards recognize State certification and qualification 
programs. However, where State programs are not available, MSHA may 
certify and qualify persons.
    Under this program MSHA will continue to qualify or certify 
individuals as long as these individuals meet the requirements for 
certification or qualification, fulfill any applicable retraining 
requirements, and remain employed at the same mine or by the same 
independent contractor.
    Applications for Secretarial qualification or certification are 
submitted to the MSHA Qualification and Certification Unit in Denver, 
Colorado. MSHA Form 5000-41, Safety & Health Activity Certification or 
Hoisting Engineer Qualification Request provides the coal mining 
industry with a standardized reporting format that expedites the 
certification and qualification process while ensuring compliance with 
the regulations. MSHA uses the form's information to determine if 
applicants satisfy the requirements to obtain the certification or 
qualification sought. Persons must meet certain minimum experience 
requirements depending on the type of certification or qualification.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Certification and Qualification to Examine, Test, 
Operate Hoists and Perform Other Duties. 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 CONTACT 
section of this notice.

III. Current Actions

    This request for collection of information contains provisions for 
Certification and Qualification to Examine, Test, Operate Hoists and 
Perform Other Duties. 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: 1219-0127.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 957.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 4,590.
    Annual Burden Hours: 465 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $77.
    MSHA Forms: MSHA Form 5000-41, Safety and Health Activity 
Certification or Hoisting Engineers Qualification Request Form.
    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. 2017-15672 Filed 7-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P