[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 17 (Monday, January 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4708-4709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01340]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0124]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Health Standards 
for Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure (Underground Coal 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 ensure 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 Health Standards 
for Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure (Underground Coal Mines).

DATES: All comments must be received on or before March 27, 2020.

[[Page 4709]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comment as follows. Please note that late, 
untimely filed comments will not be considered.
    Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments in the following 
way:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments for docket number MSHA-
2019-0049. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to 
https://www.regulations.gov will be posted to the docket, with no 
changes. Because your comment will be made public, you are responsible 
for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential 
information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such 
as your or anyone else's Social Security number or confidential 
business information.
     If you want to submit a comment with confidential 
information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, 
submit the comment as a written/paper submission.
    Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the 
following way:
     Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit DOL-MSHA, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 
4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452.
     MSHA will post your comment as well as any attachments, 
except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in the 
docket at https://www.regulations.gov.

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 and metal and 
nonmetal mines.
    MSHA establishes standards and regulations for diesel-powered 
equipment in underground coal mines that provide additional important 
protection for coal miners who work on and around diesel-powered 
equipment. The standards are designed to reduce the risks to 
underground coal miners of serious health hazards that are associated 
with exposure to high concentrations of diesel particulate matter. The 
standards in sections 72.510(a) & (b), and 72.520(a) & (b) contain 
information collection requirements for underground coal mine 
operators.
    Section 72.510(a) requires underground coal mine operators to 
provide annual training to all miners who may be exposed to diesel 
emissions. The training must include: Health risks associated with 
exposure to diesel particulate matter; methods used in the mine to 
control diesel particulate concentrations; identification of the 
personnel responsible for maintaining those controls; and actions 
miners must take to ensure that controls operate as intended. Under 
Section 72.510(b) underground coal mine operators are required to keep 
a record of the training for one year.
    Section 72.520(a) and (b) requires underground coal mine operators 
to maintain an inventory of diesel powered equipment units together 
with a list of information about any unit's emission control or 
filtration system. The list must be updated within 7 calendar days of 
any change.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Health Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter 
Exposure (Underground Coal 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.
    Background documents related to this information collection request 
are available at https://regulations.gov and in DOL-MSHA located at 201 
12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Questions 
about the information collection requirements may be directed to the 
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of this notice 
from the previous collection of information.

III. Current Actions

    This information collection request concerns provisions for Health 
Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure (Underground Coal 
Mines). MSHA has updated the data with respect to the number of 
respondents, responses, burden hours, and burden costs supporting this 
information collection request from the previous information collection 
request.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0124.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 164.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 55,980.
    Annual Burden Hours: 710 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $24.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the proposed information collection request; they will 
become a matter of public record and will be available at https://www.reginfo.gov.

Sheila McConnell,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-01340 Filed 1-24-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P