[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 25, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16959-16960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06221]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0048]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Respirator Program 
Records

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 Respirator 
Program Records.

[[Page 16960]]


DATES: All comments must be received on or before May 26, 2020.

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-2020-0011.
     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.
    Title 30 CFR 56.5005 and 57.5005 require, whenever respiratory 
equipment is used, that metal and nonmetal mine operators institute a 
respirator program governing selection, maintenance, training, fitting, 
supervision, cleaning, and use of respirators. These standards seek to 
control miner exposure to harmful airborne contaminants by using 
engineering controls to prevent contamination and vent or dilute the 
contaminated air. However, where accepted engineering control measures 
have not been developed or when necessary by the nature of work 
involved (for example, while establishing controls or occasional entry 
into hazardous atmospheres to perform maintenance or investigation), 
employees may work for reasonable periods of time in concentrations of 
airborne contaminants exceeding permissible levels if they are 
protected by appropriate respiratory protective equipment.
    Sections 56.5005 and 57.5005 incorporate by reference, requirements 
of the American National Standards Institute's Practices for 
Respiratory Protection (ANSI Z88.2-1969). These incorporated 
requirements mandate that miners who must wear respirators be fit-
tested to the respirators that they will use. Certain records are also 
required to be kept in connection with respirators, including: written 
standard operating procedures governing the selection and use of 
respirators; records of the date of issuance of the respirator; and 
fit-test results.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection. 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 
Respirator Program Records. 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: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0048.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 350.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 6,300.
    Annual Burden Hours: 3,588 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $140,000.
    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. 2020-06221 Filed 3-24-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P