[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 88 (Monday, May 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24897-24898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09797]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0120]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Occupational Noise 
Exposure

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Occupational 
Noise Exposure.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before July 9, 2021.

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-
2021-0004. 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: S. Aromie Noe, Acting Deputy Director, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at 
[email protected]

[[Page 24898]]

(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.
    Noise is a harmful physical agent and one of the most pervasive 
health hazards in mining. Repeated exposure to high levels of sound 
over time causes occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), a 
serious physical impairment with far-reaching psychological and social 
effects. NIHL can be distinguished from aging and other factors that 
can contribute to hearing loss and it can be prevented. According to 
the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIHL is 
among the ``top ten'' leading occupational illnesses and injuries.
    At mines, various machines that generate loud sounds are used, such 
as drills, crushers, compressors, conveyors, trucks, loaders, and other 
heavy-duty equipment for the excavation, haulage, and processing of 
materials. The operators of these machines and miners working nearby 
are exposed to the high sound levels. For many years, NIHL was regarded 
as an inevitable consequence of working in a mine, but that is no 
longer the case. MSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, the U.S. military, and other organizations around the 
world have established and enforced standards to reduce the loss of 
hearing. Quieter equipment, isolation of workers from noise sources, 
and limiting the time workers are exposed to noise are among the many 
well-accepted methods that will prevent costly incidences of NIHL.
    Records of miner exposures to noise are necessary so that mine 
operators and MSHA can evaluate the need for and effectiveness of 
engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective 
equipment to protect miners from harmful levels of noise that can 
result in hearing loss. However, MSHA believes that extensive records 
for this purpose are not needed. These requirements are a performance-
oriented approach to monitoring. Records of miner hearing examinations 
enable mine operators and MSHA to ensure that the controls are 
effective in preventing NIHL for individual miners. Records of training 
are needed to confirm that miners receive the information they need to 
become active participants in hearing conservation efforts.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Occupational Noise Exposure. 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 CONTACT section of this 
notice.

III. Current Actions

    This information collection request concerns provisions for 
Occupational Noise Exposure. 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: 1219-0120.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 12,929.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 190,001.
    Annual Burden Hours: 14,153 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $30,585.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 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.

Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-09797 Filed 5-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P