[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24866-24867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07435]


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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.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), 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. 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 June 10, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements 
of this notice may be sent by any of the methods listed below. Please 
note that late comments received after the deadline will not be 
considered.
     Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket 
number MSHA-2024-0001.
     Mail/Hand Delivery: DOL-MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, 4th Floor West, 
Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Before visiting MSHA in person, call 202-693-
9455 to make an appointment, in keeping with the Department of Labor's 
COVID-19 policy. Special health precautions may be required.
     MSHA will post all comments 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, Director, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at 
[email protected] (email); (202) 693-9440 (voice); 
or (202) 693-9441 (facsimile). These are not toll-free numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 
as amended (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, metal, and nonmetal mines.
    Noise is a harmful physical agent and one of the most pervasive 
health

[[Page 24867]]

hazards in mining. Repeated exposure to high levels of sound over time 
causes occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). NIHL is a 
serious, often profound physical impairment for miners with far-
reaching psychological and social effects. Occupational hearing loss is 
one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United States. 
NIHL can be distinguished from aging and other factors that can 
contribute to hearing loss and it can be prevented.
    For many years, NIHL was regarded as an inevitable consequence of 
working in a mine. Mining, an intensely mechanized industry, relies on 
drills, crushers, compressors, conveyors, trucks, loaders, and other 
heavy-duty equipment for the excavation, haulage, and processing of 
materials. These machines create high sound levels, exposing machine 
operators and miners working nearby to occupational noise that can 
contribute to hearing loss. MSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (OSHA), 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.
    Under 30 CFR 62, Occupational Noise Exposure, mandatory health 
standards are set for surface and underground coal and metal and 
nonmetal mines. This information collection addresses records of 
miners' exposures to noise, hearing conservation programs, hearing 
examinations, and training to prevent the occurrence and reduce the 
progression of NIHL among miners. Specifically, this information 
collection covers the following activities: notifying miners of noise 
exposure, developing and distributing administrative controls and 
procedures to reduce miners' exposure, recording audiometric tests, 
providing evaluators with audiometric tests, providing miners with 
audiometric test results and interpretation, certifying initial noise 
training and annual retraining, certifying corrective retraining, and 
providing miners with training records.

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.
    The information collection request will be available on https://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 https://www.regulations.gov and https://www.reginfo.gov.
    The public may also examine publicly available documents at DOL-
MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, 201 12th Street 
South, 4th Floor West, Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Sign in at the 
receptionist's desk on the 4th floor via the West elevator. Before 
visiting MSHA in person, call 202-693-9455 to make an appointment, in 
keeping with the Department of Labor's COVID-19 policy. Special health 
precautions may be required.
    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 Annual Respondents: 12,530.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Annual Responses: 186,262.
    Annual Burden Hours: 14,273 hours.
    Annual Burden Cost: $657,632.
    Annual Other Burden Cost: $127,648.
    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, Mine Safety and Health Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-07435 Filed 4-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P