Proposed Information Collection; Respirator Program Records

Federal Register, Volume 79 Issue 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2014)

Federal Register Volume 79, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2014)

Notices

Pages 11128-11129

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2014-04251

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

OMB Control No. 1219-0048

Proposed 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, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A). 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 Respirator Program Records.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before April 28, 2014.

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 online instructions for submitting comments for docket number MSHA-2013-0046.

Regular Mail: Send comments to MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939.

Hand Delivery: MSHA, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, VA. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.

Page 11129

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at MSHA.information.collections@dol.gov (email); 202-693-9440 (voice); or 202-693-9441 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

   Section 101(a), 30 U.S.C. 811(a), allows MSHA to promulgate standards that would require operators to make and retain records from which MSHA would then be allowed to collect information. Section 103(h), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 801 et seq., authorizes MSHA to collect information necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety and health of miners.

   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.

2. Desired Focus of Comments

   MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection related to Respirator Program Records. 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.

   This information collection request is available on http://www.msha.gov/regs/fedreg/informationcollection/informationcollection.asp. The information collection request will be available on MSHA's Web site and 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 MSHA, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, VA. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.

   Questions about the information collection requirements may be directed to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

3. 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: Extension, without change, 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: 300.

   Frequency: On occasion.

   Number of Responses: 5,400.

   Annual Burden Hours: 3,074 hours.

   Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $90,000.

   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.

   Dated: February 21, 2014.

   Patricia W. Silvey,

   Certifying Officer.

   FR Doc. 2014-04251 Filed 2-26-14; 8:45 am

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