Federal Register: December 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 249)
DOCID: FR Doc 03-31980
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Qualification and Certification Program
DATES: Submit comments on or before March 15, 2004.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. 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)
soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information
collection related to the Title 30 CFR 75.153(a)(2) and 77.103(a)(2)
require that a program be provided for the qualification of certain
experienced personnel as mine electricians. A qualified person is one
who has had at least one year of experience in performing electrical
work underground in a coal mine, in the surface work area of an
underground coal mine, in a surface coal mine, in a noncoal mine, in
the mine equipment manufacturing industry, or in any other industry using or manufacturing similar
[[Page 75281]]
equipment, and has satisfactorily completed a coal mine electrical
training program.
SUMMARY:
Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
I. Background
Persons performing tasks and certain required examinations at coal mines which are related to miner safety and health, and which required specialized experience, are required to be either ``certified'' or ``qualified''. The regulations recognize State certification and qualification programs. However, where state programs are not available, under the Mine Act and MSHA standards, the Secretary may certify and qualify persons for as long as they continue to satisfy the requirements needed to obtain the certification or qualification, fulfill any applicable retraining requirements, and remain employed at the same mine or by the same independent contractor. Applications for Secretarial certification must be submitted to the MSHA Qualification and Certification Unit in Denver, Colorado. MSHA Form 50001 provides the coal mining industry with a standardized reporting format that expedites the certification process while ensuring compliance with the regulations. The information provided on the forms enables the Secretary of Labor's delegateMSHA, Qualification and Certification Unitto determine if the applicants satisfy the requirements to obtain the certification or qualification. Persons must meet certain minimum experience requirements depending on the type of certification or qualification applied for.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is particularly interested in comments which:
[sbull] Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
[sbull] Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
[sbull] Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
[sbull] 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 submissions of responses.
A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the employee listed in the For Further Information Contact section of this notice, or viewed on the Internet by accessing the MSHA home page (http://www.msha.gov) and then choosing ``Statutory and Regulatory Information'' and ``Federal Register Documents.''
III. Current Actions
This request for collection of information contains provisions
whereby persons may be temporarily qualified or certified to perform
tests and examinations; requiring specialized expertise; related to inner safety and health at coal mines.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Qualification and Certification Program.
OMB Number: 12190001.
Recordkeeping: MSHA Form 50001 is used by instructors, who may be
mining personnel, consultants, or college professors, to report to MSHA
those miners who have satisfactorily completed a coal mine electrical
training program. Based on the information submitted on Form 50001,
MSHA issues certification cards that identify these individuals as qualified to perform certain tasks at the mine.
Frequency: On occasion.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit.
Respondents: 3,921.
Estimated Time per Respondent: .083.
Total Burden Hours: 12,765.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $69.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or 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 at Arlington, Virginia, this 19th day of December, 2003. Lynnette M. Haywood,
Deputy Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 0331980 Filed 122903; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 451043M
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Melissa Stoehr, Director of Management Services Division, U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Room 2134, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209 3939. Ms. Stoehr can be reached at Stoehr.melissa@dol/gov, (202) 693 9827 (voice), or (202) 6939801 (facsimile).