Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection;, 9376 [2011-3593]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
• Mine Safety and Health Administration

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 9376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3593]


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

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0015]


Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection; Refuse 
Piles and Impoundment Structures, Recordkeeping and Reporting 
Requirements

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of 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 and continuing 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 concerning the extension 
of the information collection for 30 CFR 77.215(j), 77.215-2, 77.215-3, 
77.215-4, 77.216-2, 77.216-3, 77.216-4, and 77.216-5.

DATES: All comments must be received or postmarked by midnight Eastern 
Standard Time on April 18, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified clearly with the rule title and 
may be submitted to MSHA by any of the following methods:
    (1) Electronic mail: zzMSHA-Comments@dol.gov.
    (2) Facsimile: 202-693-9441
    (3) Regular Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and 
Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939.
    (4) Hand Delivery or Courier: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, 
Arlington, VA 22209-3939. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 
21st floor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mario Distasio, Chief of the Economic 
Analysis Division, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 
MSHA, at distasio.mario@dol.gov (e-mail), 202-693-9445 (voice mail), 
202-693-9441 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    30 CFR part 77, subpart C, sets forth standards for surface 
installations. More specifically, these sections address refuse piles 
(30 CFR 77.215), and impoundments (30 CFR 77.216). Impoundments are 
structures that can retain water, sediment, or slurry or any 
combination of materials; and refuse piles are deposits of coal mine 
waste (other than overburden or spoil) that are removed during mining 
operations or separated from mined coal and deposited on the surface. 
The failure of these structures can have a devastating affect on a 
community. To avoid or minimize such disasters, standards have been 
promulgated for the design, construction, and maintenance of these 
structures; for annual certifications; for certification for hazardous 
refuse piles; for the frequency of inspections; and the methods of 
abandonment for impoundments and impounding structures.
    Section 103(e) of the Mine Act directs the Secretary of Labor not 
to impose an unreasonable burden on small businesses when obtaining any 
information under the Mine Act. This information collection does not 
have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    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 the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
     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 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 information collection request can be obtained by 
contacting the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section of this notice, or viewed on the Internet by selecting ``Rules 
& Regs'', and then selecting ``FedReg.Docs''. On the next screen, 
select ``Paperwork Reduction Act Supporting Statement'' to view 
documents supporting the Federal Register notice.

III. Current Actions

    This notice contains the request for an extension of the existing 
collection of information in 30 CFR 77.215(j), 77.215-2, 77.215-3, 
77.215-4, 77.216-2, 77.216-3, 77.216-4, and 77.216-5. MSHA does not 
intend to publish the results from this information collection and is 
not seeking approval to either display or not display the expiration 
date for the OMB approval of this information collection.
    There are no certification exceptions identified with this 
information collection and the collection of this information does not 
employ statistical methods.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0015.
    Frequency: Variable.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Cost to Federal Government: $535,953.
    Total Burden Respondents: 642.
    Total Number of Responses: 10,422.
    Total Burden Hours: 30,579 hours.
    Total Hour Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $7,782,240.
    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 11, 2011.
Roslyn B. Fontaine,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, 
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-3593 Filed 2-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P