Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Health Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure (Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mines)
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Abstract
The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance request for comment 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 request 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 Health Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure (Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mines).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 235 (Friday, December 10, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 235 (Friday, December 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70538-70539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26727]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0135]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Health Standards
for Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure (Underground Metal and Nonmetal
Mines)
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
request for comment 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 request
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 Health Standards
for Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure (Underground Metal and Nonmetal
Mines).
DATES: All comments must be received on or before February 8, 2022.
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:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments for MSHA-2021-0038.
Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> 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.
<bullet> If your comment includes confidential information that you
do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a
written/paper submission.
[[Page 70539]]
Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the
following way:
<bullet> Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit DOL-MSHA, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite
4E401, 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.
<bullet> MSHA will post your comment as well as any attachments,
except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in the
docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. Aromie Noe, Acting Director, Office
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#400d1308016e292e262f322d2134292f2e6e232f2c2c252334292f2e3300242f2c6e272f36"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1a5749525b3473747c7568777b6e73757434797576767f796e737574695a7e7576347d756c">[email protected]</span></a> (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(a),
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 and metal and
nonmetal mines.
Diesel particulate matter (DPM) is a carcinogen that consists of
tiny particles present in diesel-engine exhaust that can readily
penetrate into the deepest recesses of the lungs. Despite ventilation,
the confined underground mine work environment may contribute to
significant concentrations of particles produced by equipment used in
the mine. Underground miners are exposed to higher concentrations of
DPM than any other occupational group. As a result, they face a
significantly greater risk than other workers of developing such
diseases as lung cancer, heart failure, serious allergic responses, and
other cardiopulmonary problems.
The DPM regulation established a permissible exposure limit to
total carbon, which is a surrogate for measuring a miner's exposure to
DPM. These regulations include a number of other requirements for the
protection of miners' health. The DPM regulations contain information
collection requirements for underground metal nonmetal mine operators
under sections 57.5060, 57.5065, 57.5066, 57.5070, 57.5071, and
57.5075(a) and (b)(3).
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection related to Health Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter
Exposure (Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mines). MSHA is particularly
interested in comments that:
<bullet> 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;
<bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA's estimate of the burden
related to the information collection, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used in the estimate;
<bullet> Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected; and
<bullet> Minimize the burden of the information collection 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 <a href="https://regulations.gov">https://regulations.gov</a> and at 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 section of this notice.
III. Current Actions
This information collection request concerns provisions for health
standards for diesel particulate matter exposure in underground metal
and nonmetal mines. 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: 1219-0135.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 194.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Responses: 54,696.
Annual Burden Hours: 11,218 hours.
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $421,942.
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 <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov">https://www.reginfo.gov</a>.
Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-26727 Filed 12-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
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