Notice2024-07435
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Occupational Noise Exposure
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 9, 2024
Issuing agencies
Labor DepartmentMine Safety and Health Administration
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 69 (Tuesday, April 9, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24866-24867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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.
<bullet> Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket
number MSHA-2024-0001.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> MSHA will post all comments 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, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eea3bda6afc0878088819c838f9a878180c08d8182828b8d9a8781809dae8a8182c0898198"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5518061d147b3c3b333a273834213c3a3b7b363a39393036213c3a3b2615313a397b323a23">[email protected]</span></a> (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:
<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 of
the collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
<bullet> Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected; and
<bullet> 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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. 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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov">https://www.reginfo.gov</a>.
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 <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov">https://www.reginfo.gov</a>.
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
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