Notice2026-05776
Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Periodic Medical Surveillance Examinations for Coal Miners
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
March 25, 2026
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 for all information collections, to provide the 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 titled "Periodic Medical Surveillance Examinations for Coal Miners."
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14593-14595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05776]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0152]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Periodic Medical
Surveillance Examinations for Coal Miners
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 for all information collections, to
provide the 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 titled ``Periodic Medical Surveillance Examinations for Coal
Miners.''
DATES: All comments must be received on or before May 26, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements
of this notice may be sent by any of the methods listed below. Please
note that 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 instructions for submitting comments for docket number MSHA-
2026-0069.
<bullet> Mail/Hand Delivery: DOL-MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room C3522,
Washington, DC 20210. Before visiting MSHA in person, call 202-693-9440
to make an appointment.
<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: Jessica D. Senk, Acting Director,
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f021c070e61262129203d222e3b262021612c2023232a2c3b2620213c0f2b202361282039"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eca1bfa4adc285828a839e818d98858382c28f838080898f988583829fac888380c28b839a">[email protected]</span></a> (email); (202) 693-9440 (voice);
or (202)
[[Page 14594]]
693-9441 (facsimile). These are not toll-free numbers.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
A. Legal Authority
Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
(Mine Act), as amended, 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes the Mine Safety
and Health Administration (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 and metal
and nonmetal (MNM) mines.
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
governs paperwork burdens imposed on the public by Federal agencies for
using identical questions to collect information from 10 or more
persons. The PRA defines paperwork burden in 44 U.S.C. 3502(2) as time,
effort, or financial resources expended to generate, maintain, or
provide information to or for a Federal agency. Under 44 U.S.C. 3507,
the PRA also establishes policies and procedures of information
collection for controlling paperwork burdens imposed by Federal
agencies on the public, including evaluating public comments.
B. Information Collection
To fulfill its statutory mandate to promote miners' health and
safety, MSHA requires information under the information collection
request (ICR) titled ``Periodic Medical Surveillance Examinations for
Coal Miners.'' The information collection is intended to ensure miners
benefit from periodic medical examinations which provide information on
their health status and enable them to take actions to prevent disease
progression.
Chronic exposure to respirable coal mine dust causes lung diseases
including coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP), emphysema, silicosis, and
chronic bronchitis, collectively known as ``black lung.'' There are no
specific treatments to cure black lung. Chronic effects may progress
even after miners are no longer exposed to respirable coal mine dust
resulting in increased disability and death. Other complications from
exposure to respirable coal mine dust, such as pulmonary and cardiac
failure, may result in total disability and premature death.
Considerable progress has been made in lowering respirable coal
mine dust levels since 1970 and, consequently, CWP prevalence among
coal miners has decreased. However, severe forms of CWP continue to be
identified, especially among young miners. Data from Federally funded
Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Programs administered by the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) indicate that CWP
remains a key occupational health risk among the nation's coal miners.
The Mine Act authorizes NIOSH to study the causes and consequences of
coal-related respiratory disease, and in cooperation with MSHA, to
carry out a program for early detection and prevention of
pneumoconiosis.
Burden costs associated with this ICR include:
1. Developing and revising medical examination plans.
2. Updating miner rosters.
3. Posting approved medical examination plans.
The associated standards that authorize the collection of
information are described below.
1. Developing and Revising Medical Examination Plans (30 CFR 72.100(b))
Under 30 CFR 72.100(a), each operator of a coal mine shall provide
to each miner periodic examinations including chest x-rays, spirometry,
symptom assessment, and occupational history at a frequency specified
in this section and at no cost to the miner.
Under 30 CFR 72.100(b), each operator shall provide the opportunity
to have the examinations at least every 5 years for all miners employed
at a coal mine. The examinations shall be available during a 6-month
period that begins no less than 3.5 years and not more than 4.5 years
from the end of the last 6-month period.
2. Updating Miner Rosters (30 CFR 72.100(d))
Under 30 CFR 72.100(d), each mine operator shall develop and submit
for approval to NIOSH a plan in accordance with 42 CFR part 37 for
providing miners with the required periodic examinations and a roster
specifying the name and current address of each miner covered by the
plan.
3. Posting Approved Medical Examination Plans (30 CFR 72.100(e))
Under 30 CFR 72.100(e), each mine operator shall post on the mine
bulletin board at all times the approved plan for providing the medical
examinations.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection titled ``Periodic Medical Surveillance Examinations for Coal
Miners.'' 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 ICR is available on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. MSHA cautions
commenters 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, 200 Constitution
Avenue NW, Room C3522, Washington, DC 20210. Before visiting MSHA in
person, call 202-693-9440 to make an appointment.
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 ICR concerns provisions for Periodic Medical Surveillance
Examinations for Coal Miners. MSHA has updated the data with respect to
the number of respondents, responses, time burden, and burden costs
supporting this ICR from the previous ICR.
Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved
collection.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
OMB Number: 1219-0152.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit entity.
Number of Annual Respondents: 634.
[[Page 14595]]
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Annual Responses: 761.
Annual Time Burden: 296 hours.
Annual Recordkeeping Costs: $228.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the proposed ICR; they will become a matter of public
record and be available at <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov">https://www.reginfo.gov</a>.
Jessica D. Senk,
Certifying Officer, Mine Safety and Health Administration.
[FR Doc. 2026-05776 Filed 3-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 25, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.