The title of the information
collection is being changed from "Mine Operator Dust Data Card" to
"Respirable Coal Mine Dust Sampling" to more accurately reflect the
type of information that is collected. 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 to protect the safety and health of miners. Further,
Section 101(a) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 811(a), authorizes the
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 or other mines. The
existing standards provide that each coal mine operator sample
bimonthly the designated occupations or work locations of the mine
and submit these samples to MSHA for analysis to determine if the
mine is complying with the applicable dust standards.
US Code:
30
USC 811(a) Name of Law: Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of
1977
US Code: 30
USC 813(h) Name of Law: Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of
1977
Responses, Respondents: There
was a decrease of 30 respondents (from 830 to 800) due to a
decrease in the number mines. There was an increase of 22,193 (from
41,000 to 63,193) in responses due to a correction of the
calculation used in the previous update. Burden hours: The decrease
in burden hours of 24,628 hours (from 33,199 hrs. to 8,571 hrs.) is
due primarily to the removal of the provision for dust sampling as
a paperwork burden as the completion time for 70.209, 71.209 and
90.209 was reduced to .1 hours from .58 hours in the previous
submission. It was determined that the remainder of that completion
time did not constitute necessary burden time resulting in a
decrease of 24,469 burden hours for those provisions. Costs: There
is a decrease in costs of $3,795,649 (from $3,839,714 to $44,065).
This is due to the removal of maintenance and calibration costs of
the gravimetric sampler as a capital cost related to the collection
burden as costs for 70.204(a), 71.204(a), and 90.204(a) were
removed and should have not been included in the last approved
information collection.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.