Prolonged exposure to excessive amounts of respirable coal mine dust can cause respiratory problems, ranging from mild impairment of respiratory function to more severe diseases such as coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), commonly referred to as "black lung" disease, and silicosis. These occupational lung diseases are debilitating, and in severe cases, disabling and fatal. While considerable progress has been made in lowering respirable coal mine dust levels since 1970 and, consequently, lowering the prevalence rate of CWP among coal miners, severe forms of this disease continue to be identified. Newly released information from the federally funded Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Programs administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) clearly indicate that CWP remains a key occupational health risk among our nation's coal miners. According to NIOSH, 933 or 3.7 percent of the 25,558 underground coal miners x-rayed between January 2003 and September 2011 were found to have CWP. Also, in FY 2011, over 28,600 former coal miners and the dependents of miners received $417 million in "black lung" benefits. And, since inception of the federal Black Lung Benefits Program in 1970, over $44 billion in total benefits have been paid out to former miners and their dependents.
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 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.
This final rule includes new information collection requirements that add to the existing burden and costs of three information collection packages: 1219-0011, 1219-0048, and 1219-0088. In addition, there are final provisions that will be in a new information collection. These final requirements are discussed below. There are many recordkeeping requirements included in final Part 70 Â Mandatory Health Standards for Underground Coal Mines. Many of these changes result from the implementation of the use of the continuous personal dust monitor (CPDM) to sample for respirable coal mine dust. Similar recordkeeping requirements are found in final Part 71 Â Mandatory Health Standards for Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines and Part 90 Â Mandatory Health Standards for Coal Miners Who Have Evidence of the Development of Pneumoconiosis. In addition, there are two new paperwork requirements in final § 72.100 that address records for medical examinations for both underground and surface coal miners.
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.
Dust Supporting Statement 1219-0NEW.docx
Lowering Miners' Exposure to Coal Mine Dust Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors