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 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 Mandatory Health Standards for Surface
Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines and
Part 90 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