Under Section 103(g) of the Federal
Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended (Mine Act), a
representative of miners, or any individual miner where there is no
representative of miners, may submit a written or oral notification
of alleged violation or imminent danger of the Mine Act or a
mandatory standard or of an imminent danger. The notifier has the
right to obtain an immediate inspection by the Mine Safety and
Health Administrations (MSHA). A copy of the notice must be
provided to the operator, with individual miner names redacted.
MSHA regulations at 30 C.F.R. part 43 implement section 103(g) of
the Mine Act. These regulations provide the procedures for
submitting notification of the alleged violation and the actions
that MSHA must take after receiving the notice. Although the
regulations contain a review procedure (required by section
103(g)(2) of the Mine Act) whereby a miner or a representative of
miners may in writing request a review if no citation or order is
issued as a result of the original notice, the option is so rarely
used that it was not considered in the burden estimates.
US Code:
30 USC 813(h), 103(h) Name of Law: Federal Mine Safety and
Health Act of 1977
US Code:
30 USC 811,101(a) Name of Law: Federal Mine Safety and Health
Act of 1977
The increase of 16 burden hours
(from 486 to 502) is due to an increase in the number of responses
as well as respondents (both from 2,431 to 2,511). Heightened
awareness of the hotline and of the ability to report a hazardous
complaint online using MSHA’s Web site has resulted in more
complaints which have improved enforcement efforts and safety
conditions for miners. The burden costs remain at $0.
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.