OMB No.: 1219-0152
Periodic Medical Surveillance Examinations for Coal Miners
Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions
OMB No.: 1219-0152
Information Collection Request Title: Periodic Medical Surveillance Examinations for Coal Miners
Provisions: 30 CFR 72.100(d) and 72.100(e)
Collection Instruments/ Forms: None
General Instructions
A Supporting Statement, including the text of the notice to the public required by 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(i)(iv) and its actual or estimated date of publication in the Federal Register, must accompany each request for approval of a collection of information. The Supporting Statement must be prepared in the format described below, and must contain the information specified in Section A below. If an item is not applicable, provide a brief explanation. When the question “Does this ICR contain surveys, censuses or employ statistical methods” is checked "Yes", Section B of the Supporting Statement must be completed. OMB reserves the right to require the submission of additional information with respect to any request for approval.
Specific Instructions
A. Justification
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.
Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), 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, 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 mines.
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, lowering the prevalence rate of CWP among coal miners. However, severe forms of this disease continue to be identified. Information from the 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. NIOSH reported CWP prevalence for miners who voluntarily participated in the Coal Workers X-ray Surveillance Program (CWXSP), which occurred from 1970 to 2009. NIOSH surveillance data (2005 to 2009) indicate that 6.9 percent of underground coal miners with over 25 years of exposure to respirable coal mine dust were diagnosed with CWP. Approximately 0.6 percent of miners with less than 10 years of respirable coal mine dust exposure were diagnosed with CWP during the same time period. These younger miners had less cumulative exposure to respirable coal mine dust than the miners with over 25 years exposure. Overall, 4.1 percent of all underground coal miners were diagnosed with CWP during the 2005 to 2009 time period. 79 FR 24826, Table III-2. Furthermore, as of December 2015, according to the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation, the federal government has paid over $46 billion in Federal Black Lung benefits to beneficiaries (former miners, widows, dependents) since 1970 (http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dcmwc/statistics/TotalBenefitsPayment.htm).
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. NIOSH administers the National Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program, “Specifications for Medical Examinations of Underground Coal Miners,” as specified in 42 CFR part 37. Title 30 CFR 72.100 contains collection requirements for these activities in paragraphs (d) and (e).
Section 72.100(d) requires that each mine operator must develop and submit for approval to NIOSH a plan in accordance with 42 CFR part 37 for providing miners with the required periodic examinations specified in section 72.100(a) and a roster specifying the name and current address of each miner covered by the plan.
Section 72.100(e) requires that each mine operator must post on the mine bulletin board at all times the approved plan for providing the examinations specified in section 72.100(a).
Section 72.100(d) and (e) mirror NIOSH information collection requirements under 42 CFR 37.4 (existing OMB No. 0920-0020). Including these requirements allows MSHA to use its inspection and enforcement authority to ensure that operators comply with these provisions.
2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.
The respondents for this information collection are coal mine operators. The requirements in this collection are used by coal mine operators, miners, and state and federal mine inspectors.
Section 72.100(d) and (e) include requirements related to records for medical surveillance periodic examinations for underground and surface coal miners. MSHA uses the information to ensure that operators submit to NIOSH a plan for periodic examinations and a roster with names and current addresses of miners covered by the plan. In addition, the requirement to post the plan informs miners and MSHA of plan provisions and the availability of examinations.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.
The provisions do not specify how records must be kept. However, the plan for providing periodic examinations must be posted on the mine bulletin board at all times. Also, the mine operator must have a roster specifying the names and current address of each miner covered by the plan. The records may be on paper or stored electronically, provided that the records are secure, not susceptible to alteration, retrievable, and maintained at least for the time required by applicable regulations.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.
Existing NIOSH rules require a plan for providing underground coal miners with chest x-rays and a roster of names and current mailing addresses of miners covered by the plan. MSHA’s requires operators to have a roster and a plan submitted to NIOSH for approval in accordance with NIOSH’s regulations in 42 CFR part 37. MSHA also requires the plan to include providing chest X-rays, spirometry, symptom assessment, and occupational history to both underground coal miners and surface coal miners. Where NIOSH and MSHA have overlapping requirements, adherence to the NIOSH requirements will satisfy the MSHA requirements. MSHA enforces the requirements that coal mine operators provide the examinations within the time frames established under the rule and at an approved facility. This does not impose a duplicative burden. MSHA knows of no other federal or state information collection requirements that duplicate this request.
5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.
The provisions of the Mine Act and MSHA’s standards and regulations apply to all mines because accidents, injuries, and illnesses can occur at any mine regardless of size. The legislative history of the Mine Act states that “it is not the intention of the Committee [on Human Resources] to distinguish mines by their size with respect to the applicability or enforcement of [MSHA’s] mandatory health and safety standards” and that “the Secretary, in promulgating regulations regarding the keeping of records, and in other means of obtaining information, do so in a manner which minimizes the burden on operators consistent with his need to efficiently and effectively perform his enforcement responsibilities.” [See S. Rep. No. 181, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. at 28 (1977)].
6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.
Existing NIOSH regulations require mine operators to submit plans for periodic medical surveillance examinations for underground and surface coal miners and rosters of current miners and their addresses. Under section 72.100, coal mine operators must submit such plans and information because all coal miners are at risk of developing black lung disease as a result of respirable coal mine dust exposure. Miners benefit from periodic medical examinations which provide information on their health status and enable them to take actions to prevent disease progression. The frequency of submitting this data is the same as required by NIOSH.
7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:
• Requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;
• Requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;
• Requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;
• Requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;
• In connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;
• Requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;
• That includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or
• Requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information’s confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.
The collection of information is consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5.
8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the data and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency’s notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.
Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.
Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years -- even if the collection of information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.
MSHA published a 60-day Federal Register notice on March 25, 2020 (85 FR 16960). MSHA received no public comments.
9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
MSHA provides no payments or gifts to the respondents identified in this collection.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
The information collections covered by this Information Collection Request (ICR) do not provide an express assurance of confidentiality. As a practical matter, a request for MSHA records containing mine operator responses would be processed in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 522) and its attendant DOL regulations at 29 CFR part 70.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
There are no questions of a sensitive nature.
12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:
• Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. Unless directed to do so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential respondents is desirable. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. Generally, estimates should not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.
• If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens.
• Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included under ‘Annual Cost to Federal Government’.
There are 273 respondents for underground coal mines and 853 respondents for surface coal mines for a total of 1,126 respondents.
A. Periodic Examinations
Develop Roster and Plan, and Post Plan – Section 72.100(d) and (e)
Section 72.100(d) requires each coal mine operator to develop and submit to NIOSH a plan as specified in 42 CFR part 37 for providing miners with the examinations specified in section 72.100(a) and a roster specifying the name and current address of each miner covered by the plan. Section 72.100(e) requires operators to post the approved plan on the mine bulletin board.
Under 42 CFR 37.4, each operator of an underground coal mine is required to submit to NIOSH a plan for providing miners with the required medical examinations and post the plan on the mine bulletin board. NIOSH requires the operators to submit to NIOSH an employee roster with the plan. MSHA estimates that it takes a coal supervisor, earning $62.50 per hour5, 10 minutes to revise the roster and plan and a clerical employee, earning $22.78 per hour6, 5 minutes to copy and submit the revised roster and plan and post the plan. The burden hours and related costs for underground coal mines are shown below.
Underground Coal Mine Operators
Burden Hours
273 plans x 5 minutes = 22.75 hours
273 plans x 10 minutes = 45.5 hours
Total burden hours = 68.25 hours
Hour Burden Costs
23 hours x $22.78 wage rate = $518.25
46 hours x $62.50 wage rate = $2,843.75
Total hour burden costs = $3,362
Each surface coal mine operator will develop and submit to NIOSH a roster and plan for providing the examinations required under section 72.100(a). MSHA estimates that it takes a coal supervisor, earning $62.50 per hour, 1 hour to develop the roster and plan and a clerical employee, earning $22.78 per hour, 5 minutes to copy and submit the roster and plan and post. The burden hours and hour burden costs for surface coal mines are shown below.
Surface Coal Mine Operators
Burden Hours
853 plans x 5 minutes = 71.08 hours
853 plans x 1 h = 853 hours
Total burden hours = 924.08 hours
Hour Burden Costs
71 hours x $22.78 wage rate = $1,619.28
853 hours x $62.50 wage rate = $53,312.50
Total hour burden costs = $54,931.78
Revise and Post Plan
Since the periodic examinations required under section 72.100(a) must be provided at least once every 5 years (72.100(b)), MSHA assumes that each year one-fifth of the mine operators will have to revise their plans to specify the 6-month period that the examinations will be available and the NIOSH-approved facility that will provide the examinations. Section 72.100(e) also requires the operator to post the approved plan. MSHA estimates that it takes a supervisor, earning $62.50 per hour, 10 minutes to revise the plan and a clerical employee, earning $22.78 per hour, 5 minutes to copy and submit the revised plan and post the plan. The annual burden hours and hour burden costs for underground and surface coal mines are shown below.
Underground Coal Mine Operators - Annual
Burden Hours
55 plans x 5 minutes = 4.58 hours
55 plans x 10 minutes = 9.17 hours
Total burden hours = 13.75 hours
Hour Burden Costs
5 hours x $22.78 wage rate = $104.41
9 hours x $62.50 wage rate = $572.92
Total hour burden costs = $677.33
Surface Coal Mine Operators - Annual
Burden Hours
171 plans x 5 minutes = 14.25 hours
171 plans x 10 minutes = 28.50 hours
Total burden hours = 42.75 hours
Hour Burden Costs
14 hours x $22.78 wage rate = $324.62
29 hours x $62.50 wage rate = $1,781.25
Total hour burden costs = $2,105.87
Question 12 Summary of
Burden Hours, Costs and Responses
Details |
Annual Average |
Burden Hours |
1,048.83 |
Hour Burden Costs |
$61,076.96 |
Responses |
1,352 |
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden already reflected on the burden worksheet).
• The cost estimate should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up cost component (annualized over its expected useful life); and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of services component. The estimates should take into account costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing the information. Include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, the discount rate(s), and the time period over which costs will be incurred. Capital and start-up costs include, among other items, preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling and testing equipment; and record storage facilities.
• If cost estimates are expected to vary widely, agencies should present ranges of cost burdens and explain the reasons for the variance. The cost of purchasing or contracting out information collection services should be a part of this cost burden estimate. In developing cost burden estimates, agencies may consult with a sample of respondents (fewer than 10), utilize the 60-day pre-OMB submission public comment process and use existing economic or regulatory impact analysis associated with the rulemaking containing the information collection, as appropriate.
• Generally, estimates should not include purchases of equipment or services, or portions thereof, made: (1) prior to October 1, 1995, (2) to achieve regulatory compliance with requirements not associated with the information collection, (3) for reasons other than to provide information or keep records for the government, or (4) as part of customary and usual business or private practices.
A. Periodic Examinations
Copy Costs for Roster and Plan Required Under Section 72.100
Section 72.100(d) requires each coal mine operator to develop and submit to NIOSH a plan for providing miners with the required periodic examinations and a roster specifying the name and current address of miners covered by the plan. Section 72.100(e) requires operators to post the approved plan on the mine bulletin board.
On average, MSHA estimates that a roster and plan will be two pages and copy costs are $0.15 per page, for a total cost per copy of $0.30. The costs for underground and surface coal mines are shown below.
Underground Coal Mine Operators
273 plans x $0.30 per copy = $81.90
Surface Coal Mine Operators
853 plans x $0.30 per copy = $255.90
Copy Costs for Revised Roster and Plan
Since the periodic examinations required under section 72.100(a) must be provided at least once every 5 years (72.100(b)), MSHA assumes that each year one-fifth of the mine operators will have to revise their plans to specify the 6-month period and the NIOSH-approved facilities that will provide the examinations and to post the approved plans. On average, MSHA estimates that a revised roster and plan will be two pages and copy costs are $0.15 per page, for a total cost per revision of $0.30. The annual costs for underground and surface coal mines are shown below.
Underground Coal Mine Operators
55 plans x $0.30 per copy = $16.50
Surface Coal Mine Operators
171 plans x $0.30 per copy = $51.30
Summary of Costs =$405.60
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information. Agencies also may aggregate cost estimates from Items 12, 13, and 14 in a single table.
There are no costs to the federal government.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments on the burden worksheet.
The decrease is due to a reduction in the number of coal mines which decreased from 1,223 to 1,126.
There is a decrease in estimated burden hours (1,142 to 1,049), responses (1,468 to 1,352), and in related costs ($441 to $406).
Itemized Changes in Annual Burden Hours |
|||
Information Collection Activity |
Program Change (hours currently on OMB Inventory for this ICR) |
Program Change (New) |
Difference |
1219-0152 |
1,142 |
1,049 |
-93 |
Total(s) |
1,142 |
1,049 |
-93 |
|
|
|
|
Itemized Changes in Annual Responses |
|||
Information Collection Activity |
Program Change (responses currently on OMB Inventory for this ICR) |
Program Change (New) |
Difference |
1219-0152 |
1,468 |
1,352 |
-116 |
Total(s) |
1,468 |
1,352 |
-116 |
|
|
|
|
Itemized Changes in Annual Cost Burden |
||||
Information Collection Activity |
Program Change (cost currently on OMB Inventory for this ICR) |
Program Change (New) |
Difference |
|
1219-0152 |
$441 |
$406 |
-$35 |
|
Total(s) |
$441 |
$406 |
-$35 |
|
16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation, and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.
Information provided by mine operators in their plans for periodic medical surveillance examinations and rosters of names and current addresses of miners covered by the plans is not collected for the purpose of publication.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
MSHA associates no forms with this information collection.
18. Explain each exception to the topics of the certification statement identified in “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions.”
There are no certification exceptions identified with this ICR.
B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
As statistical analysis is not required by the regulation, questions 1 through 5 do not apply.
1 For those not familiar with the OES survey, see item “E3. How to get OES data. What are the different ways to obtain OES estimates from this website?” at http://www.bls.gov/oes_ques.htm.
2 For all wage rates, MSHA uses the relevant precision throughout the calculation to avoid compound rounding errors and rounds at the final rate value. Displayed intermediate calculation values are presented to explain the calculation and are representative but the final rate value reflects the correct rounding and final estimate.
3 The benefit scaler comes from BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation access by menu http://www.bls.gov/data/ or directly with http://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cm/cm.data.0.Current. The data series CMU2030000405000P, Private Industry Total benefits for Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and forestry occupations, is divided by 100 to convert to a decimal value. MSHA used the latest 4-quarter moving average 2018Qtr4-2019Qtr3 to determine that 32.90 percent of total loaded wages are benefits. The scaling factor is a detailed calculation, but may be approximated with the formula and values 1 + (benefit percentage/(1-benefit percentage)) = 1+( .3290/(1-.3290)) = 1.49.
4 The inflation factor comes from BLS Employment Cost Index access by menu http://www.bls.gov/data/. The data series CIS2020000405000I, Wages and salaries for Private industry workers in Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and forestry occupations, Index is updated from Q2 2018 to Q4 2019, 138.1/132.1 = 1.045.
5 Hourly wages from OES May 2018 survey, Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code 47-1011, First‑line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, Coal Mining, (NAICS code 212100). MSHA multiplied the mean wage rate of $40.14 times the 1.49 benefit scaling factor and the 1.045 inflation factor to obtain a fully loaded hourly wage of $62.50.
6 Hourly wages from OES May 2018 survey, Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code 43-9061, Office Clerks General, Coal Mining, (NAICS code 212100). MSHA multiplied the mean wage rate of $14.63 times the 1.49 benefit scaling factor and the 1.045 inflation factor to obtain a fully loaded hourly wage of $22.78.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Title | December, 2013 |
| Author | Susan Olinger |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-13 |