SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). The program helps to
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format,
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized,
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to David L. Meyer, Director, Office of
Administration and Management, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Room 615,
Arlington, VA 22203-1984. Commenters are encouraged to send their
comments on a computer disk, or via Internet E-mail to Meyer.David@dol.gov, along with an original printed copy. Mr. Meyer can be
reached at (703) 235-1383 (voice), or (703) 235-1563 (facsimile).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlene N. Barnard, Regulatory
Specialist, Records Management Division, U.S. Department of Labor, Mine
Safety and Health Administration, Room 725, 4015 Wilson Boulevard,
Arlington, VA 22203-1984. Ms. Barnard can be reached at Barnard.Charlene@dol.gov (Internet E-mail), (703) 235-1470 (voice), or (703)
235-1563 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Inadequate maintenance of electric equipment is a major cause of
serious electrical accidents in the coal mining industry. Improperly
maintained electric equipment has also been responsible for many
disastrous mine fires and explosions. The most recent example is the
mine fire that occurred at the Wilberg Mine, resulting in the deaths of
27 miners. It is imperative that mine operators adopt and follow an
effective maintenance program to ensure that electric equipment is
maintained in a safe operating condition if electrocutions, mine fires,
and mine explosions are to be prevented.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the
information collection related to the Examinations and Tests of
Electrical Equipment. MSHA is particularly interested in comments
which:
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
Minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.
A copy of the proposed information collection request may be viewed
on the Internet by accessing the MSHA Home Page (http://www.msha.gov)
and selecting "Statutory and Regulatory Information" then "Paperwork
Reduction Act submission (http://www.msha.gov/regspwork.htm)", or by
contacting the employee listed above in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this notice for a hard copy.
III. Current Actions
The subject regulations require the mine operator to establish an
electrical maintenance program by specifying minimum requirements for
the examination, testing, and maintenance of electric equipment. The
regulations also contain recordkeeping requirements which may in some
instances help operators in implementing an effective maintenance
program. The subject records of tests and examinations are examined by
coal miners, coal mine officials, and MSHA inspectors. MSHA inspectors
examine the records to determine if the required tests and examinations
have been conducted and to identify units of electric equipment that
may be creating excessive safety problems, and to evaluate the
effectiveness of the coal mine operator's electrical maintenance
programs. By comparing the records with the actual condition of
electric equipment, MSHA inspectors may in some cases be able to
identify weaknesses in the coal mine operator's electrical maintenance
programs and require that the weaknesses be corrected.
Type of Review: Extension. Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration. Title: Examinations and Tests of Electrical Equipment. OMB Number: 1219-0067. Recordkeeping: 1 year. Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Total Average time
City/reference respondents Frequency responses per response Burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
75.512....................... 16,742......... Weekly......... 870,584 42 minutes..... 593,762
75.703-3(d)(11).............. Included with ............... .............. ............... ..............
75.512
calculation.
77.502....................... 25,485......... Monthly........ 305,820 1 Hr........... 228,091
75.800-4 and 77.800-2........ 3,115.......... Monthly........ 37,380 45 min......... 28,035
77.900-2..................... 1,699.......... Monthly........ 20,388 45 minutes..... 15,291
75.900-4..................... 5,970.......... Monthly........ 71,640 1.5 hours...... 107,460
75.1001-1(c)................. 1,000.......... 6 Months....... 2,000 1.5 hours...... 3,000
75.351....................... 647............ Monthly........ 7,764 1.5 hours...... 9,705
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Totals................... 54,658......... ............... 1,315,576 ............... 994,704
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0. Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a
matter of public record.
Dated: February 7, 2002.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 02-3520 Filed 2-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-13-M
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