The title of the information collection is being changed from "Mine Operator Dust Data Card" to "Respirable Coal Mine Dust Sampling" to more accurately reflect the type of information that is collected. 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 to protect the safety and health of miners. Further, Section 101(a) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 811(a), 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. The existing standards provide that each coal mine operator sample bimonthly the designated occupations or work locations of the mine and submit these samples to MSHA for analysis to determine if the mine is complying with the applicable dust standards.
US Code:
30 USC 811(a)
Name of Law: Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
US Code:
30 USC 813(h)
Name of Law: Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
Responses, Respondents: There was a decrease of 30 respondents (from 830 to 800) due to a decrease in the number mines. There was an increase of 22,193 (from 41,000 to 63,193) in responses due to a correction of the calculation used in the previous update.
Burden hours: The decrease in burden hours of 24,628 hours (from 33,199 hrs. to 8,571 hrs.) is due primarily to the removal of the provision for dust sampling as a paperwork burden as the completion time for 70.209, 71.209 and 90.209 was reduced to .1 hours from .58 hours in the previous submission. It was determined that the remainder of that completion time did not constitute necessary burden time resulting in a decrease of 24,469 burden hours for those provisions.
Costs: There is a decrease in costs of $3,795,649 (from $3,839,714 to $44,065). This is due to the removal of maintenance and calibration costs of the gravimetric sampler as a capital cost related to the collection burden as costs for 70.204(a), 71.204(a), and 90.204(a) were removed and should have not been included in the last approved information collection.
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.