Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Training Plans and Certificate of Training

ACTION:

Notice.

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)]. This 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.

DATES:

Submit comments on or before August 2, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to Melissa Stoehr, Acting Chief, Records Management Branch, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2134, Arlington, VA 22209-3939. Commenters are encouraged to send their comments on computer disk, or via e-mail to stoehr.melissa@dol.gov. Ms. Stoehr can be reached at (202) 693-9827 (voice), or (202) 693-9801 (facsimile).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact the employee listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), recognizes that the role of education and training in the improvement of miner health and safety is an important element of federal efforts to make the nation's mines safer places in which to work. Section 115(a) of the Mine Act states that “each operator of a coal or other mine shall have a health and safety program which shall be approved by the Secretary.” Title 30, CFR 48.3 and 48.23 specifically address the requirements for training plans. Section 115(a) of the Mine Act requires that each mine operator have a program approved by the Secretary for training miners in the health and safety aspects of mining. Section 115(c) requires (a) that the mine operator certify on a form approved by the Secretary that the miner has received the specified training in each subject area of the approved health and safety training plan; (b) that the certificates be maintained by the operator and be available for inspection at the mine site; and (c) that the miner is entitled to a copy of the certificate upon completion of the training and when he leaves the operator's employ. Title 30, CFR part 48 implements section 115 of the Act by setting forth the requirements for obtaining approval of training programs and specifying the kinds of training, including refresher and hazard training, which must be provided to the miners. The standards are intended to ensure that miners will be effectively trained and certified in matters affecting their health and safety, with the ultimate goal being the reduction of frequency and severity of the injuries in the nation's mines.

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 Training Plans. 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

Approved training plans are used to implement training programs for training new miners, training experienced miners, training miners for new tasks, annual refresher training, and hazard training. The plans are also used by MSHA to ensure that all miners are receiving the training necessary to perform their jobs in a safe manner. MSHA Form 5000-23, Certificate of Training, is used by mine operators to record mandatory training received by miners. Each form provides the mine operator with a recordkeeping document, the miner with a certificate of training, and MSHA a monitoring tool for determining compliance requirement. Currently the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the information collection related to Training Plans and Certificates of Training.

Type of Review: Extension of Currently Approved Collection.

Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Training Plans and Certificate of Training.

OMB Number: 1219-0009 Extension.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Frequency: Annually and On Occasion.

Number of Respondents: 4,267.

Number of Annual Responses: 113,272.

Estimated Time Per Response: 8 hours to develop training plan; 5 minutes to prepare certificate of training.

Total Burden Hours: 19,519 hours.

Total Annualized Capital/startup Costs: $0.

Total Annual (Operating and Maintenance): $226,612.

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.