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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 11282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4511]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Qualification/Certification Program Request 
for Mine Safety and Health Administration Individual Identification 
Number

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety 
and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) titled, ``Qualification/Certification Program Request for 
MSHA Individual Identification Number (MIIN),'' to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use 
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 
44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

DATES: Submit comments on or before March 31, 2011.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting 
documentation; including a description of the likely respondents, 
proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be 
obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, on the day following publication of this notice or by 
contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a 
toll-free number) or sending an e-mail to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the U.S. Department of 
Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Office of 
Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 
202-395-6929/Fax: 202-395-6881 (these are not toll-free numbers), e-
mail: [email protected].
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-
693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MSHA issues certifications, 
qualifications, and approvals (licenses) to the nation's miners to 
conduct specific work within mines. Prior to the approval of this 
collection Social Security Numbers (SSNs) were used for tracking 
purposes within MSHA data processing systems, in the absence of other 
reliable identification systems. In the effort to reduce use of SSNs 
both by the MSHA and third parties, the MSHA has changed the process to 
one in which miners requiring a license or benefit from the MSHA will 
register for a MIIN. This unique number is used in place of individual 
SSNs for all licensing requirements within the MSHA. This process has 
allowed the MSHA to discontinue the past practice of individuals 
supplying their personally identifiable information to instructors, 
states or other entities, which in turn supplied that information to 
the MSHA. Miners needing a license or benefit from the MSHA will need 
to register only one time to obtain their MIINs.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the 
collection of information does not display a currently valid OMB 
control number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB 
approval for this information collection under OMB Control Number 1219-
0143. The current OMB approval is scheduled to expire on February 28, 
2011; however, it should be noted that information collections 
submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they 
undergo review. For additional information, see the related notice 
published in the Federal Register on December 17, 2010 (75 FR 79029).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. In order to ensure appropriate consideration, 
comments should reference OMB Control Number 1219-0143. The OMB is 
particularly interested in comments that:
     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 submission of responses.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
    Title of Collection: Qualification/Certification Program Request 
for MSHA Individual Identification Number (MIIN).
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0143.
    Affected Public: Private sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 11,000.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 11,000.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 916.
    Total Estimated Annual Costs Burden: $5,170.

    Dated: February 23, 2011.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-4511 Filed 2-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
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