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[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79029-79030]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31688]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0143]

Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection; Request 
for MSHA Individual Identification Number (MIIN)

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to assure 
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. Currently, the 
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments 
concerning the extension of the information collection for Request for 
MSHA Individual Identification Number (MIIN).

DATES: All comments must be received by midnight Eastern Standard Time 
on February 15, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments must clearly be identified with the rule title and 
may be submitted to MSHA by any of the following methods:
    (1) Electronic mail: [email protected].
    (2) Facsimile: (202) 693-9441.
    (3) Regular Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and 
Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939.

[[Page 79030]]

    (4) Hand Delivery or Courier: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2350, Arlington, VA 
22209-3939. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mario Distasio, Chief of the Economic 
Analysis Division, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 
MSHA, at [email protected] (e-mail), 202-693-9445 (voicemail), 
202-693-9441 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 101(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act) requires 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. Under section 103(a)(2), authorized representatives of the 
Secretary of Labor or Secretary of Health and Human Services must make 
frequent inspections and investigations in coal or other mines each 
year for the purpose of gathering information with respect to mandatory 
health or safety standards.
    The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issues 
certifications, qualifications and approvals (licenses) to the nation's 
miners to conduct specific work within the mines. Prior to the approval 
of this collection Social Security Numbers (SSNs) were used for 
tracking purposes within MSHA's data processing systems, in the absence 
of other reliable identification systems. In the effort to reduce use 
of SSNs both by MSHA and third parties, MSHA has changed the process to 
one in which miners requiring a license or benefit from MSHA will 
register for an ``MSHA Individual Identification Number'' (MIIN).
    This unique number is used in place of individual SSNs for all 
licensing requirements within MSHA. This process has allowed 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 MSHA. Miners needing a 
license or benefit from MSHA will need to register only one time to 
obtain their MIINs from MSHA.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA 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 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 can be 
obtained by contacting the employee listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice, or viewed on the Internet 
by selecting ``Rules & Regs'', and then selecting ``FedReg.Docs''. On 
the next screen, select ``Paperwork Reduction Act Supporting 
Statement'' to view documents supporting the Federal Register notice.

III. Current Actions

    This request for collection of information contains notification 
and recordkeeping provisions for the Proposed Information Collection 
Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Request for 
MSHA Individual Identification Number (MIIN). MSHA does not intend to 
publish the results from this information collection and is not seeking 
approval to either display or not display the expiration date for the 
OMB approval of this information collection.
    There are no certification exceptions identified with this 
information collection and the collection of this information does not 
employ statistical methods.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0143.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Cost to Federal Government: $132,784.
    Total Burden Respondents: 11,000.
    Total Number of Responses: 11,000.
    Total Burden Hours: 916.
    Total Hour Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $38,696.
    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: December 13, 2010.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2010-31688 Filed 12-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
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