ISSUE DATE: 01/31/08 

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P08-04 

FROM: JAY P. MATTOS

 Director 

Office of Assessments 

SUBJECT: Legal Identity Report, MSHA Form 2000-7; Taxpayer 

Identification Number 

To whom does this bulletin apply?

This Program Information Bulletin (PIB) applies to mine operators and Mine 

Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) enforcement personnel.

What is the purpose of this PIB?

The purpose of this PIB is to inform all mine operators and MSHA enforcement 

personnel that the electronic Legal Identity Report is fully operational. Starting 

March 1, 2008, all initial and updated Legal Identity Reports must include the 

mine operators’ Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). After this date, MSHA 

will return, without processing, all initial and updated Legal Identity Reports 

that do not include the mine operator’s TIN entered in item numbers 14 and/or 

17d. This PIB updates PIB 02-11, New Legal Identity Report, MSHA Form 

2000-7. 

This PIB also notifies mine operators and enforcement personnel that MSHA is 

providing revised instructions for filing the electronic Legal Identity Report and 

operators should use only the Legal Identify Report forms with the new 

approved Office of Management and Budget Number 1219-0042. 

This PIB is also applicable to portable auger and highwall operators that are the 

subject of Program Policy Letter P06-III-1, concerning Legal Identity Reports for 

Auger and Highwall Miner Operators. 
2 

What is the background for this PIB?

In 2002, MSHA modified the Legal Identity Report to include the TIN. MSHA 

added the TIN to comply with the requirements of the Debt Collection 

Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA), codified at 31 U.S.C. § 7701(c). Specifically, 

the DCIA states that “[t]he head of each Federal agency shall require each person 

doing business with that agency to furnish to that agency such person’s [TIN].” 

The DCIA further states that a person is “doing business” with a Federal agency 

if the person is assessed a fine, fee, royalty or penalty by the agency....” MSHA 

uses the TIN for collecting and reporting delinquent amounts arising out of 

assessments made under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine 

Act), as amended by the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act 

of 2006. 

In PIB 02-11, MSHA advised mine operators and enforcement personnel that the 

TIN was optional until the electronic version became operational or a standard 

was promulgated. 

MSHA protects the TINs from public disclosure consistent with applicable law, 

including the Privacy Act of 1974. Also, TINs will be accessed only by 

appropriate MSHA personnel. 

What is the authority for this PIB? 

The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, 31 U.S.C. § 7701(c); the Federal 

Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended, 30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq. at 

§ 819(d) and 30 CFR Part 41. 

Who is the contact person for this PIB? 

Office of Assessments 

Robin A. Salmon, (570) 831-7574 

E-mail: salmon.robin@dol.gov

Is this PIB on the Internet?

This PIB may be viewed on the Internet by accessing MSHA's home page 

(http://www.msha.gov), choosing “Compliance Info" and then, selecting 

"Program Information Bulletins." 

Who will receive this PIB? 

Program Policy Manual Holders 

Mine Operators