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[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20563-20564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7823]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

April 19, 2007.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35). A copy of 
this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained 
from RegInfo.gov at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain or by 
contacting Darrin King on 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free 
number)/e-mail: [email protected].
    Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Mine Safety and Health 
Administration (MSHA), Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 202-395-7316/Fax: 202-395-6974 (these 
are not a toll-free numbers), within 30 days from the date of this 
publication in the Federal Register.
    The OMB 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 submission of responses.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved 
collection.
    Title: Application for a Permit to Fire More than 20 Boreholes for 
the use of Non-permissible Blasting Units, Explosives and Shot-firing 
Units.
    OMB Number: 1219-0025.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Response: Reporting and Third-party disclosure.
    Affected Public: Private Sector: Business or other for-profit 
(mining industry).
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 107.
    Average Response Time: 1 hour to prepare and submit a permit 
application and 20 minutes to prepare and post a notice warning that an 
un-disposed misfire is present.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 69.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $635.
    Description: Under Section 313 of the Federal Mine Safety and 
Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 873, any explosives used in 
underground coal mines must be permissible. The Mine Act also provides 
that under safeguards prescribed by the Secretary of Labor, a mine 
operator may permit the firing of more than 20 shots and the use of 
non-permissible explosives in sinking shafts and slopes from the 
surface in rock. Title 30 CFR 75.1321 outlines the procedures by which 
a permit may be issued for the firing of more than 20 boreholes and/or 
the use of non-permissible shot-firing units in underground coal mines. 
In those instances in which there is a misfire of explosives, 30 CFR 
75.1327 requires that a qualified person post each accessible entrance 
to the affected area with a warning to prohibit entry. Title 30 CFR 
77.1909-1 outlines the procedures by which a coal mine operator may 
apply for a permit to use non-permissible explosives and/or shot-firing 
units in the blasting of rock while sinking shafts or slopes for 
underground coal mines.
    To obtain a permit, the mine operator files an application with the 
MSHA district manager in the district in which the mine is located. 
Applications may be mailed or faxed, using company letterhead 
stationery and should contain the name and address of the mine, the 
designated active workings in which the units will be used and the 
approximate number of shots to be fired, the period of time during 
which such units are to be used, the nature of the development or 
construction for which they will be used, a plan to protect miners, a 
statement of the specific hazards anticipated, and the method to be 
employed to avoid the dangers anticipated.
    The district manager may permit the firing of more than 20 
boreholes of permissible explosives in a round where he has determined 
that it is necessary to

[[Page 20564]]

reduce the overall hazard to which miners are exposed during 
underground blasting. The district manager issues a permit to use non-
permissible items when he finds that a permissible shot-firing unit 
does not have adequate blasting capacity and the use of such 
permissible units will create development or construction hazards. As a 
condition of use, the district manager may include safeguards, in 
addition to those proposed by the operator, that he determines are 
necessary to protect the safety of the miners at the time the blasting 
is permitted collection.
    MSHA uses the information requested to issue a permit to the mine 
operator for the use of non-permissible explosives and/or shot-firing 
units. The permit informs mine management and the miners of the steps 
to be employed to protect the safety of any person exposed to such 
blasting while using non-permissible items.

Darrin A. King,
Acting Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-7823 Filed 4-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
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