[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2760-2761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-941]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) for the Mining 
Voice in the Workplace Survey; Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Department of 
Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL or the Department), 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 (PRA) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This 
program helps to ensure that required 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. The Department notes that a Federal agency cannot conduct or 
sponsor a collection of information unless it is approved by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) under the PRA and the related materials 
display a currently valid OMB control number. Also, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall be subject to penalty for 
failing to comply with a collection of information if the related 
materials do not display a currently valid OMB control number. See 5 
CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    A copy of the proposed ICR can be obtained by contacting the office 
listed below in the addressee section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be received by the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before March 19, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Celeste Richie, U.S. Department of Labor, 
Chief Evaluation Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, 
200 Constitution Avenue NW., Frances Perkins Bldg., Room S-2312, 
Washington, DC 20210, telephone number (202) 693-5959 (this is not a 
toll-free number). Email address is <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0e7c676d66676b206d6b626b7d7a6b20644e6a616220696178"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="24564d474c4d410a474148415750410a4e64404b480a434b52">[email protected]</span></a> and fax 
number is (202) 693-5960.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

    The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is performing a pilot study to 
determine how to measure workers' voice in mining workplaces under the 
jurisdiction of DOL's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). 
DOL's working definition for voice in the workplace is the ``workers' 
ability to access information on their rights in the workplace, their 
understanding of those rights, and their ability to exercise these 
rights without fear of discrimination or retaliation.'' Voice in the 
workplace is a key outcome goal for the Secretary of Labor and part of 
her vision of good jobs for everyone. A separate concurrent effort will 
measure workers' voice in workplaces under the jurisdiction of DOL's 
Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (OSHA). Measuring voice among miners, however, poses 
unique data collection challenges, including implementing a survey in a 
setting that feels non-threatening to mine workers, and asking 
questions in a format that reflects mining community cultures and 
practices. Thus, DOL is performing a pilot study to investigate the 
efficacy of different data collection methods and to develop a survey 
instrument that is appropriate for the mining community. The primary 
research question is ``What measures of voice and perceived non-
compliance, combined with what modes of data collection, could be best 
used to track MSHA's worker protection outreach activity?'' This 
submission covers a set of 2-3 small-scale pilot data collections.
    Data collection for this effort will employ 2-3 strategies: (1) 
Submission of

[[Page 2761]]

paper questionnaires to be filled out by individual mine workers during 
offsite mining-related training sessions, (2) recruitment of miners 
through use of radio and paper advertisements, and (3) a mail or phone 
survey. DOL is currently assessing the feasibility of each method prior 
to implementation. For example, implementation of a phone or mail 
survey will depend on the availability of a valid list of miners. A 
maximum of 125 respondents will be surveyed under each collection mode 
for a total of 375 maximum respondents for the overall effort.

2. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Department of Labor is soliciting comments 
concerning the above data collection. Comments are requested which:
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> Minimize the burden of the information collection 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.

3. Current Actions

    Pursuant to the PRA implementing regulations at 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 
this notice requests comments on the proposed information collection 
request discussed above in the Background section of this notice. 
Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the individual 
list in the ADDRESSES section above.
    Agency: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy.
    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Title of Collection: Miners' Voice in the Workplace Survey.
    OMB Control Number: [Insert OMB Control Number].
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 375 (maximum 125 respondents each 
collection mode).
    Estimated Time per Response: 12-15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 94 (based on 375 respondents 
at 15 minutes each).
    Estimated Total Annual Other Cost to Public: $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this request will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval; they will also become 
a matter of public record.

    Signed: at Washington, DC, this 11th day of January, 2012.
Megan Uzzell,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2012-941 Filed 1-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-22-P


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