Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 45 / Friday, March 7, 1997 / Notices 10591

A copy of the proposed information

collection request may be obtained by

contacting the employee listed below in

the For Further Information Contact

section of this notice.

DATES: Submit comments on or before

May 6, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Patricia

W. Silvey, Director, Office of Standards,

Regulations, and Variances, 4015

Wilson Boulevard, Room 627,

Arlington, VA 22203–1984. Commenters

are encouraged to send their comments

on a computer disk, or via E-mail to

psilvey@msha.gov, along with an

original printed copy. Ms. Silvey can be

reached at (703) 235–1910 (voice) or

(703) 235–5551 (facsimile).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

George M. Fesak, Director, Office of

Program Evaluation and Information

Resources, U.S. Department of Labor,

Mine Safety and Health Administration,

Room 715, 4015 Wilson Boulevard,

Arlington, VA 22203–1984. Mr. Fesak

can be reached at gfesak@msha.gov

(Internet E-mail), (703) 235–8378

(voice), or (703) 235–1563 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Each operator of a surface coal mine

is required under 30 CFR 77.1000 to

establish and follow a ground control

plan that is consistent with prudent

engineering design and which will

ensure safe working conditions. The

plans are based on the type of strata

expected to be encountered, the height

and angle of highwalls and spoil banks,

and the equipment to be used at the

mine. Ground control plans are required

by 30 CFR 77.1000–1 to be filed with

the MSHA District Manager in the

district in which the mine is located.

The plans are reviewed by MSHA to

ensure that highwalls and spoil banks

are maintained in safe condition

through the use of sound engineering

design.

II. Current Actions

MSHA is seeking to continue the

requirement for mine operators to

submit ground control plans to ensure

that highwalls and spoil banks are

maintained in safe condition so that a

safe working environment is provided

for miners.

Type of Review: Reinstatement

(without change).

Agency: Mine Safety and Health

Administration.

Title: Ground Control Plan.

OMB Number: 1219–0026.

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit institutions.

Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR

77.1000 and 77.1000–1.

Total Respondents: 159.

Frequency: On occasion.

Total Responses: 159.

Average Time per Response: 39 hours.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 6,204

hours.

Estimated Total Burden Cost: $204.

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: February 27, 1997.

George M. Fesak,

Director, Program Evaluation and Information

Resources.

[FR Doc. 97–5647 Filed 3–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–43–M

Proposed Information Collection

Request Submitted for Public

Comment and Recommendations;

Identification of Independent

Contractors

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, 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

(PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This

program helps to ensure 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 proposed

reinstatement of the information

collection related to the Identification of

Independent Contractors. MSHA 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 submissions

of responses.

A copy of the proposed information

collection request can be obtained by

contacting the employee listed below in

the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

section of this notice.

DATES: Submit comments on or before

May 6, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Patricia

W. Silvey, Director, Office of Standards,

Regulations, and Variances, 4015

Wilson Boulevard,Room 627, Arlington,

VA 22203–1984. Commenters are

encouraged to send their comments on

a computer disk, or via E-mail to

psilvey@msha.gov, along with an

original printed copy. Ms. Silvey can be

reached at (703) 235–1910 (voice) or

(703) 235–5551 (facsimile).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

George M. Fresak, Director, Office of

Program Evaluation and Information

Resources, U.S. Department of Labor,

Mine Safety and Health Administration,

Room 715, 4015 Wilson Boulevard,

Arlington, VA 22203–1984. Mr. Fresak

can be reached at gfesak@msha.gov

(Internet E-mail), (703) 235–8379

(voice), or (703) 235–1563 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Title 30 CFR 45.3 provides that

independent contractors may

voluntarily obtain a permanent MSHA

identification number by submitting to

MSHA their trade name and business

address, a telephone number, an

estimate of the annual hours worked by

the contractor on mine property for the

previous calendar year, and the address

of record for service of documents upon

the contractor. Independent contractors

performing services or construction at

mines are subject to the Federal Mine

Safety and Health Act and are

responsible for violations of the Act

committed by them or their employees.

Although independent contractors are

not required to apply for the

identification number, they will be

assigned one by MSHA the first time

they are cited fro a violation of the Mine

act. MSHA used the information to issue

a permanent MSHA identification

number to the independent contractor.
10592 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 45 / Friday, March 7, 1997 / Notices

II. Current Actions

MSHA uses the information to issue

a permanent MSHA identification

number to the independent contractor.

This number allows MSHA to keep

track of a contractor’s violation history

so that appropriate civil penalties can be

assessed for violations of the Mine Act

or its accompanying mandatory health

and safety standards.

There are no revisions to this existing

collection, MSHA is requesting that the

approval be extended for three years.

Type of Review: Reinstatement.

Agency: Mine Safety and Health

Administration.

Title: Identification of Independent

Contractors.

OMB Number: 1219–0043.

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit.

Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR 45.3.

Total Respondents: 1,207.

Frequency: On occasion.

Total Responses: 1,207.

Average Time per Response: 8

minutes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 161

hours.

Estimated Total Burden Cost: $387.

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: February 28, 1997.

George M. Fesak,

Director, Program Evaluation and Information

Resources.

[FR Doc. 97–5648 Filed 3–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–43–M

Occupational Safety and Health

Administration

Proposed information Collection

Request Submitted for Public

Comment and Recommendations;

Electric Power Generation,

Transmission and Distribution;

Electrical Protective Equipment (1218–

0190)

ACTION: None.

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, 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

95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This

program helps to ensure that requested

data can be provided in the desired

format, reporting burden (time and

financial resources) is minimized,

collection instruments are clearly

understood, and impact of collection

requirements on respondents can be

properly assessed. Currently, the

Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA) is soliciting

comments concerning the proposed

extension of approval for the paperwork

requirement of 29 CFR 1910.269 and

1910.137, Electric power generation,

transmission, and distribution; and

electrical protective equipment.

DATES: Written comments must be

submitted on or before May 6, 1997.

Written comments should:

• 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 submissions

of responses.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be

submitted to the Docket Office, Docket

No. ICR–97–2, U.S. Department of

Labor, Room N–2625, 200 Constitution

Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20210,

telephone: (202) 219–7894. Written

comments limited to 10 pages or less in

length may also be transmitted by

facsimile to (202) 219–5046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bonnie Friedman, Office of Information

and Consumer Affairs, Occupational

Safety and Health Administration, U.S.

Department of Labor, Room N–3647,

200 Constitution Avenue, NW,

Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone:

(202) 219–8148. Copies of the

referenced information collection

request are available for inspection and

copying in the Docket Office and will be

mailed immediately to persons who

request copies by telephoning Vivian

Allen at (202) 219–8076. For electronic

copies, contact OSHA’s WebPage on

Internet at http://www.osha.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

OSHA issued this standard to address

the work practices to be used during the

operation and maintenance of electric

power generation, transmission, and

distribution facilities [59 FR 4320,

January 31, 1984. This standard

includes requirements relating to

enclosed spaces, hazardous energy

control, working near energized parts,

grounding for employee protection,

work on underground and overhead

installations, line-clearance tree

trimming, work in substations and

generating plans, and other special

conditions and equipment unique to the

generation, transmission, and

distribution of electric energy.

Compliance with these requirements

will prevent injuries to employees

working on electric power systems.

OSHA, at the same time, revised the

electrical protective equipment

requirements contained in the General

Industry Standards. The revision

replaced the incorporation of out-of-date

consensus standards with a set of

performance-oriented requirements.

Additionally, OSHA issued new

requirements for the safe use and care

of electrical protective equipment to

complement the equipment design

provisions. These revisions will prevent

accidents caused by inadequate

electrical protective equipment.

OSHA currently has approval from

the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) for certain information collection

requirements contained in 29 CFR

1910.269 and 1910.137. That approval

will expire on March 31, 1997, unless

OSHA applies for an extension of the

OMB approval. This notice initiates the

process for OSHA to request an

extension of the current OMB approval.

This notice also solicits public comment

on OSHA’s existing paperwork burden

estimates from those interested parties

and to seek public response to several

questions related to the development of

OSHA’s estimation. Interested parties

are requested to review OSHA’s existing

estimates, which are based upon

information available during

rulemaking, and to comment on their

accuracy or appropriateness in today’s

workplace situation.

II. Current Actions

This notice requests an extension of

the current OMB approval of the

paperwork requirements in 29 CFR

1910.269, Electric power generation,

transmission, and distribution; and 29

CFR 1910.137, Electrical protective

equipment.