34484 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 121 /Wednesday, June 24, 1998 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Proposed Information Collection

Request Submitted for Public

Comment and Recommendations;

Mine Ventilation System Plan

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

extension of the information collection

related to the Mine Ventilation System

Plan. 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 Better Information Contact

section of this notice.

DATES: Submit comments on or before

August 24, 1998.

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:

Theresa M. O’Malley, Program Analysis

Officer, 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. Mrs. O’Malley can be

reached at tomalley@msha.gov (Internet

E-mail), (703) 235–1470 (voice), or (703)

235–1563 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Underground mines present harsh

and hostile working environments. The

ventilation system is the most vital life

support system in underground mining

and a properly operating ventilation

system is essential for maintaining a

safe and healthful working

environment. Lack of adequate

ventilation in underground mines has

resulted in fatalities from asphyxiation

and explosions.

II. Current Actions

A well planned mine ventilation

system is necessary to ensure a fresh air

supply to miners at all working places,

to control the amounts of harmful

airborne contaminants in the mine

atmosphere, and to dilute possible

accumulation of explosive gases.

The standard requires mine operators

to prepare a written plan of the mine’s

ventilation system and to update the

plan annually. The purposes are to

insure that each operator routinely

plans, reviews, and updates the plan; to

insure the availability of accurate and

correct information; and to provide

MSHA with the opportunity to alert the

mine operator to potential hazards.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Mine Safety and Health

Administration.

Title: Mine Ventilation System Plan.

OMB Number: 1219–0016.

Agency Number: MSHA 401.

Recordkeeping: 1 year.

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit.

Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR

57.8520.

Total Respondents: 240.

Frequency: Annually.

Total Responses: 240.

Average Time per Response: 24 hours.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 5,760.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/

maintaining): $46,080.00.

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: June 17, 1998.

Theresa M. O’Malley,

Acting Director, Program Evaluation and

Information Resources.

[FR Doc. 98–16758 Filed 6–23–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–43–M

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Proposed Information Collection

Request Submitted for Public

Comment and Recommendations;

Operations Under Water

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

extension of the information collection

related to Operations Under Water.

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