Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 189 / Friday, September 30, 2005 / Notices 57327 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Mine Safety and Health Administration 

Proposed Information Collection 

Request Submitted for Public 

Comment and Recommendations; 

Independent Contractor Registration 

and Identification 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as 

part of its continuing effort to reduce 

paperwork and respondent burden 

conducts a pre-clearance 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 Independent Contractor 

Registration and Identification. 

DATES: Submit comments on or before 

November 29, 2005. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments to U.S. 

Department of Labor, Mine Safety and 

Health Administration, John Rowlett, 

Director, Management Services 

Division, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 

2134, Arlington, VA 22209–3939. 

Commenters are encouraged to send 

their comments on a computer disk, or 

via e-mail to Rowlett.John@dol.gov, 

along with an original printed copy. Mr. 

Rowlett can be reached at (202) 693–

9827 (voice), or (202) 693–9801 

(facsimile). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact the 

employee listed in the ADDRESSES

section of this notice. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

Independent contractors performing 

services or construction at mines are 

subject to the Federal Mine Safety and 

Health Act of 1977. Title 30 CFR 45.4(b) 

requires mine operators to maintain a 

written summary of information 

concerning each independent contractor 

present on the mine site. The 

information includes the trade name, 

business address, and telephone 

number; a brief description and the 

location on the mine of the work to be 

performed; MSHA identification 

number, if any; and the contractor’s 

business address of record. This 

information is required to be provided 

for inspection and enforcement 

purposes by the mine operator to any 

MSHA inspector upon request. 

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 of 1977 (Mine 

Act) and are responsible for violations 

of the Mine 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 for a violation of the Mine 

Act. MSHA uses the information to 

issue a permanent MSHA identification 

number to the independent contractor. 

II. Desired Focus of Comments 

Currently, the Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA) is soliciting 

comments concerning the proposed 

extension of the information collection 

requirement related to Independent 

Contractor Registration and 

Identification. MSHA is particularly 

interested in comments that: 

• Evaluate whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary 

for the proper performance of MSHA’s 

functions, including whether the 

information has practical utility; 

• Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA’s 

estimate of the burden of the proposed 

collection of information, including the 

validity of the methodology and 

assumptions used; 

• Suggest methods to enhance the 

quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and 

• Address 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) to minimize 

the burden of the collection of 

information on those who are to 

respond. 

A copy of the proposed information 

collection request can be obtained by 

contacting the employee listed in the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice or 

viewed on the Internet by accessing the 

MSHA home page (http:// 

www.msha.gov) and then choosing 

‘‘Compliance Assistance’’, ‘‘Compliance 

Information’’ and the ‘‘Paperwork 

Reduction Act Submissions.’’

III. Current Actions 

The information obtained from the 

contractors is used by MSHA during 

inspections to determine proper 

responsibility for compliance with 

safety and health standards. 

Type of Review: Extension. 

Agency: Mine Safety and Health 

Administration. 

Title: Independent Contractor 

Registration and Identification. 

OMB Number: 1219–0040. 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit. 

Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR part 

45. 

Total Respondents: 15,140. 

Frequency: On occasion. 

Total Responses: 100,665. 

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 13,396 

hours. 

Estimated Total Burden Cost: 

$183,742. 

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 at Arlington, Virginia, this 20th day 

of September, 2005. 

David L. Meyer, 

Director, Office of Administration and 

Management. 

[FR Doc. 05–19550 Filed 9–29–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–43–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration 

[Docket No. ICR 1218–0247 (2005)] 

State Plans for the Development and 

Enforcement of State Standards; 

Extension of the Office of Management 

and Budget’s (OMB) Approval of 

Information-Collection (Paperwork) 

Requirements 

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (OSHA), Labor. 

ACTION: Request for public comment. 

SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public 

comment concerning its request for an 

extension of the information collection 

requirements associated with its 

regulations and program regarding State 

Plans for the development and 

enforcement of state standards (29 CFR 

1902, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956).