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###### Department of Labor

###### Mine Safety and Health Administration 

# 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 30 CFR 46.3, 46.5, 46.6, 46.7, 46.8, 46.9, and 46.11; Training Plans, New Miner Training; Newly-Hired Experienced Miner Training; New Task Training; Annual Refresher Training; Records of Training; and Site-Specific Hazard Awareness Training. 

# DATES:

Submit comments on or before December 12, 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 

Paragraph (a) of § 46.3 requires mine operators to develop and implement a written training plan approved by MSHA that contains effective programs for training new miners and experienced miners, training miners for new tasks, annual refresher training, and hazard training. 

Paragraph (b) requires the following information, at a minimum, to be included in a training plan: 

(1) The company name, mine name, and MSHA mine identification number; 

(2) The name and position of the person designated by the operator who is responsible for the health and safety training at the mine. This person may be the operator; 

(3) A general description of the teaching methods and the course materials that are to be used in providing the training, including the subject areas to be covered and the approximate time to be spent on each subject area; 

(4) A list of the persons who will provide the training, and the subject areas in which each person is competent to instruct; and 

                    (5) The evaluation procedures used to determine the effectiveness of training.                           ( print page 59778)    

Paragraph (c) requires a plan that does not include the minimum information specified in paragraph (b) to be approved by MSHA. For each size category, the Agency estimates that 20 percent of mine operators will choose to write a plan and send it to MSHA for approval. 

Paragraph (d) requires mine operators to provide miners' representatives with a copy of the training plan. At mines where no miners' representative has been designated, a copy of the plan must be posted at the mine or a copy must be provided to each miner. 

Paragraph (e) provides that within 2 weeks following receipt or posting of the training plan, miners or their representatives may submit written comments on the plan to mine operators, or to the Regional Manager, as appropriate. The burden hours and costs of this provision are not borne by mine operators, but by miners and their representatives. 

Paragraph (g) requires that the miners' representative with a copy of the approved plan within one week after approval. At mines where no miners' representative has been designated, a copy of the plan must be posted at the mine or a copy must be provided to each miner. 

Paragraph (h) allows mine operators, miners, and miners' representatives to appeal a decision of the Regional Manager in writing to the Director for Education Policy and Development. The Director would issue a decision on the appeal within 30 days after receipt of the appeal. 

Paragraph (i) requires mine operators to make available at the mine site a copy of the current training plan for inspection by MSHA and for examination by miners and their representatives. If the training plan is not maintained at the mine site, mine operators must have the capability to provide the plan upon request by MSHA, miners, or their representatives. 

Paragraph (a) of § 46.5 requires mine operators to provide each new miner with no less than 24 hours of training. Miners who have not received the full 24 hours of new miner training must work where an experienced miner can observe that the new miner is working in a safe manner. 

Paragraph (a) of § 46.6 requires mine operators to provide each newly hired experienced miner with certain training before the miner begins work. 

Paragraph (a) of § 46.7 requires, before a miner performs a task for which he or she has no experience, that the mine operator train the miner in the safety and health aspects and safe work procedures specific to that task. If changes have occurred in a miner's regularly assigned task, the mine operator must provide the miner with training that addresses the changes. 

Paragraph (a) of § 46.8 requires, at least every 12 months, that the mine operator provide each miner with no less than 8 hours of refresher training. 

Paragraph (a) of § 46.9 requires the mine operators upon completion of each training program, to record and certify on MSHA Form 5000-23, or on a form that contains the required information, that the miner has completed the training. False certification that training was completed is punishable under § 110(a) and (f) of the Act. 

Paragraph (a) of § 46.11 requires the mine operator to provide site-specific hazard training to non-miners, including the following persons: scientific workers; delivery workers and customers; occasional, short-term maintenance or service workers, or manufacturers' representatives; and outside vendors, visitors, office or staff personnel who do not work at the mine site on a continuing basis. 

## 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 the Training and Retraining of Miners Engaged in Shell Dredging or Employed at Sand, Gravel, Surface Stone, Surface Clay, Colloidal Phosphate, or Surface Limestone Mines. MSHA is particularly interested in comments that: 
    - 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 in the                     **For Further Information Contact**                     section of this notice, or viewed on the Internet by accessing the MSHA home page (                    *http://www.msha.gov*) and then choosing “Rules and Regs” and “                    **Federal Register**                     Documents.”                 

## III. Current Actions 

USGS data show that domestic production of sand and gravel and crushed stone increased every year between 1991 and 1999, an indication of the continuing strong demand for construction aggregates in the United Sates. The number of hours worked at sand and gravel and crushed stone operations has been increasing steadily since 1991. 

MSHA's objective in these requirements is to ensure that all miners receive the required training, which would result in a decrease in accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Therefore, MSHA is continuing this requirement under 30 CFR 46.3, .5, .6, .7, .8, .9, and .11. 

*Type of Review:*                     Extension.                 

*Agency:*                     Mine Safety and Health Administration.                 

*OMB Number:*                     1219-0131.                 

*Title:*                     Part 46—Training and Retraining of Miners Engaged in Shell Dredging or Employed at Sand, Gravel, Surface Stone, Surface Clay, Colloidal Phosphate, or Surface Limestone Mines.                 

*Affected Public:*                     Business or other for-profit.                 

*Cite/Reference:*30 CFR 46.3, .5, .6, .7, .8, .9, .11.                 

*Total Respondents:*                     5,477.                 

*Frequency:*                     On occasion.                 

*Total Responses:*                     1,035,636.                 

*Estimated Total Burden Hours:*                     296,038 hours.                 

*Estimated Total Burden Cost:*                     $488,995.                 

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 in Arlington, Virginia, this fifth day of October 2005. 

David L. Meyer, 

Director, Office of Administration and Management. 

[FR Doc. 05-20512 Filed 10-12-05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510-43-P