[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32069-32070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12605]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0040]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Independent 
Contractor Registration and Identification

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
request for comment to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information 
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request 
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 on the information collection for Independent 
Contractor Registration and Identification.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before August 16, 2021.

ADDRESSES:  You may submit comment as follows. Please note that late, 
untimely filed comments will not be considered.
    Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments in the following 
way:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments for docket number MSHA-
2021-0012. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to 
https://www.regulations.gov will be posted to the docket, with no 
changes. Because your comment will be made public, you are responsible 
for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential 
information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such 
as your or anyone else's Social Security number or confidential 
business information.
    <bullet> If your comment includes confidential information that you 
do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a 
written/paper submission.
    Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the 
following way:
    <bullet> Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit DOL-MSHA, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 
4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452.
    <bullet> MSHA will post your comment as well as any attachments, 
except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in the 
docket at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Senk, Director, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8ec3ddc6cfa0e7e0e8e1fce3effae7e1e0a0ede1e2e2ebedfae7e1e0fdceeae1e2a0e9e1f8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d9948a9198f7b0b7bfb6abb4b8adb0b6b7f7bab6b5b5bcbaadb0b6b7aa99bdb6b5f7beb6af">[email protected]</span></a> (email); (202) 693-9440 (voice); 
or (202) 693-9441 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes MSHA to collect information 
necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety and health of 
miners. Further, section 101(a) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 811, 
authorizes the Secretary of Labor to develop, promulgate, and revise as 
may be appropriate, improved mandatory health or safety standards for 
the protection of life and prevention of injuries in coal or other 
mines.
    Independent contractors perform services or construction at a mine. 
They may be engaged in every type of work performed at a mine, 
including activities such as clearing land, excavating ore, processing 
minerals, maintaining or repairing equipment, or constructing new 
buildings or new facilities, such as shafts, hoists, conveyors, or 
kilns. Independent contractors vary in the number of employees, the 
type of work performed, and the time spent working at mine sites. Some 
contractors work exclusively at mining operations while others may work 
a single contract at a mine and never return to MSHA jurisdiction. MSHA 
uses the contractor information in this information collection request 
during inspections to determine the responsibility for compliance with 
safety and health standards.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information

[[Page 32070]]

collection related to Independent Contractor Registration and 
Identification. MSHA is particularly interested in comments that:
    <bullet> Evaluate whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility;
    <bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA's estimate of the burden of 
the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    <bullet> Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and
    <bullet> 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 submission of responses.
    Background documents related to this information collection request 
are available at https://regulations.gov and in DOL-MSHA located at 201 
12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Questions 
about the information collection requirements may be directed to the 
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of this notice.

III. Current Actions

    This information collection request concerns provisions for 
Independent Contractor Registration and Identification. MSHA has 
updated the data with respect to the number of respondents, responses, 
burden hours, and burden costs supporting this information collection 
request from the previous information collection request.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0040.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 21,602.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 157,314.
    Annual Burden Hours: 17,081 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $806.
    MSHA Forms: MSHA Form 7000-52, Contractor Identification (ID) 
Request.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized in 
the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the 
proposed information collection request; they will become a matter of 
public record and will be available at https://www.reginfo.gov.

Jessica Senk,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-12605 Filed 6-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P


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