Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 198 / Friday, October 10, 2008 / Notices 60357 

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 

December 9, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments to U.S. 

Department of Labor, Mine Safety and 

Health Administration, Debbie Ferraro, 

Management Services Division, 1100 

Wilson Boulevard, Room 2141, 

Arlington, VA 22209–3939. Commenters 

are encouraged to send their comments 

on a computer disk, or via e-mail to 

Ferraro.Debbie@dol.gov, along with an 

original printed copy. Ms. Ferraro can 

be reached at (202) 693–9821 (voice), or 

(202) 693–9801 (facsimile). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Contact the employee listed in the 

ADRESSES 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 selecting ‘‘Rules 

and Regs’’, and then selecting ‘‘Fed Reg 

Docs.’’ 

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: 14,357. 

Frequency: On occasion. 

Total Responses: 93,320. 

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 7,153 

hours. 

Estimated Total Burden Cost: $520. 

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 2nd day 

of October 2008. 

David L. Meyer, 

Director, Office of Administration and 

Management. 

[FR Doc. E8–24037 Filed 10–9–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–43–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Mine Safety and Health Administration 

Proposed Information Collection 

RequestSubmitted for Public Comment 

and Recommendations; Noise 

Exposure Assessment; Audiometric 

Testing, Evaluation, and Records and 

Training in All Mines 

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 the 

continuing collection 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. 

DATES: Submit comments on or before 

December 9, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments to U.S. 

Department of Labor, Mine Safety and 

Health Administration, Debbie Ferraro, 

Management Services Division, 1100 

Wilson Boulevard, Room 2141, 

Arlington, VA 22209–3939. Commenters 

are encouraged to send their comments 

on a computer disk, or via Internet Email to Ferraro.Debbie@dol.gov, along 

with an original printed copy. Ms. 

Ferraro can be reached at (202) 693– 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES

60358 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 198 / Friday, October 10, 2008 / Notices 

9821 (voice), or (202) 693–9801 

(facsimile). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Contact the employee listed in the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

Noise is one of the most pervasive 

health hazards in mining. Exposure to 

hazardous sound levels results in the 

development of occupational noiseinduced hearing loss (NIHL), a serious 

physical, psychological, and social 

problem. NIHL can be distinguished 

from aging and medical factors, 

diagnosed, and prevented. NIHL is 

among the ‘‘top ten’’ leading 

occupational diseases and injuries. 

For many years, the risk of acquiring 

an NIHL was accepted as an inevitable 

consequence associated with mining 

occupations. Miners use mechanized 

equipment and work under conditions 

that often expose them to hazardous 

sound levels. But MSHA standards, 

OSHA standards, military standards, 

and others around the world have been 

established in recognition of the 

controllability of this risk. Records of 

miner exposures are necessary so that 

mine operators and MSHA can evaluate 

the need for and effectiveness of 

engineering controls, administrative 

controls, and personal protective 

equipment to protect miners from 

harmful levels of exposure. 

II. Desired Focus of Comments 

Currently, the Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA) is soliciting 

comments concerning the proposed 

extension of the information collection 

related to the Noise Exposure 

Assessment; Audiometric Testing, 

Evaluation, and Records and Training in 

all Mines. MSHA is particularly 

interested in comments that: 

• Evaluate whether the 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 

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 

ADDRESSES section of this notice or 

viewed on the internet by accessing the 

MSHA home page (http:// 

www.msha.gov/) and selecting ‘‘Rules 

and Regs’’, and then selecting ‘‘Fed Reg 

Docs.’’ 

III. Current Actions 

Records of miner exposures are 

necessary so that mine operators and 

MSHA can ensure that engineering 

controls, administrative controls, and 

personal protective equipment are used 

to protect miners from harmful levels of 

exposure. However, the Agency believes 

that extensive records for this purpose 

now maintained by the coal mining 

sector are not needed, Part 62 replaced 

these requirements with a performanceoriented approach to monitoring. The 

final rule expanded notification of 

exposure information to miners to assist 

them in becoming more active 

participants in hearing conservation 

efforts. 

Hearing tests of miners are offered 

and if a miner takes the test mine 

operators are required to compile and 

maintain a record of each audiometric 

test. Detection of a hearing loss can 

trigger certain protective actions under 

Part 62. The record will be used by mine 

operators and MSHA to verify that the 

testing was done and the required 

actions implemented. Part 62 also 

requires the mine operator to provide 

training to overexposed miners about 

the hazards of noise exposure, hearing 

protector selection and use, the hearing 

test program, and the operator’s noise 

controls. Records of training are needed 

to confirm that miners receive the 

information they need to become active 

participants in hearing conservation 

efforts. There is no existing requirement 

for such records; however, training 

records required under other MSHA 

regulations are used for similar 

purposes. 

Type of Review: Extension. 

Agency: Mine Safety and Health 

Administration. 

Title: Noise exposure assessment; 

audiometric testing, evaluation, and 

records and training in all mines. 

OMB Number: 1219–0120. 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit institutions. 

Respondents: 14,726. 

Responses: 764,753. 

Burden Hours: 84,146. 

Total Burden Cost (operating/ 

maintaining): $5,472,084. 

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 2nd day 

of October 2008. 

David L. Meyer, 

Director, Office of Administration and 

Management. 

[FR Doc. E8–24038 Filed 10–9–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–43–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration 

[Docket No. OSHA–2008–0002] 

National Advisory Committee on 

Occupational Safety and Health 

(NACOSH), Charter Renewal 

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (OSHA), Labor. 

ACTION: Notice of renewal of the 

NACOSH charter. 

SUMMARY: The Secretary of Labor has 

renewed the charter of the National 

Advisory Committee on Occupational 

Safety and Health (NACOSH) for two 

years. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Deborah Crawford, OSHA Directorate of 

Evaluation and Analysis, Room N–3641, 

U.S. Department of Labor, 200 

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 

DC 20210; telephone (202) 693–1932. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NACOSH 

was established by Section 7(a) of the 

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 

1970 (the Act) (29 U.S.C. 651, 656) to 

advise, consult with, and make 

recommendations to the Secretary of 

Labor and the Secretary of Health and 

Human Services on matters relating to 

the administration of the Act. Under the 

Act, Congress intended NACOSH to be 

a continuing advisory committee of 

indefinite duration. 

NACOSH operates in accordance with 

the Federal Advisory Committee Act 

(FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and OSHA’s 

regulations on advisory committees (29 

CFR parts 1912 and 1912a). Pursuant to 

FACA and its implementing regulations 

(41 CFR 102–3), the NACOSH charter 

must be renewed every two years. The 

current charter expires on January 29, 

2009. The Secretary has determined that 

renewing the NACOSH charter is 

necessary and in the public interest. The 

new Committee charter will expire two 

years from the date it is filed. 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES