[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79029-79030]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31688]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0143]
Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection; Request
for MSHA Individual Identification Number (MIIN)
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice of 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
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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to assure
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 extension of the information collection for Request for
MSHA Individual Identification Number (MIIN).
DATES: All comments must be received by midnight Eastern Standard Time
on February 15, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Comments must clearly be identified with the rule title and
may be submitted to MSHA by any of the following methods:
(1) Electronic mail: [email protected].
(2) Facsimile: (202) 693-9441.
(3) Regular Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and
Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939.
[[Page 79030]]
(4) Hand Delivery or Courier: MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2350, Arlington, VA
22209-3939. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mario Distasio, Chief of the Economic
Analysis Division, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances,
MSHA, at [email protected] (e-mail), 202-693-9445 (voicemail),
202-693-9441 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 101(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
(Mine Act) requires the Secretary 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. Under section 103(a)(2), authorized representatives of the
Secretary of Labor or Secretary of Health and Human Services must make
frequent inspections and investigations in coal or other mines each
year for the purpose of gathering information with respect to mandatory
health or safety standards.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issues
certifications, qualifications and approvals (licenses) to the nation's
miners to conduct specific work within the mines. Prior to the approval
of this collection Social Security Numbers (SSNs) were used for
tracking purposes within MSHA's data processing systems, in the absence
of other reliable identification systems. In the effort to reduce use
of SSNs both by MSHA and third parties, MSHA has changed the process to
one in which miners requiring a license or benefit from MSHA will
register for an ``MSHA Individual Identification Number'' (MIIN).
This unique number is used in place of individual SSNs for all
licensing requirements within MSHA. This process has allowed MSHA to
discontinue the past practice of individuals supplying their personally
identifiable information to instructors, states or other entities,
which in turn supplied that information to MSHA. Miners needing a
license or benefit from MSHA will need to register only one time to
obtain their MIINs from MSHA.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
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 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 selecting ``Rules & Regs'', and then selecting ``FedReg.Docs''. On
the next screen, select ``Paperwork Reduction Act Supporting
Statement'' to view documents supporting the Federal Register notice.
III. Current Actions
This request for collection of information contains notification
and recordkeeping provisions for the Proposed Information Collection
Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Request for
MSHA Individual Identification Number (MIIN). MSHA does not intend to
publish the results from this information collection and is not seeking
approval to either display or not display the expiration date for the
OMB approval of this information collection.
There are no certification exceptions identified with this
information collection and the collection of this information does not
employ statistical methods.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
OMB Number: 1219-0143.
Frequency: On Occasion.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Cost to Federal Government: $132,784.
Total Burden Respondents: 11,000.
Total Number of Responses: 11,000.
Total Burden Hours: 916.
Total Hour Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $38,696.
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: December 13, 2010.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2010-31688 Filed 12-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P