Federal Register

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment
Request; Qualification/Certification Program Request for Mine Safety and Health
Administration Individual Identification Number
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled,
“Qualification/Certification Program Request for MSHA Individual Identification
Number (MIIN),” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval for continued use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
DATES: Submit comments on or before [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE
OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation; including
a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated
total burden may be obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site,
http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, on the day following publication of this
notice or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a tollfree number) or sending an email to DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.
Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and
Health Administration (MSHA), Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235,

-1-

Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 202-395-6929/Fax: 202-395-6881 (these are not tollfree numbers), email: OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129
(this is not a toll-free number) or by email at DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MSHA issues certifications, qualifications,
and approvals (licenses) to the nation’s miners to conduct specific work within mines.
Prior to the approval of this collection Social Security Numbers (SSNs) were used for
tracking purposes within MSHA data processing systems, in the absence of other reliable
identification systems. In the effort to reduce use of SSNs both by the MSHA and third
parties, the MSHA has changed the process to one in which miners requiring a license or
benefit from the MSHA will register for a MIIN. This unique number is used in place of
individual SSNs for all licensing requirements within the MSHA. This process has
allowed the 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 the MSHA. Miners needing a license or benefit from the
MSHA will need to register only one time to obtain their MIINs.
This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally
cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not
required to respond to an information collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under
the PRA and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition,
notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the collection of
information does not display a currently valid OMB control number. See 5 CFR

-2-

1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection
under OMB Control Number 1219-0143. The current OMB approval is scheduled to
expire on February 28, 2011; however, it should be noted that information collections
submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.
For additional information, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on
December 17, 2010 (75 FR 79029).
Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section
within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. In order to ensure
appropriate consideration, comments should reference OMB Control Number 1219-0143.
The OMB 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;

•

Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to

and

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.

-3-

Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
Title of Collection: Qualification/Certification Program Request for MSHA Individual
Identification Number (MIIN)
OMB Control Number: 1219-0143.
Affected Public: Private sector—businesses or other for-profits.
Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 11,000.
Total Estimated Number of Responses: 11,000.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 916.
Total Estimated Annual Costs Burden: $5170.
Dated: February 23, 2011.

Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
BILLING CODE: 4510-43-P

[FR Doc. 2011-4511 Filed 02/28/2011 at 8:45 am; Publication Date: 03/01/2011]

-4-