1219-0154 Supporting Statement Performance Report for MSHA Grants 2023

Performance Reports for MSHA Grants

OMB Control Number 1219-0154

OMB Expiration Date: 7-31-2024

Supporting Statement for

Performance Reports for MSHA Grants

Paperwork Reduction Act Submission

The U.S. Department of Labor proposes an extension of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).

OMB Control Number: 1219-0154

Information Collection Request Title: Performance Reports for MSHA Grants

OMB Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved information collection

Authority:

• Section 115, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (Mine Act), as amended, 30 U.S.C. 825 - Mandatory health and safety training.

State Grants

• Section 503, the Mine Act, as amended, 30 U.S.C. 953 - Assistance to States.

Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants

• Section 14, the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act (MINER Act), 30 U.S.C. 965 - Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants.

Collection Instrument(s):

• MSHA Performance Report Narratives

• MSHA Form 5000-50, State Grant Program Progress Report

A. Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended (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(a), authorizes the Secretary of Labor (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 and metal and nonmetal mines.

MSHA works to prevent death, illness, and injury from mining and to promote safe and healthful workplaces for U.S. miners. Section 115 of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 825, requires MSHA to approve mine operators' health and safety training programs for miners. MSHA administers two grant programs: State Grants and Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants. The grant programs provide training for individuals, miners, employers, and contractors in the recognition, avoidance, and prevention of unsafe and unhealthful working conditions in accordance with section 503 of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 953, and section 14 of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act), 30 U.S.C. 965.

State Grants

Under section 503 of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 953, the Secretary may award grants to States to assist in developing and enforcing State mine health and safety laws and regulations, to improve State workers’ compensation and mining occupational disease laws and programs, and to improve health and safety conditions in the Nation’s mines through Federal-State coordination and cooperation. Any State in which mining takes place may apply for the State Grants. 30 U.S.C. 953(g) requires that MSHA may fund up to 80 percent of the State Grants activities and a Grant recipient must provide matching funds of no less than 20 percent of the total costs. This Grant program supports federally mandated training of miners and mine operators working at surface and underground coal, metal, and nonmetal mines. 30 U.S.C. 953(e) of the Mine Act also allows the program to train State inspectors.

MSHA recognizes that State training programs are a key source of mine safety and health training and education for individuals who work or will work at mines. MSHA encourages State training programs to prioritize health and safety training for small mining operations and underserved mines and miners within the mining industry, and to prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. MSHA has recently expanded the priority to include underserved operators and miners including limited English proficient (LEP) and low literacy individuals.

MSHA supports programs that emphasize training on miners’ statutory rights, including the right to be provided a safe working environment, to refuse an unsafe task, and to have a voice in the safety and health conditions at the mine. In particular, MSHA encourages grant recipients to address, in their training and education programs, occupational health hazards caused by exposures to respirable coal mine dust and respirable crystalline silica, powered haulage and mobile equipment safety, mine emergency preparedness, mine rescue, electrical safety, contract and customer truck drivers, improving training for new and inexperienced miners, managers and supervisors performing mining tasks, pillar safety for underground mines, and preventing falls from heights.

Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants

Section 14 of the MINER Act, 30 U.S.C. 965, established the Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants. This competitive grant program provides funding for education and training programs to better identify, avoid, and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around mines. Grantees can use these funds to establish and implement education and training programs or to create training materials and programs on MSHA-identified safety priorities. Funds can also be used to develop and implement training and related materials for mine emergency preparedness as well as for the prevention of accidents in underground mines.

MSHA expects Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety grantees to develop training or educational materials and/or provide mine safety training or educational programs, to recruit mine operators and miners to participate in training, and to conduct and evaluate the training program. 30 U.S.C. 965 mandates that the Secretary must emphasize programs and materials that target smaller mines, including training mine operators and miners about new MSHA standards, high risk activities, or hazards. The Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants give priority to the funding of pilot and demonstration projects that will provide opportunities for broad applicability for mine safety. Special attention will also be given to programs and materials that serve underserved mines and miners within the mining industry, and that prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

30 U.S.C. 965 also requires the Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants to conduct follow-up evaluations with the people who received the provided training to measure how the training promotes the DOL’s strategic goal to “Ensure Safe Jobs, Essential Protections, and Fair Workplaces,” and MSHA’s goal to “prevent fatalities, disease, and injury from mining, and secure safe and healthful working conditions for America’s miners.” Evaluations will focus on determining how effective the subject training was in either reducing hazards, improving miners’ skills, or in improving safety and health conditions in mines. Grantees must also fully cooperate with MSHA evaluators, which may include providing MSHA evaluators relevant data, educational or training materials, or information on training methods and equipment.

Under both State Grants and Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants programs, each grantee is required by U.S. DOL regulations to submit quarterly performance reports for the preceding 3-month period; and a final report no later than 90 days after the end of the grant period. Grantees of State Grants program have an additional requirement of submitting MSHA Form 5000-50, State Grants Progress Report, on a quarterly basis.

The required content of each report is specified in the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) of each grant program.

(1) Performance Reports

A grantee submits a quarterly performance project report to MSHA no later than 30 days after the deadlines. The performance report needs to contain a narrative assessment of performance under the grants and to include both quantitative and qualitative information. The narrative assessment includes the summary of progress over the previous 3 months, submitted in an open free format of the grantee’s choice. Specifically, the narrative reports contain the following information:

1. A comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives established for the period.

2. Reasons for any objectives that are not met.

3. A description of any significant developments or problems affecting the grantee’s ability to accomplish the work.

4. An evaluation of the impact or results of the program's activities.

5. An explanation of current grant progress against the overall grant goals.

In addition, the grantees are required to submit quarterly financial reports on the status of all funds awarded, matching funds, and, if applicable, program income received and expended, during the funding period. The grantees are required to use the government-wide SF-425 form, Federal Financial Report (OMB Control No. 4040-0014, Exp. Date: 02/28/2025) for financial reports. All reports are due no later than 30 days after the end of the reporting period.

Between reporting dates, the grantee also needs to provide interim reports to informs MSHA of significant developments or problems affecting the organization's ability to accomplish the work specified in the FOA.

(2) Final Reports

At the end of the grant period, each grantee is required to need to provide:

1. A final close-out financial report.

2. A final performance report. The final performance report includes a summary of progress (including performance data).

3. An evaluation report.

The final reports are due no later than 90 days after the end of the 12-month performance period.

(3) MSHA Form 5000-50, State Grants Progress Report (State Grants Only)

State Grants recipients are also required to submit MSHA Form 5000-50 in their quarterly reports to MSHA. This form is used only by the State Grants program. This form consists of a technical progress report with quantitative performance information. Recipients of the State Grants are required to submit a final MSHA 5000-50 form at the end of the 12-month performance period.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

MSHA uses the information collected to prepare its annual budget plans and its annual performance reports and to determine if the grantee's established goals are accomplished. While the quantitative performance reports provide the information that is needed to report on the numbers of miners trained, the narrative reports provide an overall assessment and an evaluation of the training that was provided. The information is useful to MSHA for the annual Office of Management and Budget report to the Senate and to present fact sheets for the Assistant Secretary of Labor for MSHA. This information has been reported to the DOL Secretary for White House events and conferences.

Grantees for the State Grants will send to MSHA via e-mail or DOL’s new grant system, the performance data required by MSHA Form 5000-50. Grantees for State Grants may be the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. MSHA has received information in the past from State Governments, Public and State Controlled institutions of higher education, and a Native American tribal government.

Grantees for the Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants may be the 50 states, territories, and tribal governments (this includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Federally recognized tribes) and private or public nonprofit entities (this includes tribal organizations, Alaska Native entities, Indian-controlled organizations serving Native Americans and Native Hawaiians).

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also, describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

MSHA receives initial applications via the Government-wide e-grants initiative (Grants.gov) at http://www.grants.gov. OMB control No. 1225-0086 covers the application collection. The quantitative grant performance reports are collected via MSHA Form 5000-50 for State Grant recipients. Grantees complete all grant performance reports by electronic means, sending them via email to MSHA or DOL’s new grant system.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item A.2 above.

The information collected in performance reports for MSHA grants is unique to each grant; therefore, it is not duplicated in any other source. As applicable, MSHA utilizes currently approved standard forms and will not duplicate the information collected on these forms.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

This information collection request does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. To limit the burden imposed on respondents, MSHA requires the minimum information.

MSHA has existing structures and resources in place for managing grants.

6. Describe the consequence to federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

MSHA activities regarding grants would be significantly hindered if the Agency were not able to collect the information required to evaluate the grantees’ activities. Without this collection, MSHA would not have information on the type of service that the grantee is providing and would not have a record of the number of miners and other participants trained under grant programs. MSHA may elect to withhold funding if information is not received.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:

• Requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

• Requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

• Requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

• Requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;

• Requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;

• In connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;

• Requiring the use of statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;

• That includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or

• Requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

All collections of information contained in its performance reports for MSHA grants comply with 5 CFR 1320.5.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR Section 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years—even if the collection of information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.

In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8(d), MSHA will publish the proposed information collection requirements in the Federal Register, notifying the public that these information collection requirements are being reviewed in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and giving interested persons 60 days to submit comments. MSHA published a 60-day Federal Register notice on January 24, 2024 (89 FR 4626). MSHA received 1 comment and took no action from an anonymous submitter that stated “this is not something the government or OMB should consider a burden and it needs to be revised. There are many surveys that should be stopped per the PRA but happy to burden myself with the awards steps”.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

MSHA does not provide any payment or gift to respondents in connection with this Information Collection Request.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

MSHA makes no assurance of confidentiality to those responding.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

Reporting requirements in the performance reports do not ask questions of a sensitive nature.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:

• Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. Unless directed to do so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential respondents is desirable. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. General, estimates should not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.

• If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form.

• Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included in Item 13.

Respondents

For the State Grants program, MSHA could award as many as 56 grants per year, subject to available funds. The State Grants program recipients were mainly community colleges, universities, and state agencies related to mining activities¹.

For the Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants program, MSHA may award up to 20 grants per year. The Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants recipients were mainly community colleges, universities, and state agencies related to mining activities².

Wage Rates Determinations³

MSHA used data from the May 2021 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for hourly wage rates⁴ and adjusted the rates

for benefits⁵, wage inflation⁶, and overhead costs⁷. The occupations listed below in Table 12-1 are those that were determined to be relevant for the cost calculations.

Table 12-1. Hourly Wage Rate

		A	B	C	D	A x B x C X D
Occupation	NAICS Code	Mean Wage Rate	Benefit Multiplier2	Inflation Multiplier3	Overhead Cost Multiplier4	Loaded Hourly Wage Rate
Administrative Support Staff 1	611200, 611300, 999200	$18.55	1.749	1.064	1.17	$40.41

Note:

1. The SOCs used for this occupation is (43-6011), (43-6014), and (43-9000) for all NAICS codes.

2. MSHA used the latest 4-quarter moving average 2022Q1-2022Q4 to determine that 42.8 percent of total loaded wages are benefits for state and local government workers in office and administrative support occupations (data series ID CMU3030000220000D and CMU3030000220000P). The benefit multiplier is 1.749 = 1+( 0.428/(1- 0.428)).

3. The inflation multiplier was determined by using the employment price index from the most current quarter, 2022Q4, divided by the base year and quarter of the OEWS employment and wage statistics, 2021Q2, for Seasonally adjusted; Wages and salaries for State and local government workers, Current Dollar Index (series ID: CIS3020000000000I). The inflation multiplier is 1.064 = 145.5/136.7.

4.MSHA used the overhead multiplier of 1.17.

This information collection request concerns provisions for Performance Reports for MSHA Grants, including an extension of Performance Project Reports and Final Reports for both the State Grants and Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants, and a revision of MSHA Form 5000-50 for the State Grants.

(1) Performance Report

A grantee submits a quarterly performance project report to MSHA. Performance reports are narrative assessment of performance under the grants and provide both quantitative and qualitative information. The narrative reports are summaries of progress for the preceding 3-month period, submitted in an open free format of the applicant’s choice.

The grantees must also submit quarterly financial reports on the status of all funds awarded, matching funds, and, if applicable, program income received and expended, during the funding period.

Between reporting dates, the grantee informs MSHA of significant developments or problems affecting the organization's ability to accomplish the work specified in the FOA.

(2) MSHA Form 5000-50 (State Grants Only)

Additionally, State Grants recipients are required to submit MSHA Form 5000-50 in their quarterly reports to MSHA. This form is only used by the State Grant Program. All State Grant recipients must submit the form, which contains a technical progress report with quantitative performance information. Grantees of the State Grants will also send their final MSHA 5000-50 forms at the end of the 12-month performance period.

(3) Final Report

At the end of the grant period, each grantee provides a final close-out financial report, a final performance report, and an evaluation report. These final reports are due no later than 90 days after the end of the 12-month performance period.

This information collection is focused on performance reporting to MSHA for both grants.

State Grants

For the State Grants, MSHA estimates it takes an average of 2.5 working hours per quarter for the grantee to prepare and submit a quarterly report package including:

1. Performance report, and

2. MSHA Form 5000-50.

Additionally, MSHA estimates it takes an average of 2.5 working hours to prepare and submit a

3. Final report, an evaluation report and final Form 5000-50.

MSHA assumes that an administrative support staff, earning a loaded wage of $40.41 per hour, is assigned to work on this information collection request.

Table 12-2. Estimated Annual Respondent Hour and Cost Burden, State Grants

Activity	No. of Respondents (Grantees)	No. of Responses per Respondent	Total Responses (Reports)	Avg. Burden per Response (Minutes)	Total Annual Burden (Hours)	Avg. Hourly Wage Rate	Total Annual Cost
Quarterly Reports	56	4	224	150	560.00	$40.41	$22,629.60
Final Reports	56	1	56	150	140.00	$40.41	$5,657.40
Subtotal (Rounded)	56		280		700		$28,287

Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants

For the Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants, MSHA estimates it takes an average of 1.5 working hours per quarter for a grantee to prepare and submit a

1. Quarterly performance report.

Additionally, MSHA estimates it takes an average of 1.5 working hours to prepare and submit a

3. Final report and evaluation report.

MSHA assumes that an administrative support staff, earning a loaded wage of $40.41 per hour, is assigned to work on this information collection request.

Table 12-3. Estimated Annual Respondent Hour and Cost Burden, Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants

Activity	No. of Respondents (Grantees)	No. of Responses per Respondent	Total Responses (Reports)	Avg. Burden per Response (Minutes)	Total Annual Burden (Hours)	Avg. Hourly Wage Rate	Total Annual Cost
Quarterly Reports	20	4	80	90	120.00	$40.41	$4,849.20
Final Reports	20	1	20	90	30.00	$40.41	$1,212.30
Subtotal (Rounded)	20		100		150		$6,062

Total burden of the collection of information is summarized below.

Table 12-4. Estimated Annual Respondent Hour and Cost Burden, MSHA Grants Total

Activity	No. of Respondents	No. of Responses per Respondent	Total Responses	Average Burden (Hours)	Total Burden (Hours)	Hourly Wage Rate	Total Burden Cost
State Grants
Quarterly Reports	56	4	224	150	560	$40.41	$22,629.60
Final Reports	56	1	56	150	140	$40.41	$5,657.40
State Grants Subtotal	56		280		700		$28,287.00
Brookwood-Sago Grants
Quarterly Reports	20	4	80	90	120.00	$40.41	$4,849.20
Final Reports	20	1	20	90	30.00	$40.41	$1,212.30
Brookwood-Sago Subtotal	20	0	100	0	150	$0.00	$6,061.50
Total (rounded)	76		380	0	850	$0.00	$34,349

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in Items 12 and 14).

• The cost estimate should be split into two components: (a) a total capital

and start up cost component (annualized over its expected useful life); and (b) a

total operation and maintenance and purchase of service component. The estimates should take into account costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing the information. Include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, the discount rate(s), and the time period over which costs will be incurred. Capital and start-up costs include, among other items, preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling and testing equipment; and record storage facilities.

• If cost estimates are expected to vary widely, agencies should present ranges of cost burdens and explain the reasons for the variance. The cost of purchasing or contracting out information collection services should be a part of this cost burden estimate. In developing cost burden estimates, agencies may consult with a sample of respondents (fewer than 10), utilize the 60-day pre-OMB submission public comment process and use existing economic or regulatory impact analysis associated with the rulemaking containing the information collection, as appropriate.

• Generally, estimates should not include purchases of equipment or services, or portions thereof, made: (1) prior to October 1, 1995, (2) to achieve regulatory compliance with requirements not associated with the information collection, (3) for reasons other than to provide information or keep records for the government, or (4) as part of customary and usual business or private practices.

The Agency estimates that 100 percent of the reports are sent electronically with no additional costs to the respondents.

14. Provide estimates of the annualized cost to the Federal Government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information. Agencies also may aggregate cost estimates from Items 12, 13, and 14 into a single table.

The cost to the federal government involves staff review and analysis of the performance information submitted by grantees.

Table 14-1. Federal Hourly Wage Rates

		A	B	= A x B
Occupation	Occupation Code	Mean Wage Rate	Benefit & Overhead Multiplier	Loaded Hourly Wage Rate
GS-12 Program Specialist, Grant Management*	1109	$42.50	1.740	$73.95

Note: Hourly wage rates developed from Office of Personnel Management (OPM) October 2022 FedScope Employment Cube, http://www.fedscope.opm.gov/. Benefit and overhead multiplier of 1.74 is recommended by the Congressional Budget Office, “Comparing the Compensation of Federal and Private-Sector Employees, 2011 to 2015,” April 25, 2017, https://www.cbo.gov/publication/52637.

* Data search qualifiers were: Agency = DLMS, Occupation = 1109 (Grant Management Series), Work Schedule = Full-Time, Salary Grade = GS-12, Measure = Average Salary. The hourly wage is the annual salary divided by 2,087. In order to include the cost of benefits and overhead, MSHA multiplied the average annual salary by a federal benefit and overhead multiplier of 1.740 (FY 2023 budget submission). Rate equals $73.95 = ($88,700 / 2,087 x 1.740).

MSHA estimates that it takes a Program Specialist, Grant Management, at an average grade of GS-12 and earning $73.95 per hour, an average of 0.5 hours per grantee to review the quarterly financial, performance reports, and MSHA 5000-50 forms. Additionally, review of the final report takes 0.5 hours per grantee.

The 56 State grantees and 20 Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grantees submitting responses would thus produce a total annual burden of 190 hours at a total burden cost of $14,051 for the Federal Government.

Table 14-2. Estimated Federal Hour and Cost Burden, Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grant

Occupation	Reports Reviewed	Burden per Report (Minutes)	Annual Burden (Hours)	Hourly Wage Rate	Burden Cost
State Grants
Quarterly Reports and MSHA Form 5000-50	56	30	112.00	$73.95	$8,282.63
Final Reports	56	30	28.00	$73.95	$2,070.66
State Grants Subtotal	56		140		$10,353.29
Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants
Quarterly Reports	20	30	40.00	$73.95	$2,958.08
Final Reports	20	30	10.00	$73.95	$739.52
Brookwood-Sago Grants Subtotal	20		50		$3,697.60
Total (rounded)	76		190		$14,051

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.

Respondents: The number of respondents increased from 50 to 76 due an increase in the number of grantees to be considered.

Responses: The number of responses increased from 250 to 380 due to the increase in the number of respondents.

Burden Hours: The number of burden hours increased from 625 to 850 due to the increases in the number of respondents.

Respondents or Recordkeeping Costs: The estimated annual costs remain the same.

Table 15-1. Changes to OMB #1219-0154

	Previous	Current	Difference
Respondents	50	76	26
Responses	250	380	130
Burden Hours	625	850	225
Respondents or Recordkeepers Costs	$0	$0	$0

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulations, and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

MSHA has no plans to publish the information collected associated with performance reports.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

MSHA will display the expiration date on MSHA Form 5000-50.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.

MSHA is not seeking an exception to the certification statement.

Part B. Statistical Methods

This information collection does not employ statistical methods.

1 A list of states participating in the MSHA State Grants program can be found at

https://www.msha.gov/training/state-grant-participants

2 A list of Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants recipients in recent years can be found at

https://www.msha.gov/training/brookwood-sago-mine-safety-grants

3 For all wage rates, MSHA uses the relevant precision throughout the calculation to avoid compounding rounding errors and only rounds at the final rate value. Displayed intermediate calculation values are presented to explain the calculation and are representative but the final rate value reflects the correct rounding and final estimate.

4 Options for obtaining OEWS data are available at item “E3. How to get OEWS data. What are the different ways to obtain OEWS estimates from this website?” at https://www.bls.gov/oes/oes_ques.htm.

5 The benefit multiplier comes from BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation accessed by menu at http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/srgate or directly with http://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cm/cm.data.0.Current. MSHA used the latest 4-quarter moving average to determine what percent of total loaded wages are benefits. MSHA computes the benefit multiplier with a number of detailed calculations, but it may be approximated with the formula 1 + (benefit percentage/(1-benefit percentage)).

6 Wage inflation is the change at https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/srgate. Inflation Multiplier = (Current Quarter Cost Index Value / OEWS Wage Base Quarter Index Value).

7 MSHA used an overhead rate of 17 percent. This overhead rate is based on a 2002 EPA report by Cody Rice, "Wage Rates for Economic Analysis of the Toxics Release Inventory Program", available at https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0387-0064.

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