Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Periodic Medical Surveillance Examinations for Coal Miners

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), through the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), is seeking public comment on the proposed extension of an existing information collection program titled 'Periodic Medical Surveillance Examinations for Coal Miners.' This is not a new regulation but a renewal of an existing data collection mandate under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The pre-clearance consultation program is designed to minimize the reporting burden on respondents — including coal mining companies and workers — while ensuring the quality and utility of collected health data. MSHA uses this data to monitor occupational health trends among coal miners, particularly with respect to respiratory diseases such as black lung (coal workers' pneumoconiosis). Federal agencies and the public are invited to submit comments on the necessity, accuracy, and burden of the information collection before formal reauthorization. Comments typically address whether the data is necessary, whether MSHA's burden estimates are accurate, and whether there are ways to reduce compliance costs. This action does not impose new requirements on coal mine operators or miners. It seeks to continue an established surveillance system that supports MSHA's mission to protect the health and safety of the nation's miners.

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