Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in Underground Coal Mines, 38502-38504 [2021-15459]
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38502
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 21, 2021 / Notices
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting
‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open
for Public Comments’’ or by using the
search function.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether
the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the Department,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (2) if the
information will be processed and used
in a timely manner; (3) the accuracy of
the agency’s estimates of the burden and
cost of the collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (4)
ways to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information collection; and
(5) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Crystal Rennie by telephone at 202–
693–0456 or by email at DOL_PRA_
PUBLIC@dol.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
standard for shackles and hooks (29 CFR
1915.113(b)(1)) requires that all hooks
for which no applicable manufacturer’s
recommendations are available be tested
and that the employer retain a
certification record. The standard on
portable air receivers (29 CFR
1915.172(d)) requires that portable,
unfired pressure vessels be examined
quarterly and subjected to a yearly
hydrostatic pressure test and that a
certification record be maintained. For
additional substantive information
about this ICR, see the related notice
published in the Federal Register on
April 27, 2021 (86 FR 22279).
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 the OMB
approves it 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 that does not
display a valid OMB Control Number.
See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
DOL seeks PRA authorization for this
information collection for three (3)
years. OMB authorization for an ICR
cannot be for more than three (3) years
without renewal. The DOL notes that
information collection requirements
submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs
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receive a month-to-month extension
while they undergo review.
Agency: DOL–OSHA.
Title of Collection: Shipyard
Employment Standards.
OMB Control Number: 1218–0220.
Affected Public: Private Sector:
Businesses or other for-profits.
Total Estimated Number of
Respondents: 4,726.
Total Estimated Number of
Responses: 27,342.
Total Estimated Annual Time Burden:
10,379 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Other Costs
Burden: $0.
(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D))
Crystal Rennie,
Senior PRA Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2021–15466 Filed 7–20–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–26–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219–0088]
Proposed Extension of Information
Collection; Ventilation Plans, Tests,
and Examinations in Underground
Coal Mines
Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
AGENCY:
The Department of Labor, as
part of its continuing effort to reduce
paperwork and respondent burden,
conducts a pre-clearance request for
comment to provide the general public
and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed
collections of information in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995. This request 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 on the
information collection for Ventilation
Plans, Tests, and Examinations in
Underground Coal Mines.
DATES: All comments must be received
on or before September 20, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comment
as follows. Please note that late,
untimely filed comments will not be
considered.
Electronic Submissions: Submit
electronic comments in the following
way:
SUMMARY:
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• Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
for docket number MSHA–2021–0018.
Comments submitted electronically,
including attachments, to https://
www.regulations.gov will be posted to
the docket, with no changes. Because
your comment will be made public, you
are responsible for ensuring that your
comment does not include any
confidential information that you or a
third party may not wish to be posted,
such as your or anyone else’s Social
Security number or confidential
business information.
• If your comment includes
confidential information that you do not
wish to be made available to the public,
submit the comment as a written/paper
submission.
Written/Paper Submissions: Submit
written/paper submissions in the
following way:
• Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit
DOL–MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th
Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington,
VA 22202–5452.
• MSHA will post your comment as
well as any attachments, except for
information submitted and marked as
confidential, in the docket at https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jessica Senk, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances,
MSHA, at
MSHA.information.collections@dol.gov
(email); (202) 693–9440 (voice); or (202)
693–9441 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act of 1977 (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, 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 or other mines. In
addition, section 303 of the Mine Act
requires that all underground coal
mines be ventilated by mechanical
ventilation equipment installed and
operated in a manner approved by an
authorized representative of the
Secretary and that such equipment be
examined daily and a record be kept of
such examination.
Underground coal mines usually
present harsh and hostile working
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 21, 2021 / Notices
environments. The ventilation system is
the most vital life support system in
underground mining and a properly
operating ventilation system is essential
for maintaining a safe and healthful
working environment. Lack of adequate
ventilation in underground mines has
resulted in fatalities from asphyxiation
and explosions.
An underground mine is a maze of
tunnels that must be adequately
ventilated with fresh air to provide a
safe environment for miners. Methane is
liberated from the strata, and noxious
gases and dusts from blasting and other
mining activities may be present. The
explosive and noxious gases and dusts
must be diluted, rendered harmless, and
carried to the surface by the ventilating
currents. Sufficient air must be provided
to maintain the level of respirable dust
at or below specific exposure limits and
air quality must be maintained in
accordance with MSHA standards.
Mechanical ventilation equipment of
sufficient capacity must operate at all
times while miners are in the mine.
Ground conditions are subject to
frequent changes; thus, sufficient tests
and examinations are necessary to
ensure the integrity of the ventilation
system and to detect any changes that
may require adjustments in the system.
Records of tests and examinations are
necessary to ensure that the ventilation
system is being maintained and that
changes which could adversely affect
the integrity of the system or the safety
of the miners are not occurring. These
examination, reporting, and
recordkeeping requirements of sections
75.310, 75.312, 75.342, 75.351, 75.360
through 75.364, 75.370, 75.371, and
75.382 also incorporate examinations of
other critical aspects of the underground
work environment such as roof
conditions and electrical equipment
which have historically caused
numerous fatalities when not properly
maintained and operated.
Section 75.362, On-shift
Examinations, was revised at subsection
75.362(a)(2) and (g)(2)–(4) by MSHA’s
rule titled ‘‘Lowering Miners’ Exposure
to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including
Continuous Personal Dust Monitors,’’
published May 1, 2014. This rule also
revised subsection 75.371(f) and (j).
Subsection 75.362(a)(2) requires that a
person designated by the operator
conduct an examination and record the
results and the corrective actions taken
to ensure compliance with the
respirable dust control parameters
specified in the approved mine
ventilation plan.
Under subsection 75.362(g)(2)(i), the
certified person directing the on-shift
examination must certify by initials,
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date, and time, on a board maintained
at the section load out or similar
location showing that the examination
was made prior to resuming production.
No increased burden is estimated for
section 75.362(g)(2)(i) in this
Information Collection Request (ICR)
because MSHA does not expect the
burden to be different from the burden
in existing section 75.362(g)(2)).
Under section 75.362(g)(2)(ii), the
certified person directing the on-shift
examination must verify, by initials,
date, and time, the record of the results
of the examination required under
section 75.362(a)(2) to ensure
compliance with the respirable dust
control parameters specified in the mine
ventilation plan. Further, section
75.362(g)(3) requires a mine foreman or
equivalent mine official to countersign
each examination record required under
section 75.362(a)(2) after it is verified by
the certified person under section
75.362(g)(2)(ii), and no later than the
end of the mine foreman’s or equivalent
mine official’s next regularly scheduled
working shift. Section 75.362(g)(2)(ii)
and (g)(3) are additional burdens that
are accounted for in this ICR and
75.362(g)(2)(ii)(4) requires that records
be retained at a surface location at the
mine for at least 1 year and must be
made available for inspection by
authorized representatives of the
Secretary and the representative of
miners.
Paragraph (a)(2) in section 75.370,
Mine ventilation plan; submission and
approval, contains the burden for
underground coal mine operators to
submit mine ventilation plan revisions
for District Manager approval. Each
mine ventilation plan must include
information that is specified by section
75.371, Mine ventilation plan; contents.
Section 75.371(f) adds the following
information that a mine operator must
include in the mine ventilation plan:
The minimum quantity of air that will
be delivered to the working section for
each mechanized mining unit (MMU),
and the identification by make and
model, of each different dust
suppression system used on equipment
on each working section, including: (1)
The number, types, location,
orientation, operating pressure, and
flow rate of operating water sprays; (2)
the maximum distance that ventilation
control devices will be installed from
each working face when mining or
installing roof bolts in entries and
crosscuts; (3) procedures for
maintaining the roof bolter dust
collection system in approved
condition; and (4) recommended best
work practices for equipment operators
to minimize dust exposure.
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38503
Section 75.371(j) adds a requirement
that for machine mounted dust
collectors, the ventilation plan must
include the type and size of dust
collector screens used and a description
of the procedures to be followed to
properly maintain dust collectors used
on the equipment.
Section 75.370(a)(2) requires all
underground coal mine operators to
submit revisions for mine ventilation
plans to MSHA. The burden to submit
the additional information required by
section 75.371(f) and (j) as proposed
revisions to the plan is accounted for in
this package under section 75.370(a)(2).
In addition, section 75.370(a)(3)(i)
requires underground coal mine
operators to notify the miners’
representative at least 5 days prior to
submission of mine ventilation plan
revisions and, if requested, provide a
copy of the revisions to the miners’
representative at the time of
notification. Section 75.370(a)(3)(iii)
and (f)(3) require the operator to post a
copy of the plan revisions, and section
75.370(f)(1) requires that the operator
provide a copy of the revisions to the
miners’ representative, if requested.
MSHA assumes that a copy of the
revisions will be requested. The burdens
for notification, providing requested
copies, and posting associated with
mine ventilation plan revisions
resulting from section 75.371(f) and (j)
are accounted for in this package under
section 75.370(a)(3)(i), (f)(1), (a)(3)(iii),
and (f)(3), respectively.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments
concerning the proposed information
collection related to Ventilation Plans,
Tests, and Examinations in
Underground Coal 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 has practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA’s
estimate of the burden of the 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
• 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 submission of
responses.
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38504
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 21, 2021 / Notices
Background documents related to this
information collection request are
available at https://regulations.gov and
at DOL–MSHA located at 201 12th
Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington,
VA 22202–5452. Questions about the
information collection requirements
may be directed to the person listed in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section of this notice.
III. Current Actions
This information collection request
concerns provisions for Ventilation
Plans, Tests, and Examinations in
Underground Coal Mines. MSHA has
updated the data with respect to the
number of respondents, responses,
burden hours, and burden costs
supporting this information collection
request from the previous information
collection request.
Type of Review: Extension, without
change, of a currently approved
collection.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health
Administration.
OMB Number: 1219–0088.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit.
Number of Respondents: 153.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Responses: 10,926.
Annual Burden Hours: 115,874 hours.
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper
Cost: $26,004.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized in the
request for Office of Management and
Budget approval of the proposed
information collection request; they will
become a matter of public record and
will be available at https://
www.reginfo.gov.
Jessica Senk,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021–15459 Filed 7–20–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–43–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219–0073]
Proposed Extension of Information
Collection; Mine Mapping and Records
of Opening, Closing, and Reopening of
Mines
Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
The Department of Labor, as
part of its continuing effort to reduce
paperwork and respondent burden,
conducts a pre-clearance request for
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:26 Jul 20, 2021
Jkt 253001
comment to provide the general public
and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed
collections of information in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995. This request 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 on the
information collection for Mine
Mapping and Records of Opening,
Closing, and Reopening of Mines.
DATES: All comments must be received
on or before September 20, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comment
as follows. Please note that late,
untimely filed comments will not be
considered.
Electronic Submissions: Submit
electronic comments in the following
way:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
for docket number MSHA–2021–0021.
Comments submitted electronically,
including attachments, to https://
www.regulations.gov will be posted to
the docket, with no changes. Because
your comment will be made public, you
are responsible for ensuring that your
comment does not include any
confidential information that you or a
third party may not wish to be posted,
such as your or anyone else’s Social
Security number or confidential
business information.
• If your comment includes
confidential information that you do not
wish to be made available to the public,
submit the comment as a written/paper
submission.
Written/Paper Submissions: Submit
written/paper submissions in the
following way:
• Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit
DOL–MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th
Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington,
VA 22202–5452.
• MSHA will post your comment as
well as any attachments, except for
information submitted and marked as
confidential, in the docket at https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jessica Senk, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances,
MSHA, at
MSHA.information.collections@dol.gov
(email); (202) 693–9440 (voice); or (202)
693–9441 (facsimile).
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act of 1977 (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, 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 or other mines.
The information collection addressed
by this notice is intended to protect
miners by ensuring that up-to-date,
accurate mine maps contain the
information needed to clarify the best
alternatives for action during an
emergency operation. Coal mine
operators routinely use maps to create
safe and effective development plans.
Mine maps are schematic depictions
of critical mine infrastructure, such as
water, power, transportation,
ventilation, and communication
systems. Using accurate, up-to-date
maps during a disaster, mine emergency
personnel can locate refuges for miners
and identify sites of explosion potential.
Emergency personnel use the maps to
know where stationary equipment was
placed, where ground was secured, and
where they can best begin a rescue
operation. During a disaster, maps can
be crucial to the safety of the emergency
personnel who must enter a mine to
begin a search for survivors.
Mine maps may describe the current
status of an operating mine or provide
crucial information about a closed mine
that is being reopened.
Title 30 CFR 75.1200 requires each
underground coal mine operator to have
an accurate and up-to-date map of such
mine drawn to scale and stored in a
fireproof repository in an area on the
surface of the mine chosen by the mine
operator to minimize the danger of
destruction by fire or other hazards.
Sections 75.1200–1, 75.1201, 75.1202,
75.1202–1, and 75.1203 specify the
information which must be shown on
the map. The maps must be certified by
a registered engineer or surveyor and be
kept up-to-date by temporary notations
and revised and supplemented to
include the temporary notations at
intervals of not more than 6 months.
Maps must be made available for
inspection by a representative of the
Secretary, State coal mine inspectors,
miners and their representatives,
operators of adjacent coal mines, and
persons owning, leasing, or residing on
surface areas of such mines or areas
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38502-38504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15459]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0088]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Ventilation Plans,
Tests, and Examinations in Underground Coal Mines
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance
request for comment to provide the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request
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 on the information collection for Ventilation
Plans, Tests, and Examinations in Underground Coal Mines.
DATES: All comments must be received on or before September 20, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comment as follows. Please note that late,
untimely filed comments will not be considered.
Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments in the following
way:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments for docket number MSHA-
2021-0018. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to
https://www.regulations.gov will be posted to the docket, with no
changes. Because your comment will be made public, you are responsible
for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential
information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such
as your or anyone else's Social Security number or confidential
business information.
If your comment includes confidential information that you
do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a
written/paper submission.
Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the
following way:
Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit DOL-MSHA, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite
4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452.
MSHA will post your comment as well as any attachments,
except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in the
docket at https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Senk, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at
[email protected] (email); (202) 693-9440 (voice);
or (202) 693-9441 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
(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,
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
or other mines. In addition, section 303 of the Mine Act requires that
all underground coal mines be ventilated by mechanical ventilation
equipment installed and operated in a manner approved by an authorized
representative of the Secretary and that such equipment be examined
daily and a record be kept of such examination.
Underground coal mines usually present harsh and hostile working
[[Page 38503]]
environments. The ventilation system is the most vital life support
system in underground mining and a properly operating ventilation
system is essential for maintaining a safe and healthful working
environment. Lack of adequate ventilation in underground mines has
resulted in fatalities from asphyxiation and explosions.
An underground mine is a maze of tunnels that must be adequately
ventilated with fresh air to provide a safe environment for miners.
Methane is liberated from the strata, and noxious gases and dusts from
blasting and other mining activities may be present. The explosive and
noxious gases and dusts must be diluted, rendered harmless, and carried
to the surface by the ventilating currents. Sufficient air must be
provided to maintain the level of respirable dust at or below specific
exposure limits and air quality must be maintained in accordance with
MSHA standards. Mechanical ventilation equipment of sufficient capacity
must operate at all times while miners are in the mine. Ground
conditions are subject to frequent changes; thus, sufficient tests and
examinations are necessary to ensure the integrity of the ventilation
system and to detect any changes that may require adjustments in the
system. Records of tests and examinations are necessary to ensure that
the ventilation system is being maintained and that changes which could
adversely affect the integrity of the system or the safety of the
miners are not occurring. These examination, reporting, and
recordkeeping requirements of sections 75.310, 75.312, 75.342, 75.351,
75.360 through 75.364, 75.370, 75.371, and 75.382 also incorporate
examinations of other critical aspects of the underground work
environment such as roof conditions and electrical equipment which have
historically caused numerous fatalities when not properly maintained
and operated.
Section 75.362, On-shift Examinations, was revised at subsection
75.362(a)(2) and (g)(2)-(4) by MSHA's rule titled ``Lowering Miners'
Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including Continuous Personal
Dust Monitors,'' published May 1, 2014. This rule also revised
subsection 75.371(f) and (j).
Subsection 75.362(a)(2) requires that a person designated by the
operator conduct an examination and record the results and the
corrective actions taken to ensure compliance with the respirable dust
control parameters specified in the approved mine ventilation plan.
Under subsection 75.362(g)(2)(i), the certified person directing
the on-shift examination must certify by initials, date, and time, on a
board maintained at the section load out or similar location showing
that the examination was made prior to resuming production. No
increased burden is estimated for section 75.362(g)(2)(i) in this
Information Collection Request (ICR) because MSHA does not expect the
burden to be different from the burden in existing section
75.362(g)(2)).
Under section 75.362(g)(2)(ii), the certified person directing the
on-shift examination must verify, by initials, date, and time, the
record of the results of the examination required under section
75.362(a)(2) to ensure compliance with the respirable dust control
parameters specified in the mine ventilation plan. Further, section
75.362(g)(3) requires a mine foreman or equivalent mine official to
countersign each examination record required under section 75.362(a)(2)
after it is verified by the certified person under section
75.362(g)(2)(ii), and no later than the end of the mine foreman's or
equivalent mine official's next regularly scheduled working shift.
Section 75.362(g)(2)(ii) and (g)(3) are additional burdens that are
accounted for in this ICR and 75.362(g)(2)(ii)(4) requires that records
be retained at a surface location at the mine for at least 1 year and
must be made available for inspection by authorized representatives of
the Secretary and the representative of miners.
Paragraph (a)(2) in section 75.370, Mine ventilation plan;
submission and approval, contains the burden for underground coal mine
operators to submit mine ventilation plan revisions for District
Manager approval. Each mine ventilation plan must include information
that is specified by section 75.371, Mine ventilation plan; contents.
Section 75.371(f) adds the following information that a mine
operator must include in the mine ventilation plan: The minimum
quantity of air that will be delivered to the working section for each
mechanized mining unit (MMU), and the identification by make and model,
of each different dust suppression system used on equipment on each
working section, including: (1) The number, types, location,
orientation, operating pressure, and flow rate of operating water
sprays; (2) the maximum distance that ventilation control devices will
be installed from each working face when mining or installing roof
bolts in entries and crosscuts; (3) procedures for maintaining the roof
bolter dust collection system in approved condition; and (4)
recommended best work practices for equipment operators to minimize
dust exposure.
Section 75.371(j) adds a requirement that for machine mounted dust
collectors, the ventilation plan must include the type and size of dust
collector screens used and a description of the procedures to be
followed to properly maintain dust collectors used on the equipment.
Section 75.370(a)(2) requires all underground coal mine operators
to submit revisions for mine ventilation plans to MSHA. The burden to
submit the additional information required by section 75.371(f) and (j)
as proposed revisions to the plan is accounted for in this package
under section 75.370(a)(2). In addition, section 75.370(a)(3)(i)
requires underground coal mine operators to notify the miners'
representative at least 5 days prior to submission of mine ventilation
plan revisions and, if requested, provide a copy of the revisions to
the miners' representative at the time of notification. Section
75.370(a)(3)(iii) and (f)(3) require the operator to post a copy of the
plan revisions, and section 75.370(f)(1) requires that the operator
provide a copy of the revisions to the miners' representative, if
requested. MSHA assumes that a copy of the revisions will be requested.
The burdens for notification, providing requested copies, and posting
associated with mine ventilation plan revisions resulting from section
75.371(f) and (j) are accounted for in this package under section
75.370(a)(3)(i), (f)(1), (a)(3)(iii), and (f)(3), respectively.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection related to Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in
Underground Coal 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 has practical utility;
Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA's estimate of the burden of
the 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
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 submission of responses.
[[Page 38504]]
Background documents related to this information collection request
are available at https://regulations.gov and at DOL-MSHA located at 201
12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Questions
about the information collection requirements may be directed to the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
notice.
III. Current Actions
This information collection request concerns provisions for
Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in Underground Coal Mines.
MSHA has updated the data with respect to the number of respondents,
responses, burden hours, and burden costs supporting this information
collection request from the previous information collection request.
Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved
collection.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
OMB Number: 1219-0088.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 153.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Responses: 10,926.
Annual Burden Hours: 115,874 hours.
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $26,004.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized in
the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the
proposed information collection request; they will become a matter of
public record and will be available at https://www.reginfo.gov.
Jessica Senk,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-15459 Filed 7-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
