Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards, 64255-64256 [2022-23005]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 204 / Monday, October 24, 2022 / Notices
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 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.
30 CFR 77.1900 (Slopes and Shafts;
approval of plans) requires underground
coal mine operators to submit for
approval a plan that will provide for the
safety of workers in each slope or shaft
that is commenced or extended from the
surface to the underground coal mine.
Each slope or shaft sinking operation is
unique in that each operator uses
different methods and equipment and
encounters different geological strata
which make it impossible for a single
set of regulations to ensure the safety of
the miners under all circumstances.
This makes an individual slope or shaft
sinking plan necessary. The plan must
be consistent with prudent engineering
design. Plans include the name and
location of the mine; name and address
of the mine operator; a description of
the construction work and methods to
be used in construction of the slope or
shaft, and whether all or part of the
work will be performed by a contractor;
the elevation, depth and dimensions of
the slope or shaft; the location and
elevation of the coalbed; the general
characteristics of the strata through
which the slope or shaft will be
developed; the type of equipment which
the operator proposes to use; the system
of ventilation to be used; and safeguards
for the prevention of caving during
excavation.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments
concerning the proposed information
collection related to Slope and Shaft
Sinking Plans, 30 CFR 77.1900 (pertains
to surface work areas of 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;
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17:07 Oct 21, 2022
Jkt 259001
• 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.
The information collection request
will be available on https://
www.regulations.gov. MSHA cautions
the commenter against providing any
information in the submission that
should not be publicly disclosed. Full
comments, including personal
information provided, will be made
available on www.regulations.gov and
www.reginfo.gov.
The public may also examine publicly
available documents at DOL–MSHA,
Office of Standards, Regulations, and
Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite
4E401, Arlington, VA 22202–5452. Sign
in at the receptionist’s desk on the 4th
floor via the East elevator. Before
visiting MSHA in person, call 202–693–
9455 to make an appointment, in
keeping with the Department of Labor’s
COVID–19 policy. Special health
precautions may be required.
Questions about the information
collection requirements may be directed
to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION section of this notice.
III. Current Actions
This request for collection of
information contains provisions for
Slope and Shaft Sinking Plans, 30 CFR
77.1900 (pertains to surface work areas
of 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.
Type of Review: Extension, without
change, of a currently approved
collection.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health
Administration.
OMB Number: 1219–0019.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit.
Number of Respondents: 24.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Responses: 55.
Annual Burden Hours: 1,100 hours.
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper
Cost: $35.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and
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64255
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.
Song-Ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022–23008 Filed 10–21–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–43–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Petition for Modification of Application
of Existing Mandatory Safety
Standards
Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice is a summary of
a petition for modification submitted to
the Mine Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA) by the party
listed below.
DATES: All comments on the petition
must be received by MSHA’s Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances
on or before November 23, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by Docket No. MSHA–2022–
053 by any of the following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
for MSHA–2022–053.
2. Fax: 202–693–9441.
3. Email: petitioncomments@dol.gov.
4. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery:
MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th
Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington,
Virginia 22202–5452.
Attention: S. Aromie Noe, Director,
Office of Standards, Regulations, and
Variances. Persons delivering
documents are required to check in at
the receptionist’s desk in Suite 4E401.
Individuals may inspect copies of the
petition and comments during normal
business hours at the address listed
above. Before visiting MSHA in person,
call 202–693–9455 to make an
appointment, in keeping with the
Department of Labor’s COVID–19
policy. Special health precautions may
be required.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S.
Aromie Noe, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances at 202–693–
9440 (voice), Petitionsformodification@
dol.gov (email), or 202–693–9441 (fax).
[These are not toll-free numbers.]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and
Health Act of 1977 and Title 30 of the
SUMMARY:
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64256
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 204 / Monday, October 24, 2022 / Notices
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part
44 govern the application, processing,
and disposition of petitions for
modification.
I. Background
Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine
Act) allows the mine operator or
representative of miners to file a
petition to modify the application of any
mandatory safety standard to a coal or
other mine if the Secretary of Labor
determines that:
1. An alternative method of achieving
the result of such standard exists which
will at all times guarantee no less than
the same measure of protection afforded
the miners of such mine by such
standard; or
2. The application of such standard to
such mine will result in a diminution of
safety to the miners in such mine.
In addition, sections 44.10 and 44.11
of 30 CFR establish the requirements for
filing petitions for modification.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
II. Petition for Modification
Docket Number: M–2022–022–C.
Petitioner: M&D Anthracite Coal
Company, 71 Hill Road, Hegins,
Pennsylvania, 17938.
Mine: Slope #1, MSHA ID No. 36–
09976, located in Schuylkill County,
Pennsylvania.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1002
(a), Installation of electric equipment
and conductors; permissibility.
Modification Request: The petitioner
requests a modification of 30 CFR
75.1002(a) to permit the use of nonpermissible electric equipment,
including drags and battery
locomotives, within 150 feet of the
pillar line.
The petitioner states that:
(a) The mine is a pitching anthracite
mine.
(b) The use of drags on less than
moderate pitching veins (less than 20
degrees pitch) is the only practical
system of mining in use.
(c) Permissible drags are not
commercially available. Partly due to
their small size, permissible
locomotives are not commercially
available.
(d) Because of low daily production
rates and full timbering support, inrushes of methane resulting from
massive pillar falls are unlikely to
occur.
(e) Recovery of the pillars above the
first miner heading is usually
accomplished on the advance within
150 feet of the section intake (gangway)
and the remaining minable pillars are
recovered from the deepest point of
penetration outby.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:07 Oct 21, 2022
Jkt 259001
The petitioner proposes the following
alternative method:
(a) The equipment shall be operated
in the working section’s only intake
entry (gangway) which is regularly
traveled and examined.
(b) Methane testing shall occur on an
hourly basis and the test results shall be
recorded in the on-shift examination
record.
(c) Equipment operation shall be
suspended if the methane concentration
at the equipment reaches 0.5% methane
during a pre-shift examination or
operation.
(d) The required intake air flow of
5,000 cubic feet per minute shall be
measured just outby the nonpermissible
equipment, with the ventilating air
passing over the equipment to ventilate
the pillar being mined.
(e) The electrical equipment shall be
attended during operation and shall be
de-energized at the intersection of the
working gangway and intake slope.
(f) Where more than one active line of
pillar breast recovery exist, the
locomotive may travel to a point just
outby the deepest active chute/breast
(room) workings or last open crosscut in
a developing set of entries.
The petitioner asserts that the
alternative method proposed will at all
times guarantee no less than the same
measure of protection afforded the
miners under the mandatory standard.
Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations,
and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2022–23005 Filed 10–21–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520–43–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration
[Docket No. OSHA–2016–0005]
Preparations for the 43rd Session of
the UN Sub-Committee of Experts on
the Globally Harmonized System of
Classification and Labelling of
Chemicals
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
AGENCY:
This notice is to advise
interested persons that OSHA will
conduct a virtual public meeting in
advance of the 43rd session of the
United Nations Sub-Committee of
Experts on the Globally Harmonized
System of Classification and Labelling
of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS) to be held as
a hybrid (in-person and virtual) meeting
SUMMARY:
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December 7–9, 2022, in Geneva,
Switzerland. OSHA, along with the U.S.
Interagency Globally Harmonized
System of Classification and Labelling
of Chemicals (GHS) Coordinating
Group, plans to consider the comments
and information gathered at this public
meeting when developing the U.S.
Government positions for the
UNSCEGHS meeting. This meeting will
occur jointly with the Department of
Transportation (DOT), Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA), to discuss
proposals in preparation for the 61st
session of the United Nations SubCommittee of Experts on the Transport
of Dangerous Goods (UNSCETDG), to be
held as a hybrid meeting November 28–
December 6, 2022.
DATES: The virtual public meeting will
take place on November 16, 2022.
Specific information for each meeting
will be posted when available on the
OSHA website at https://www.osha.gov/
dsg/hazcom/hazcom_
international.html#meeting-notice.
ADDRESSES: The virtual meetings will be
hosted through the Department of
Transportation (DOT) Headquarters
Conference Center, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Written Comments: Interested parties
may submit comments from November
6 through December 6, 2022, on the
Working and Informal Papers for the
43rd session of the UNSCEGHS to the
docket established for International/
Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
efforts at: https://www.regulations.gov,
Docket No. OSHA–2016–0005.
Registration to Attend and/or to
Participate in the Virtual Meetings: The
OSHA and PHMSA meetings will be
open to the public on a first-come, first
served basis, as space is limited.
Advanced meeting registration
information will be posted on the
PHMSA website listed below. DOT is
committed to providing equal access to
this meeting for all participants. If you
need interpretation or alternative
formats or services because of a
disability, such as sign language or other
ancillary aids, please contact the person
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section.
Attendees may use the same form to
pre-register for both meetings. Failure to
pre-register may delay your access into
the DOT Headquarters conference call
line. Conference call-in and ‘‘Teams
meeting’’ capability will be provided for
both meetings. Information on how to
access the conference call and ‘‘Teams
meeting’’ will be posted when available
at: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/
international-program/international-
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 204 (Monday, October 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64255-64256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23005]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory
Safety Standards
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice is a summary of a petition for modification
submitted to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by the
party listed below.
DATES: All comments on the petition must be received by MSHA's Office
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before November 23,
2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. MSHA-2022-
053 by any of the following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments for MSHA-2022-053.
2. Fax: 202-693-9441.
3. Email: [email protected].
4. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401,
Arlington, Virginia 22202-5452.
Attention: S. Aromie Noe, Director, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances. Persons delivering documents are required
to check in at the receptionist's desk in Suite 4E401. Individuals may
inspect copies of the petition and comments during normal business
hours at the address listed above. Before visiting MSHA in person, call
202-693-9455 to make an appointment, in keeping with the Department of
Labor's COVID-19 policy. Special health precautions may be required.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. Aromie Noe, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances at 202-693-9440 (voice),
[email protected] (email), or 202-693-9441 (fax). [These
are not toll-free numbers.]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety
and Health Act of 1977 and Title 30 of the
[[Page 64256]]
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 44 govern the application,
processing, and disposition of petitions for modification.
I. Background
Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
(Mine Act) allows the mine operator or representative of miners to file
a petition to modify the application of any mandatory safety standard
to a coal or other mine if the Secretary of Labor determines that:
1. An alternative method of achieving the result of such standard
exists which will at all times guarantee no less than the same measure
of protection afforded the miners of such mine by such standard; or
2. The application of such standard to such mine will result in a
diminution of safety to the miners in such mine.
In addition, sections 44.10 and 44.11 of 30 CFR establish the
requirements for filing petitions for modification.
II. Petition for Modification
Docket Number: M-2022-022-C.
Petitioner: M&D Anthracite Coal Company, 71 Hill Road, Hegins,
Pennsylvania, 17938.
Mine: Slope #1, MSHA ID No. 36-09976, located in Schuylkill County,
Pennsylvania.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1002 (a), Installation of electric
equipment and conductors; permissibility.
Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of 30
CFR 75.1002(a) to permit the use of non-permissible electric equipment,
including drags and battery locomotives, within 150 feet of the pillar
line.
The petitioner states that:
(a) The mine is a pitching anthracite mine.
(b) The use of drags on less than moderate pitching veins (less
than 20 degrees pitch) is the only practical system of mining in use.
(c) Permissible drags are not commercially available. Partly due to
their small size, permissible locomotives are not commercially
available.
(d) Because of low daily production rates and full timbering
support, in-rushes of methane resulting from massive pillar falls are
unlikely to occur.
(e) Recovery of the pillars above the first miner heading is
usually accomplished on the advance within 150 feet of the section
intake (gangway) and the remaining minable pillars are recovered from
the deepest point of penetration outby.
The petitioner proposes the following alternative method:
(a) The equipment shall be operated in the working section's only
intake entry (gangway) which is regularly traveled and examined.
(b) Methane testing shall occur on an hourly basis and the test
results shall be recorded in the on-shift examination record.
(c) Equipment operation shall be suspended if the methane
concentration at the equipment reaches 0.5% methane during a pre-shift
examination or operation.
(d) The required intake air flow of 5,000 cubic feet per minute
shall be measured just outby the nonpermissible equipment, with the
ventilating air passing over the equipment to ventilate the pillar
being mined.
(e) The electrical equipment shall be attended during operation and
shall be de-energized at the intersection of the working gangway and
intake slope.
(f) Where more than one active line of pillar breast recovery
exist, the locomotive may travel to a point just outby the deepest
active chute/breast (room) workings or last open crosscut in a
developing set of entries.
The petitioner asserts that the alternative method proposed will at
all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection
afforded the miners under the mandatory standard.
Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2022-23005 Filed 10-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520-43-P
