[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 15 (Thursday, January 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3277-3279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1428]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Roof Control Plan

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. The program 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 concerning the extension of the information 
collection related to the 30 CFR Sections

75.215--Longwall mining systems;
75.220--Roof control plan;
75.221--Roof control plan information;
75.222--Roof control plan-approval criteria; and
75.223--Evaluation and revision of roof control plan.

DATES: Submit comments on or before March 24, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Jane Tarr, Management Analyst, 
Administration and Management, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2171, 
Arlington, VA 22209-3939. Commenters are encouraged to send their 
comments on computer disk, or via Internet E-mail to [email protected]. Ms. Tarr can be reached at (202) 693-9824 (voice), or 
(202) 693-9801 (facsimile).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Tarr, Management Analyst, Records 
Management Group, U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, Room 2171, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209-
3939. Ms. Tarr can be reached at [email protected] (Internet-E-mail), 
(202) 693-9824 (voice), or (202) 693-9801 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 302(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 846, requires that a roof control plan and 
revisions thereof suitable to the roof conditions and mining system of 
each coal mine be first approved by the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) 
before implementation by the operator. The plan must show the type of 
support and spacing approved by the Secretary, and the plan must be 
reviewed at least every 6 months by the Secretary.
    Under 30 CFR 75.221, the information required to be submitted and 
approved in the roof control plan includes the following: (1) The name 
and address of the company; (2) the name, address, mine identification 
number, and location of the mine; (3) the name and title of the company 
official responsible for the plan; (4) a description of the mine 
strata; (5) a description and drawings of the sequence of installation 
and spacing of supports for each method of mining used; (6) the maximum 
distance that an ATRS system is to be set beyond the last row of 
permanent support (if appropriate); (7) specifications and installation 
procedures for liners or arches (if appropriate); (8) drawings 
indicating the planned width of openings, size of pillars, method of 
pillar recovery, and the sequence of mining pillars; (9) a list of all 
support materials required to be used in the roof, face and rib control 
system; (10) the intervals at which test holes will be drilled (if 
appropriate); and (11) a description of the methods to be used for the 
protection of persons. Under 30 CFR 75.215, the roof control plan for 
each longwall mining section is required to specify the methods that 
will be used to maintain a safe travelway out of the section through 
the tailgate side of the longwall and the procedures that will be 
followed if a ground failure prevents travel out of the section through 
the tailgate side of the longwall.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is particularly interest in comments which:
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; the
    [sbull] 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 submissions of responses.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request can be 
obtained by contacting the employee listed in the ``For Further 
Information Contact'' section of this notice, or viewed on the Internet 
by accessing the MSHA home page (http://www.msha.gov) and then choosing 
``Statutory and Regulatory Information'' and ``Federal Register 
Documents.''

III. Current Actions

    Falls of roof, face and rib continue to be a cause of injuries and 
death in underground coal mines. All underground coal mine operators 
are required to develop and submit roof control plans to MSHA for 
evaluation and approval. These plans provide the means to instruct 
miners, who install roof supports, and the minimum requirements and 
placement of roof supports. The plan also provides a reference for mine 
supervisors to assist them in compliance with the plan requirements. In 
that regard the plan is a working document for the miners.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Roof Control Plan.
    OMB Number: 1219-0004.
    Recordkeeping: Indefinite.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

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                                                                                    Avg. time/
            Section                  Total          Frequency          Total         response      Burden  hours
                                  respondents                        responses        (hours)
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75.220........................              47  On occasion.....              47           24              1,128
75.223........................             893  On occasion.....             957            5              4,785
75.223(b).....................             893  On occasion.....           1,753             .08             140
                               -----------------
    Totals....................           1,833  ................           2,757  ..............           6,053
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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $5,020.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or 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.

    Dated at Arlington, Virginia, this 16th day of January, 2003.
Thomas Charboneau,
Financial Manager, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 03-1428 Filed 1-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M