[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4380-4381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-980]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

January 20, 2006.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35). A copy of 
each ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by 
contacting Darrin King on 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) 
or e-mail: [email protected].
    Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Mine Safety and Health 
Administration (MSHA), Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, 202-395-7316 (this is not a toll-free number), 
within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal 
Register.
    The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:
     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;
     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;
     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.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Title: Records of Mine Closures, Opening and Reopening of Mines.
    OMB Number: 1219-0073.
    Frequency: On occasion; Semi-annually; and Annually
    Type of Response: Recordkeeping and Reporting.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,586.
    Estimated Annual Responses: 786.
    Estimated Average Response Time: Varies by task and mine size.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 15,936.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $18,292,611.
    Description: Title 30 CFR 75.1200, 75.1200-1, 75.1201, 75.1202, 
75.1202-1, and 75.1203 require underground coal mine operators to have 
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, an accurate and up-to-date map of such mine drawn on 
scale. These standards specify the information which must be shown, the 
range of acceptable scale, the surveying technique or equivalent 
accuracy required of the surveying which must be used to prepare the 
map, that the maps must be certified as accurate by a registered 
engineer or surveyor, that the maps must be kept continuously up-to-
date by temporary notations and must be revised and supplemented to 
include the temporary notations at intervals not more than 6 months. In 
addition, the mine operator must provide the MSHA District Manager a 
copy of the certified mine map annually during the operating life of 
the mine.
    These maps are essential to the planning and safe operation of the 
mine. In addition, these maps provide a graphic presentation of the 
locations of working sections and the locations of fixed surface and 
underground mine facilities and equipment, escape way routes, coal 
haulage and man and materials haulage entries and other information 
essential to mine rescue or mine fire fighting activities in the event 
of mine fire, explosion or inundations of gas or water. The information 
is essential to the safe operation of adjacent mines and mines 
approaching the worked out areas of active or abandoned mines. Section 
75.372 requires underground mine operators to submit three copies of an 
up-to-date mine map to the District Manager at intervals not exceeding 
12 months.

    Title 30 CFR 75.1204 and 75.1204-1 require that whenever an 
underground coal mine operator permanently closes or abandons a coal 
mine, or temporarily closes a coal mine for a period of 90 days, the 
operator shall file with MSHA a copy of the mine map revised and 
supplemented to the date of closure. Maps are retained in a repository 
and are made available to mine operators of adjacent properties. The 
maps are necessary to provide an accurate record of underground areas 
that have been mined to help prevent active mine operators from mining 
into abandoned areas that may contain water or harmful gases.
    Title 30 CFR 77.1200, 77.1201 and 77.1202 require surface coal mine 
operators to maintain an accurate and up-to-date map of the mine and 
specified the information to be shown on the map, the acceptable range 
of map scales, that the map be certified a registered engineer or 
surveyor, that the map be available for inspection by the Secretary or 
his authorized representative. These maps are essential for the safe 
operation of the mine and provide essential information to operators of 
adjacent surface and underground mine operators. Properly prepared 
effectively utilized surface mine maps can prevent outbursts of water 
impounded in underground mine workings and/or inundations of 
underground mines by surface impounded water or water and/or gases 
impounded in surface auger mining worked out areas.
    Title 30 75.373 and 75.1721 require that after a mine is abandoned 
or declared inactive and before it is reopened, mine operations shall 
not begin until MSHA has been notified and has completed an inspection.
    Standard 75.1721 specifies that the notification be in writing and 
lists specific information, preliminary arrangements and mine plans 
which must be submitted to the MSHA District Manager.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Title: Approval, Exhaust Gas Monitoring, and Safety Requirements 
for the Use of Diesel-Powered Equipment in Underground Coal Mines.
    OMB Number: 1219-0119.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Type of Response: Recordkeeping.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 181.

[[Page 4381]]

    Estimated Annual Responses: 147,657.
    Estimated Average Response Time: Varies by task and mine size.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 144,527.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $349,888.
    Description: These records are directly associated with the 
maintenance and use of this diesel equipment, the testing and 
maintenance of fire suppression systems on the equipment and at fueling 
stations; the safe storage, transportation and use of diesel fuel; and, 
exhaust gas sampling provisions to protect miners' health. The records 
are required to document that essential testing and maintenance of the 
equipment is done regularly and by qualified persons. Second, the 
safety requirements for diesel equipment include many of the proven 
features required in existing standards for electric-powered mobile 
equipment, such as cabs or canopies, methane monitors, brakes and 
lights. Third, sampling of diesel exhaust emissions is required to 
protect miners from overexposure to carbon monoxide and nitrogen 
dioxide contained in diesel exhaust.
    Recordkeeping requirements are found in:

Sec.  75.1901(a)--Diesel fuel requirements;
Sec.  75.1904(b)(4)(i)--Underground diesel fuel tanks and safety cans;
Sec. Sec.  75.1911(i) and (j)--Fire suppression systems for diesel-
powered equipment and fuel transportation units;
Sec. Sec.  75.1912(h) and (i)--Fire suppression systems for permanent 
underground diesel fuel storage facilities;
Sec. Sec.  75.1914(f)(1), (f)(2), (g)(5), (h)(1), and (h)(2)--
Maintenance of diesel-powered equipment;
Sec. Sec.  75.1915(a), (b)(5), (c)(1), and (c)(2)--Training and 
qualification of persons working on diesel-powered equipment.

Ira L. Mills,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-980 Filed 1-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P