[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 246 (Friday, December 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77069-77071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22031]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Technical Study Panel on the Utilization of Belt Air and the 
Composition and Fire Retardant Properties of Belt Materials in 
Underground Coal Mining

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice informs interested persons of the first meeting of 
the Technical Study Panel (Panel) on the Utilization of Belt Air and 
the Composition and Fire Retardant Properties of Belt Materials in 
Underground Coal Mining. The public is invited to attend.

DATES: The meeting will start at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 and 
will conclude no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The meeting location is the Ronald Reagan Building and 
International Trade Center, Polaris

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Suite, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office 
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2330, Arlington, Virginia 
22209; [email protected] (Internet e-mail), 202-693-9440 (voice), 
or 202-693-9441 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Panel is created under Section 11 of the 
Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act) 
(Public Law 109-236). A copy of the charter establishing this Panel is 
included as Appendix A of this notice. The purpose of the Panel is to 
prepare and submit a report concerning the utilization of belt air and 
the composition and fire retardant properties of belt materials in 
underground coal mining.
    Consistent with the requirements of the MINER Act, the membership 
of the Panel is as follows:
    Selected for Appointment by the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services.
    Dr. Jurgen F. Brune, Chief, Disaster Prevention and Response 
Branch, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
    Dr. Felipe Calizaya, Associate Professor, University of Utah, 
Mining Engineering, Salt Lake City, Utah.
    Selected for Appointment by the Secretary of Labor.
    Dr. Jan M. Mutmansky, Professor Emeritus of Mining Engineering, the 
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.
    Dr. Jerry C. Tien, Associate Professor, Department of Mining 
Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, Missouri.
    Selected for Appointment Jointly by the Majority Leaders of the 
Senate and House of Representatives.
    Mr. Thomas P. Mucho, Thomas P. Mucho & Associates, Inc., Mining 
Consultancy, Washington, Pennsylvania.
    Selected for Appointment Jointly by the Minority Leaders of the 
Senate and House of Representatives.
    Dr. James L. Weeks, Director, Evergreen Consulting, LLC, Silver 
Spring, Maryland.
    This first meeting will focus on preparatory and administrative 
issues before the Panel, including:
    1. Opening remarks.
    2. Procedural issues.
    3. Other preparatory and administrative issues.
    4. Development of plan or timeline to address Panel objectives.
    5. Discussion of future meetings.
    Subsequent meetings of the Panel will allow an opportunity for all 
interested parties to address the Panel and submit written comment on 
the topics under consideration of the Panel.
    Official records of the meeting will be available for public 
inspection at the above MSHA address.

    Dated: December 20, 2006.
Richard E. Stickler,
Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.

Appendix A--Advisory Committee Charter

    1. The Committee's official designation.
    Technical Study Panel on the Utilization of Belt Air and the 
Composition and Fire Retardant Properties of Belt Materials in 
Underground Coal Mining.
    2. The Committee's objectives and the scope of its activity.
    The Committee is established in accordance with the requirements of 
Section 11 of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 
2006 (MINER Act) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of 
the Committee is to ``provide independent scientific and engineering 
review and recommendations with respect to the utilization of belt air 
and the composition and fire retardant properties of belt materials in 
underground coal mining.'' (MINER Act, Sec. 11)
    3. The period of time necessary for the Committee to carry out its 
purposes.
    Not later than one year after the date on which all Committee 
members are appointed, the Committee must ``prepare and submit * * * a 
report concerning the utilization of belt air and the composition and 
fire retardant properties of belt materials in underground coal 
mining.'' (MINER Act, Sec. 11)
    4. The agencies or officials to whom the Committee reports.
    The Committee submits a report to the Secretary of Labor, the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives.
    5. The agency responsible for providing necessary support for the 
Committee.
    The Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor, is primarily responsible for providing support for the 
Committee, including financial, organizational, and administrative. The 
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services, may assist with compiling research and other scientific 
information.
    6. A description of the duties for which the Committee is 
responsible.
    As required by Section 11 of the MINER Act, the Committee will 
provide independent scientific and engineering review and make 
recommendations in the form of a report with respect to the utilization 
of belt air and the composition and fire retardant properties of belt 
materials in underground coal mining.
    7. Membership.
    As required by Section 11 of the MINER Act, the Committee will be 
composed of the following:
     Two individuals appointed by the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, in consultation with the Director of the National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Associate Director 
of the Office of Mine Safety;
     Two individuals appointed by the Secretary of Labor, in 
consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health; 
and
     Two individuals, one appointed jointly by the majority 
leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives and one appointed 
jointly by the minority leaders of the Senate and House of 
Representatives.
    Four of the six individuals listed above must possess a masters or 
doctoral level degree in mining engineering or another scientific field 
demonstrably related to the subject of the report. No individual 
appointed shall be an employee of any coal or other mine, or of any 
labor organization, or of any State or Federal agency primarily 
responsible for regulating the mining industry.
    8. Compensation.
    While carrying out the duties of the Committee, its members shall 
be entitled to receive compensation as a consultant, at an hourly rate 
equivalent of GS-15, step 10. Employment is not expected to exceed 130 
days per year. Committee members will also receive per diem in lieu of 
subsistence and travel expenses.
    9. The estimated annual costs to operate the Committee in dollars 
and person years.
     Estimated annual operating cost: $600,000.
     Estimated staff years: 4.
    10. The estimated number and frequency of Committee meetings.

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    The Committee will meet at least three times before its termination 
date. The Agency estimates that each meeting will last approximately 
two to three days.
    11. The Committee's termination date.
    This Committee will terminate upon the submission of its report 
that must be finalized no later than one year after the date on which 
all members of the Panel are appointed, as required by Section 11 of 
the MINER Act.
    12. The date the charter is filed.
    The charter is filed on the date indicated below.
    Dated: December 20, 2006.

Elaine L. Chao,

Secretary of Labor.
 [FR Doc. E6-22031 Filed 12-21-06; 8:45 am]
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