[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 14, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45358-45359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3977]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Part 75

RIN 1219-AB52


Sealing of Abandoned Areas

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is extending 
the comment period for the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on 
sealing of abandoned areas of underground coal mines published on May 
22, 2007 (72 FR 28796). This extension gives commenters additional time 
to review recently posted documents on MSHA's Web site and a recently 
published report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety 
and Health (NIOSH) entitled ``Explosion Pressure Design Criteria for 
New Seals in U.S. Coal Mines'' (NIOSH Publication No. 2007-144, July 
2007).

DATES: The comment period will close on September 17, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be clearly identified and may be submitted by 
any of the following methods:
    (1) Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    (2) Electronic mail: [email protected]. Include ``RIN 1219-
AB52'' in the subject line of the message.
    (3) Telefax: (202) 693-9441. Include ``RIN 1219-AB52'' in the 
subject.
    (4) Regular Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and 
Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia, 22209-
3939.
    (5) Hand Delivery or Courier: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2350, Arlington, 
Virginia 22209-3939. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st 
floor.
    (6) Docket: Comments can be accessed electronically at http://www.msha.gov under the ``Rules and Regs'' link. MSHA will post all 
comments on the Internet without change, including any personal 
information provided. Comments may also be reviewed at the Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2350, 
Arlington, Virginia. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st 
floor.
    MSHA maintains a listserve that enables subscribers to receive e-
mail notification when rulemaking documents are published in the 
Federal Register. To subscribe to the listserve, go to http://www.msha.gov/subscriptions/subscribe.aspx.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office 
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 
Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939. Ms. Silvey can be reached at 
[email protected] (Internet E-mail), (202) 693-9440 (voice), or 
(202) 693-9441 (facsimile). This notice is available on the Internet at 
http://www.msha.gov/REGSINFO.HTM.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MSHA issued an Emergency Temporary Standard 
(ETS) on May 22, 2007 (72 FR 28796). On June 25, 2007, MSHA notified 
the public that the comment period for the ETS would close on August 
17, 2007 (72 FR 34609). On August 3, 2007, the National Mining 
Association requested that the comment period be extended 30 days to 
allow additional time to comment on several new ETS related documents 
recently posted on MSHA's Web page, including a set of compliance 
assistance questions and answers posted on July 23, 2007; MSHA's 
Procedure Instruction Letter No. I07-V-04, Procedures for Inspection of 
Seals, issued on July 24, 2007, and posted on July 25, 2007; and the 
Seal Design Approval Information Template updated on August 2, 2007.
    In addition, MSHA posted four new seal designs on August 2, 2007: 
Three 50 psi seal designs and one 120 psi seal design. Furthermore, 
NIOSH recently published a final report on ``Explosion Pressure Design 
Criteria for New Seals in U.S. Coal Mines.'' The report is available on 
the Internet at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2007-144.pdf.
    MSHA is extending the comment period to September 17, 2007. This

[[Page 45359]]

action allows commenters sufficient time to fully review the posted 
documents and submit comments. MSHA will accept written comments and 
other appropriate data from any interested party up to the close of the 
comment period on September 17, 2007.

    Dated: August 9, 2007.
John P. Pallasch,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 07-3977 Filed 8-9-07; 4:19 pm]
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