[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 232 (Friday, December 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63794-63795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28893]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Emergency Mine Evacuation

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)]. This 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 Emergency Mine Evacuation: 30 CFR 48.3--Training 
plans; time of submission; where filed; information required; time for 
approval; method for disapproval; commencement of training; approval of 
instructors; 30 CFR 75.1502--Mine emergency evacuation and firefighting 
program of instruction; 30 CFR 75.1504--Mine emergency evacuation 
training and drills; 30 CFR 75.1505--Escapeway maps. 30 CFR 75.1714-3--
Self-rescue devices; inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, and 
recordkeeping; 30 CFR 75.1714-5--Map locations of self-contained self-
rescuers (SCSRs); 30 CFR 75.1714-8--Reporting SCSR inventory and 
malfunctions; retention of SCSRs.

DATES: Submit comments on or before February 2, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and 
Health Administration, John Rowlett, Director, Management Services 
Division, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2134, Arlington, VA 22209-3939.

[[Page 63795]]

Commenters are encouraged to send their comments via e-mail to 
[email protected]. Mr. Rowlett can be reached at (202) 693-9827 
(voice), or (202) 693-9801 (facsimile).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact the employee listed in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued a final 
rule addressing emergency mine evacuation in 2006. This regulation 
included requirements for immediate accident notification applicable to 
all mines. In addition, it contained requirements for new and expanded 
training, including evacuation drills; self-contained self-rescuer 
(SCSR) storage, training, and use; and the installation and maintenance 
of lifelines in underground coal mines.
    Submission of training plans and programs of instruction and 
certification that training was done provides MSHA, operators, and 
miners with confidence that training is appropriate and was conducted 
as necessary, particularly when MSHA is not able to be at the mine. 
Without adequate training, miners may sustain serious or even fatal 
injuries because they lack the knowledge to properly and safely perform 
various tasks and activities or evacuate a mine.
    If inspections and monitoring of SCSRs did not occur, this could 
allow unsafe conditions to go undetected and the SCSRs might not be 
usable when needed. This would endanger miners' safety.
    If operators were not required to submit an SCSR inventory or to 
notify MSHA when they encounter an SCSR defect, performance problem, or 
malfunction, MSHA would not have the information needed to notify other 
mines that may also use the affected SCSRs. This could endanger miners 
because operators could continue to rely on deficient SCSRs.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is particularly interested in comments that:
     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 submissions of responses.

A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained 
by contacting the employee listed in the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice, or viewed on the Internet by accessing the MSHA home page 
(http://www.msha.gov/) and selecting ``Rules & Regs'', and then 
selecting ``FedReg. Docs''. On the next screen, select ``Paperwork 
Reduction Act Supporting Statement'' to view documents supporting the 
Federal Register Notice.

III. Current Actions

    Information collected is used by the mine operator and MSHA to 
ensure that underground coal operators modify their training plans 
whenever they modify their program of instruction. This will ensure 
that newly hired miners receive the same level of training as is 
required for other miners. Operators use part 48 training plans to 
train each miner about the safety and health aspects of the mining 
environment and the tasks associated with the miner's job. MSHA uses 
the plans to ensure that all miners are receiving training necessary to 
perform their jobs in a safe manner.
    MSHA requires underground coal operators to submit a Mine Emergency 
Evacuation and Firefighting Program of Instruction to the District 
Manager for approval. Upon approval by the MSHA District Manager, the 
operator uses the approved program of instruction to implement programs 
for training miners in responding appropriately to mine emergencies. 
MSHA uses the plans to ensure that the operator's program will provide 
the required training and drills to all miners.
    MSHA requires the operator to certify the training and drill for 
each miner at the completion of each quarterly drill, annual 
expectations training, or other training, and that a copy be provided 
to the miner upon request. These certifications are used by MSHA, 
operators, and miners as evidence that the required training has been 
completed.
    MSHA requires that escapeway maps show the SCSR storage locations. 
Accurate and up-to-date maps are essential to the engineering plans and 
safe operation of mines and to the health and safety of the miners. 
MSHA and other emergency evacuation personnel will use the notations on 
the maps should a rescue or recovery operation be necessary. Miners use 
the escapeway maps in training and during mine evacuations. Escapeway 
maps are required to be posted or readily accessible for all miners in 
each working section, areas where mechanized mining equipment is being 
installed or removed, at surface locations where miners congregate and 
in each refuge alternative.
    MSHA requires that persons that test Self-Contained, Self-Rescuers 
(SCSRs) certify that the tests were done and record all corrective 
actions. MSHA inspectors use these records to determine compliance with 
the standards. It includes requirements for compiling, maintaining, and 
reporting an inventory of all SCSRs at the mine, and for reporting 
defects, performance problems, or malfunctions with SCSRs. This will 
assure that MSHA can investigate SCSR problems, if necessary, notify 
other users of these problems before accidents occur and require 
manufacturers to address potential problems with these critical 
devices:
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Emergency Mine Evacuation.
    OMB Number: 1219-0141.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Respondents: 1,084,830.
    Total Responses: 622.
    Total Burden Hours: 7,836 hours.
    Total Burden Cost: $68,528.
    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 30th day of November 2009.
John Rowlett,
Director, Management Services Division.
[FR Doc. E9-28893 Filed 12-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P