[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16863-16865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6870]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection; Mine 
Mapping and Records of Opening, Closing, and Reopening of Mines 
(Formerly, Record of Mine Closures, Opening & Reopening of Mines)

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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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. This program helps to assure 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.
    The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of an existing information 
collection request (ICR), OMB Control Number 1219-0073 (OMB 1219-0073), 
which was titled ``Record of Mine Closures, Opening and Reopening of 
Mines'' when last approved on March 31, 2009. OMB 1219-0073 has been 
renamed ``Mine Mapping and Records of Opening, Closing, and Reopening 
of Mines'' to acknowledge the ICR's burden for mine mapping as primary; 
it being significantly greater than records for closure, opening, and 
reopening of mines. This information collection covers paperwork 
requirements in the following provisions: 30 CFR 75.372, 75.373, 
75.1200, 75.1200-1, 75.1201, 75.1202, 75.1202-1, 75.1203, 75.1204, 
75.1204-1, and 75.1721; as well as 30 CFR 77.1200, 77.1201, and 
77.1202. OMB last approved this information collection request (ICR) on 
March 31, 2009.

DATES: Submit comments on or before May 21, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements 
of this notice must be clearly identified with ``OMB 1219-0073'' and 
sent to both the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and MSHA. 
Comments to MSHA may be sent by any of the methods listed below.
     Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
     Facsimile: 202-693-9441, include ``OMB 1219-0073'' in the 
subject line of the message.
     Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, 
Arlington, VA 22209-3939.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, 
Arlington, VA 22209-3939. For hand delivery, sign in at the 
receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.
    Comments to OMB may be sent by mail addressed to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 
20503, Attn: Desk Officer for MSHA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Moxness, Chief, Economic Analysis 
Division, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at 
[email protected] (email); 202-693-9440 (voice); or 202-693-9441 
(facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    MSHA's information collection request, OMB 1219-0073, addresses 
fourteen standards as follows:

[[Page 16864]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
         30 CFR citations                           Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Part 75                      Underground Coal Mines
 
Sec.   75.372.....................  Mine ventilation map.
Sec.   75.373.....................  Reopening mines.
Sec.   75.1200....................  Mine map.
Sec.   75.1200-1..................  Additional information on mine map.
Sec.   75.1201....................  Certification.
Sec.   75.1202....................  Temporary notations, revisions, and
                                     supplements.
Sec.   75.1202-1..................  Temporary notations, revisions, and
                                     supplements.
Sec.   75.1203....................  Availability of mine map.
Sec.   75.1204....................  Mine closure; filing of map with
                                     Secretary.
Sec.   75.1204-1..................  Places to give notice and file maps.
Sec.   75.1721....................  Opening of new underground coal
                                     mines, or reopening and
                                     reactivating of abandoned or
                                     deactivated coal mines,
                                     notification by the operator;
                                     requirements.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Part 77                Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work
                                       Areas of Underground Coal Mines
Sec.   77.1200....................  Mine map.
Sec.   77.1201....................  Certification of mine maps.
Sec.   77.1202....................  Availability of mine map.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Mine maps are schematic depictions of critical mine infrastructure, 
such as water, power, transportation, ventilation, and communication 
systems. Using accurate, up-to-date maps during a disaster, mine 
emergency personnel can locate where miners may have taken refuge and 
identify sites of explosion or inundation potential; they can know 
where stationary equipment was placed, where ground was secured, and 
where they can best begin a rescue operation. During a disaster, maps 
can be crucial to the safety of the emergency personnel who must enter 
a mine to begin a search for survivors. Coal mine operators routinely 
use maps to create safe and effective development plans for their 
mines.
    Mine maps may describe the current status of a long-standing 
operation or provide crucial information years after a mine with 
extensive workings was closed, but is being reopened.
    Title 30 CFR 75.1200 requires each underground coal mine operator 
to have an accurate and up-to-date map of such mine drawn to scale and 
stored 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. Sections 75.1200-1, 75.1201, 75.1202, 75.1202-1, 
and 75.1203 specify the information which must be shown on the map. The 
maps must be certified by a registered engineer or surveyor; kept 
continuously up-to-date by temporary notations and revised and 
supplemented to include the temporary notations at intervals not more 
than 6 months; and made available for inspection by a representative of 
the Secretary, State coal mine inspectors, miners and their 
representatives, operators of adjacent coal mines, and persons owning, 
leasing, or residing on surface areas of such mines or areas adjacent 
to such mines. 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, escapeway 
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 during the operating life of the 
mine.
    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 more than 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 
specifies the information to be shown on the map, the acceptable range 
of map scales, that the map be certified by 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 mines. Properly prepared and 
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 CFR 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. Section 75.1721 specifies that once the mine 
operator notifies the MSHA District Manager on the intent to reopen a 
mine all preliminary plans must be submitted in writing prior to 
development of the coalbed unless or until all preliminary plans are 
approved.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of MSHA's functions, including 
whether the information has practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA's estimate of the burden of 
the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
     Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and
     Address 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, to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond.
    The public may examine publicly available documents, including the

[[Page 16865]]

public comment version of the supporting statement, at MSHA, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 
2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939. OMB clearance requests are available at 
MSHA's Web site at http://www.msha.gov under ``Rules & Regs'' on the 
right side of the screen by selecting Information Collections Requests, 
Paperwork Reduction Act Supporting Statements. The public comment 
version of the supporting statement will be available on MSHA's Web 
site for 60 days after the publication date of this notice. The 
document will be available on MSHA's home page site for 60 days after 
the signature date of this notice. Comments submitted in writing or in 
electronic form will be made available for public inspection. Because 
comments will not be edited to remove any identifying or contact 
information, MSHA cautions the commenter against including any 
information in the submission that should not be publicly disclosed. 
Questions about the information collection requirements may be directed 
to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this notice.

III. Current Actions

    The information obtained from mine operators is used by MSHA during 
inspections to determine compliance with safety standards concerning 
mine maps. MSHA has updated the data in respect to the number of 
respondents and responses, as well as the total burden hours and burden 
costs supporting this information collection extension request.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Mine Mapping and Records of Opening, Closing, and Reopening 
of Mines.
    OMB Number: 1219-0073.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR Part 75 and Part 77.
    Total Respondents: 1,876.
    Frequency: Annual, at least every six months, and as mines are 
developed.
    Total Number of Responses: 804.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 16,476.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost: $21,474,889.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and 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.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

Patricia W. Silvey,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-6870 Filed 3-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P