[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26046-26047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10523]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0026]


Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection; Ground 
Control for Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of Underground 
Coal 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 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. Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is 
soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information 
collection for 30 CFR 77.1000-1. OMB last approved this information 
collection request on October 13, 2009. The OMB approval for this 
information collection expires on October 31, 2012.

DATES: All comments must be postmarked or received by midnight Eastern 
Time on July 2, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements 
of this notice must be clearly identified with ``OMB 1219-0026'' and 
sent to both the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Mine 
Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Comments to MSHA may be sent 
by any of the methods listed below.
     Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the

[[Page 26047]]

on-line instructions for submitting comments.
     Facsimile: 202-693-9441, include ``OMB 1219-0026'' 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. 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

    Section 103(a) of the Federal Mine Safety & Health Act of 1977 (30 
U.S.C. 813(a)) (the Mine Act)) requires that frequent inspections and 
investigations in coal or other mines shall be made each year for the 
purposes of, among other things, gathering information with respect to 
mandatory health or safety standards and determining whether an 
imminent danger exists. Section 103(h) of the Mine Act requires that 
every operator of a coal or other mine establish and maintain records, 
make reports, and provide required information to the Secretary (30 
U.S.C. 813(h)).
    Each operator of a coal mine is required under 30 CFR 77.1000 to 
establish and follow a ground control plan that is consistent with 
prudent engineering design and which will ensure safe working 
conditions. The mine operator is required by 30 CFR 77.1000-1 to file 
the ground control plan under Sec.  77.1000 for highwalls, pits and 
spoil banks with the appropriate District Manager. Each plan is 
reviewed by MSHA to ensure that highwalls, pits, and spoil banks are 
maintained in a safe condition through the use of sound engineering 
design.
    This information collection addresses the recordkeeping associated 
with:


Sec.  77.1000-1  Filing of plan required by 77.1000--Highwalls, pits 
and spoil banks; plans.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of the information 
collection related to this safety standard on ground control plans for 
surface coal mines and surface work areas of underground coal mines. 
MSHA is particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the 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 
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 on 
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 document will be available on MSHA's Web site for 60 days after 
the publication 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 to 
evaluate each plan to ensure that highwalls, pits, and spoil banks are 
maintained in a safe condition through the use of sound engineering 
design to ensure the health and safety of miners. MSHA has updated the 
estimates with respect to the number of respondents and responses, as 
well as the total burden hours and burden costs supporting this 
information collection extension request.

Summary

    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Ground Control for Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas 
of Underground Coal Mines.
    OMB Number: 1219-0026.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR 77.1000-1.
    Total Number of Respondents: 844.
    Frequency: Various.
    Total Number of Responses: 844.
    Total Burden Hours: 5,840 hours.
    Total Annual Cost Burden: $2,844.
    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).

    Dated: April 26, 2012.
George F. Triebsch,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-10523 Filed 5-1-12; 8:45 am]
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