[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47438-47439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19329]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Notification of Methane Detected in 
Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety 
and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) titled, ``Notification of Methane Detected in Underground 
Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres,'' to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.).

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 7, 2012.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the 
RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, on the 
day following publication of this notice or by contacting Michel Smyth 
by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or 
sending an email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-MSHA, Office of 
Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 
20503, Telephone: 202-395-6929/Fax: 202-395-6881 (these are not toll-
free numbers), email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 
202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [email protected].

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations section 30 CFR 57.22004(c) 
requires Metal/Non-Metal mine operators to notify the MSHA as soon as 
possible when any of the following events occur: There is an outburst 
that results in 0.25 percent or more methane in the mine atmosphere, 
there is a blowout that results in 0.25 percent or more methane in the 
mine atmosphere, there is an ignition of methane, or air sample results 
indicate 0.25 percent or more methane in the mine atmosphere of a I-B, 
I-C, II-B, V-B, or Category VI mine. Under sections 57.22239 and 
57.22231, if methane reaches 2.0 percent in a Category IV mine or if 
methane reaches 0.25 percent in the mine atmosphere of a Subcategory I-
B, II-B, V-B, or VI mine, the MSHA shall be immediately notified.
    Regulations sections 30 CFR 57.22229 and 57.22230 require that the 
mine atmosphere be tested for methane and/or carbon dioxide at least 
once every seven days by a competent person or atmospheric monitoring 
system or a combination of both. Section 57.2229 applies to underground 
Metal/Non-Metal mines categorized as I-A, III, and V-A mines where the 
atmosphere is tested for both methane and carbon dioxide. Section 
57.22230 applies to underground Metal/Non-Metal mines categorized as 
II-A mines where the atmosphere is tested for methane. Where 
examinations disclose hazardous conditions, affected miners must be 
informed. Sections 57.22229(d) and 57.22230(c) require that the person 
performing the tests certify by signature and date that the tests have 
been conducted. Certifications of examinations shall be kept for at 
least one year and made available to authorized representatives of the 
Secretary of Labor.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the 
collection of information does not display a valid Control Number. See 
5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this 
information collection under Control Number 1219-0103. The current 
approval is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2012; however, it should 
be noted that existing information collection requirements submitted to 
the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.

[[Page 47439]]

For additional information, see the related notice published in the 
Federal Register on April 18, 2012 (77 FR 23293).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1219-0103. 
The OMB 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 submission of responses.
    Agency: DOL-MSHA.
    Title of Collection: Notification of Methane Detected in 
Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0103.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--Businesses or other for profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 6.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 319.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 27.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: August 1, 2012.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-19329 Filed 8-7-12; 8:45 a.m.]
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