[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 51827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21035]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Ground Control Plans for Surface Coal Mines 
and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines

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, ``Ground Control Plans for Surface Coal Mines and 
Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines,'' 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 26, 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: Each operator of a surface coal mine is 
required by Regulations 30 CFR 77.1000 to establish and follow a ground 
control plan that is consistent with prudent engineering design and 
that will ensure safe working conditions. The mine operator is required 
by Sec.  77.1000-1 to file the ground control plan under Sec.  77.1000 
for highwalls, pits, and spoil banks with the appropriate MSHA District 
Manager. The mining methods employed by the operator are selected to 
ensure highwall, pit, and spoil bank stability. In the event of a 
highwall failure or material dislodgment, there may be very little time 
to escape possible injury; therefore, preventive measures must be 
taken. Each plan is based on the type of strata expected to be 
encountered, the height and angle of highwalls and spoil banks, and the 
equipment to be used at the mine. The plan is used to show how the mine 
operator will maintain safe conditions around the highwalls, pits, and 
spoil banks. Each plan is reviewed by the MSHA to ensure highwalls, 
pits, and spoil banks are maintained in a safe condition through the 
use of sound engineering design.
    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 1219-0026. The current 
approval is scheduled to expire on October 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. 
For additional information, see the related notice published in the 
Federal Register on May 2, 2012 (77 FR 26046).
    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 1219-0026. 
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: Ground Control Plans for Surface Coal Mines 
and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0026.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--Businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 844.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 844.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 5,840.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $2,844.

    Dated: August 22, 2012.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-21035 Filed 8-24-12; 8:45 a.m.]
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