[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35975-35976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14106]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Safety 
Standards for Underground Coal Mine Ventilation--Belt Entry Used as an 
Intake Air Course To Ventilate Working Sections and Areas Where 
Mechanized Mining Equipment Is Being Installed or Removed

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: 60-Day 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 continuing collections 
of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A). 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 (MSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the extension 
of information collections related to the provisions of 30 CFR 75.350, 
75.351, 75.352 and 75.371.

DATES: All comments must be postmarked or received by midnight Eastern 
Standard Time on August 13, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements 
of this notice must be clearly identified with ``OMB 1219-0138'' and 
sent to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Comments 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 for docket 
number [MSHA-2013-0138].
     Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 21st Floor, Room 
2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, Deputy Director, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at 
[email protected] (email); 202-693-9440 (voice); or 202-693-
9441 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Under MSHA standards, MSHA allows operators to use air from a belt 
air course to ventilate a working section, or an area where mechanized 
mining equipment is being installed or removed, only under certain 
conditions. The belt air use must be evaluated and approved by the 
district manager in the mine ventilation plan and operators must follow 
a number of other requirements that provide additional protection.
    Section 75.350(b) requires that the mine operator must include in a 
ventilation plan a justification that the use of air from a belt entry 
would afford at least the same measure of protection as where belt 
haulage entries are not used. The plan also must include information 
regarding point feeds and regulators and designated areas for dust and 
air velocity measurements.
    Sections 75.351(b)(3) and 75.351(b)(4) require a mine operator to 
post a map or schematic, at a designated surface location, which shows 
the locations and type of Atmospheric Monitoring System (AMS) sensors 
at each location and the intended air flow direction at these 
locations. This map or schematic must be updated within 24 hours of any 
change in this information. Contact information for AMS and other 
appropriate personnel also must be posted at this location.
    Section 75.351(j) requires approval of the CO ambient levels, and 
the means to determine those levels, in the mine ventilation plan.
    Section 75.351(m) permits a mine to incorporate time delays into 
the AMS, or to use other methods for reducing non-fire alerts and alarm 
levels, provided they are specified and approved in the mine 
ventilation plan. Permission for such time delays, or other methods of 
reducing non-fire alerts and alarms, would be granted based on 
associated documentation that justifies these changes.
    Sections 75.351(n)(2) and 75.351(n)(3) require that alarms for AMS 
be tested every seven days and CO, smoke, or methane sensors be 
calibrated, every 31 days, respectively.
    Section 75.351(o)(1)(i) requires that a record be made if the AMS 
emits an alert or alarm signal. The record would consist of the date, 
time, location, and type of sensor, and the reason for its activation.
    Section 75.351(o)(1)(ii) requires that, if an AMS malfunctions, a 
record be made of the date, the extent and cause of the malfunction, 
and the corrective

[[Page 35976]]

action taken to return the system to proper operating condition.
    Section 75.351(o)(1)(iii) requires that the persons doing the 
weekly test of alert and alarm signals, the monthly calibration, or 
maintenance of the system make a record of these tests, calibrations, 
or maintenance.
    Section 75.351(o)(3) requires that all records concerning the AMS 
be kept in a book or electronically in a computer system that is secure 
and not susceptible to alteration.
    Section 75.351(p) requires the mine operator to keep these records 
for at least one year at a surface location and to make them available 
for inspection by authorized representatives of the Secretary and 
representatives of miners.
    Section 75.351(q)(3) requires that a record of annual AMS operator 
training be kept. The record will include the content of training, the 
person conducting the training, and the date the training is conducted. 
The record needs to be maintained at the mine site by the mine operator 
for at least one year.
    Sections 75.352(a), 75.352(b), and 75.352(c) require the designated 
AMS operator or other appropriate personnel to notify, investigate, or 
evacuate when malfunction, alert, or alarm signals are received.
    Section 75.371(hh) requires reporting within the mine ventilation 
plan of the ``ambient level in parts per million of carbon monoxide, 
and the method for determining the ambient level, in all areas where 
carbon monoxide sensors are installed.'' This provision is impacted by 
Sec.  75.351(j).
    Section 75.371(kk) requires the locations where air quantities are 
measured as set forth in Sec.  75.350(b)(6) be included in the mine 
ventilation plan.
    Section 75.371(ll) requires the locations and use of point feed 
regulators, in accordance with Sections 75.350(c) and 75.350(d)(5), to 
be in the mine ventilation plan.
    Section 75.371(mm) requires the location of any diesel-
discriminating sensor and additional carbon monoxide or smoke sensors 
installed in the belt air course to be included in the mine ventilation 
plan.
    Sections 75.371(nn), 75.371(oo), and 75.371(pp) require 
modification of the mine ventilation plan to show the length of the 
time delay or any other method used for reducing the number of non-fire 
related alert and alarm signals from CO sensors, the lower alert and 
alarm setting for CO sensors, and the alternate instrument and the 
alert and alarm levels associated with the instrument, respectively.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of 
the information collection related to the Safety Standards for 
Underground Coal Mine Ventilation--Belt Entry Used as an Intake Air 
Course to Ventilate Working Sections and Areas Where Mechanized Mining 
Equipment is Being Installed or Removed. 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
     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.
    OMB clearance requests are available on MSHA's Web site at http://www.msha.gov under ``Federal Register Documents'' on the right side of 
the screen by selecting ``New and Existing Information Collections and 
Supporting Statements''. The document will be available on MSHA's Web 
site for 60 days after the publication date of this notice, and on 
regulations.gov. Comments submitted in writing or in electronic form 
will be made available for public inspection on regulations.gov. 
Because comments will not be edited to remove any identifying 
information, MSHA cautions the commenter against including any 
information in the submission that should not be publicly disclosed.
    The public also may examine publicly available documents at MSHA, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 
Room 2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939.
    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 applicants will be used to determine 
compliance with safety and health standards.
    MSHA has updated the number of respondents and responses, as well 
as the total burden hours and burden costs supporting this information 
collection request.
    MSHA does not intend to publish the results from this information 
collection and is not seeking approval to not display the expiration 
date for the OMB approval of this information collection.
    There are no certification exceptions identified with this 
information collection and the collection of this information does not 
employ statistical methods.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Safety Standards for Underground Coal Mine Ventilation--Belt 
Entry Used as an Intake Air Course to Ventilate Working Sections and 
Areas Where Mechanized Mining Equipment is Being Installed or Removed.
    OMB Number: 1219-0138.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Total Number of Respondents: 21.
    Frequency: Various.
    Total Number of Responses: 251.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,245 hours.
    Total Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $343,624.
    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.

    Dated: June 10, 2013.
George F. Triebsch,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-14106 Filed 6-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P