[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 213 (Monday, November 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66071-66072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26127]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0019]


Proposed Information Collection; Slope and Shaft Sinking Plans 
(Pertains to 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, 
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 the information collection for Slope and Shaft Sinking Plans, 30 CFR 
77.1900.

DATES: All comments must be postmarked or received by midnight Eastern 
Standard Time on January 3, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements 
of this notice 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-2013-0031].
     Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, 
Arlington, VA 22209-3939. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 
21st floor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, Deputy Director, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at

[[Page 66072]]

[email protected] (email); 202-693-9440 (voice); or 202-693-
9441 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 813, authorizes MSHA to collect information 
necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety and health of 
miners.
    Title 30 CFR 77.1900 requires underground coal mine operators to 
submit for approval a plan that will provide for the safety of workmen 
in each slope or shaft that is commenced or extended from the surface 
to the underground coal mine. Each slope or shaft sinking operation is 
unique in that each operator uses different methods and equipment and 
encounters different geological strata which make it impossible for a 
single set of regulations to ensure the safety of the miners under all 
circumstances. This makes an individual slope or shaft sinking plan 
necessary. The plan must be consistent with prudent engineering design. 
Plans include the name and location of the mine; name and address of 
the mine operator; a description of the construction work and methods 
to be used in construction of the slope or shaft, and whether all or 
part of the work will be performed by a contractor; the elevation, 
depth and dimensions of the slope or shaft; the location and elevation 
of the coalbed; the general characteristics of the strata through which 
the slope or shaft will be developed; the type of equipment which the 
operator proposes to use; the system of ventilation to be used; and 
safeguards for the prevention of caving during excavation.

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 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;
     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.
    This information collection request is available on MSHA's Web site 
listed in order of OMB number at http://www.msha.gov/regs/fedreg/informationcollection/informationcollection.asp. The information 
collection request will be available on MSHA's Web site for 60 days 
after the publication date of this notice, and on http://www.regulations.gov. 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.
    The public may also examine publicly available documents at MSHA, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 
Room 2350, Arlington VA 22209-3939 by signing in at the receptionist's 
desk on the 21st floor.
    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

    This request for collection of information contains provisions for 
the Extension of the Information Collection Request Submitted for 
Public Comment and Recommendations; Slope and Shaft Sinking Plans, 30 
CFR 77.1900.
    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 and this 
information collection and the collection of this information does not 
employ statistical methods.
    Type of Review: Extension
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration
    Title: Slope and Shaft Sinking Plans
    OMB Number: 1219-0019
    Affected Public: Business of other for-profit
    Total Number of Respondents: 31
    Frequency: On occasion
    Total Number of Responses: 68
    Total Burden Hours: 1,360 hours
    Total Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost Burden: $51
    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: October 29th, 2013.
George F. Triebsch,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-26127 Filed 11-1-13; 8:45 am]
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