[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66345-66346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26406]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Part 100

[Docket No. MSHA-2014-0009]
RIN 1219-AB72


Criteria and Procedures for Assessment of Civil Penalties

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearings; close of comment 
period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will hold two 
public hearings on the Agency's proposed rule for Criteria and 
Procedures for Assessment of Civil Penalties.

DATES: MSHA will hold public hearings on December 4, 2014, and December 
9, 2014, at the locations listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this document. Post-hearing comments must be received or 
postmarked by midnight Eastern Time on January 9, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments, informational materials, and requests to 
speak, identified by RIN 1219-AB72 or Docket No. MSHA-2014-0009, by one 
of the following methods:
     Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
     E-Mail: [email protected]. Include RIN 1219-AB72 or 
Docket No. MSHA-2014-0009 in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and 
Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209-
3939.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: MSHA, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 
Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. Sign in at the receptionist's 
desk on the 21st floor.
     Fax: 202-693-9441.
    Instructions: All submissions must include ``MSHA'' and ``RIN 1219-
AB72'' or ``Docket No. MSHA-2014-0009.'' Do not include personal 
information that you do not want publicly disclosed; MSHA will post all 
comments without change to http://www.regulations.gov and http://www.msha.gov/currentcomments.asp, including any personal information 
provided. For additional instructions for participation in Public 
Hearings on this rulemaking, see the ``Public Hearings'' heading of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov or http://www.msha.gov/currentcomments.asp. 
To read background documents, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Review 
the docket in person at MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and 
Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia, 
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal 
Holidays. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.

[[Page 66346]]

    Email notification: To subscribe to receive an email notification 
when MSHA publishes rules, program information, instructions, and 
policy, in the Federal Register, go to http://www.msha.gov/subscriptions/subscribe.aspx.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, Acting 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

    On July 31, 2014, (79 FR 44494), MSHA published a proposed rule, to 
amend its civil penalty regulation to simplify the criteria, which will 
promote consistency, objectivity, and efficiency in the proposed 
assessment of civil penalties and facilitate the resolution of 
enforcement issues. The proposal would place a greater emphasis on the 
more serious safety and health conditions and provide improved safety 
and health for miners. MSHA is also proposing alternatives that would 
address the scope and applicability of its civil penalty regulation.
    The comment period was scheduled to close on September 29, 2014. 
MSHA extended the comment period until December 3, 2014 (79 FR 55408) 
in response to commenters.

II. Public Hearings

    In response to requests from the public, MSHA will hold two public 
hearings on the proposed rule to provide the public an opportunity to 
present their views on this rulemaking. The public hearings will begin 
at 9 a.m. and end no later than 5 p.m., or earlier if the last person 
presenting testimony has spoken. MSHA is holding the hearings on the 
following dates at the locations indicated:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Date                      Location           Contact No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, December 4, 2014.....  Department of Labor,       202-693-9440
                                  Mine Safety and
                                  Health
                                  Administration, 1100
                                  Wilson Boulevard,
                                  25th Floor,
                                  Arlington, VA 22209-
                                  3939.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014......  Courtyard by Marriott      303-571-1114
                                  Denver Downtown, 934
                                  16th Street, Denver,
                                  CO 80202.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The hearings will begin with an opening statement from MSHA, 
followed by oral presentations from members of the public. Persons do 
not have to make a written request to speak; however, MSHA will give 
priority to persons who have notified us, in advance, of their intent 
to speak and will provide others an opportunity to present oral 
testimony if time allows. Persons and organizations wishing to speak 
are encouraged to notify MSHA in advance for scheduling purposes. MSHA 
requests that parties making presentations at the hearings submit them 
no later than five days prior to the hearing. Testimony, presentations, 
and accompanying documentation will be included in the rulemaking 
record.
    The hearings will be conducted in an informal manner. Formal rules 
of evidence and cross examination will not apply. The hearing panel may 
ask questions of speakers and speakers may ask questions of the hearing 
panel. Verbatim transcripts of the proceedings will be prepared and 
made a part of the rulemaking record. Copies of the transcripts will be 
available to the public on http://www.regulations.gov and on MSHA's Web 
site at http://www.msha.gov/tscripts.htm.

    Dated: November 3, 2014.
Joseph A. Main,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2014-26406 Filed 11-6-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P