[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20015-20017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08482]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Ventilation Plans, 
Tests and Examinations in Underground Coal Mines [OMB Control No. 1219-
0088]

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 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 on the information collection for 
Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in Underground Coal Mines.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before June 15, 2015.

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-2015-0003.
     Regular Mail: Send comments to MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, 
Arlington, VA 22209-3939.
     Hand Delivery: MSHA, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, 
Arlington, VA. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.

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

    Under section 101(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 
1977 (the Mine Act), the Secretary may by rule in accordance with 
procedures set forth in this section and in accordance with section 553 
of title 5, United States Code (without regard to any reference in such 
section to sections 556 and 557 of such title), develop, promulgate, 
and revise as may be appropriate, improved mandatory health or safety 
standards for the protection of life and prevention of injuries in coal 
or other mines. In addition, section 303 requires that all underground 
coal mines be ventilated by mechanical ventilation equipment installed 
and operated in a manner approved by an authorized representative of 
the Secretary and such equipment be examined daily and a record be kept 
of such examination.
    Underground coal mines usually present harsh and hostile working 
environments. The ventilation system is the most vital life support 
system in underground mining and a properly operating ventilation 
system is essential for maintaining a safe and healthful working 
environment. Lack of adequate ventilation in underground mines has 
resulted in fatalities from asphyxiation and explosions.

[[Page 20016]]

    An underground mine is a maze of tunnels that must be adequately 
ventilated with fresh air to provide a safe environment for miners. 
Methane is liberated from the strata, and noxious gases and dusts from 
blasting and other mining activities may be present. The explosive and 
noxious gases and dusts must be diluted, rendered harmless, and carried 
to the surface by the ventilating currents. Sufficient air must be 
provided to maintain the level of respirable dust at or below specific 
exposure limits and air quality must be maintained in accordance with 
the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) standards. Mechanical 
ventilation equipment of sufficient capacity must operate at all times 
while miners are in the mine. Ground conditions are subject to frequent 
changes, thus sufficient tests and examinations are necessary to ensure 
the integrity of the ventilation system and to detect any changes that 
may require adjustments in the system. Records of tests and 
examinations are necessary to ensure that the ventilation system is 
being maintained and that changes which could adversely affect the 
integrity of the system or the safety of the miners are not occurring. 
These examination, reporting and recordkeeping requirements of sections 
75.310, 75.312, 75.342, 75.351, 75.360 through 75.364, 75.370, 75.371, 
and 75.382 also incorporate examinations of other critical aspects of 
the underground work environment such as roof conditions and electrical 
equipment which have historically caused numerous fatalities when not 
properly maintained and operated.
    Section 75.362, On-shift Examinations, was revised at subsection 
75.362(a)(2) and (g)(2)-(4) by MSHA's rule titled ``Lowering Miners' 
Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including Continuous Personal 
Dust Monitors, '' published May 1, 2014. This rule also revised 
subsection 75.371(f) and (j).
    Subsection 75.362(a)(2) requires that a person designated by the 
operator conduct an examination and record the results and the 
corrective actions taken to assure compliance with the respirable dust 
control parameters specified in the approved mine ventilation plan.
    Under subsection 75.362(g)(2)(i), the certified person directing 
the on-shift examination must certify by initials, date, and time on a 
board maintained at the section load out or similar location showing 
that the examination was made prior to resuming production. No 
increased burden is estimated for section 75.362(g)(2)(i) in this 
Information Collection Request (ICR) because MSHA does not expect the 
burden to be different from the burden in existing section 
75.362(g)(2)).
    Under section 75.362(g)(2)(ii), the certified person directing the 
on-shift examination must verify, by initials, date and time, the 
record of the results of the examination required under section 
75.362(a)(2) to assure compliance with the respirable dust control 
parameters specified in the mine ventilation plan. Further, section 
75.362(g)(3) requires a mine foreman or equivalent mine official to 
countersign each examination record required under section 75.362(a)(2) 
after it is verified by the certified person under section 
75.362(g)(2)(ii), and no later than the end of the mine foreman's or 
equivalent mine official's next regularly scheduled working shift. 
Section 75.362(g)(2)(ii) and (g)(3) are additional burdens that are 
accounted for in this ICR and 75.362(g)(2)(ii)(4) requires the records 
be retained at a surface location at the mine for at least 1 year and 
shall be made available for inspection by authorized representatives of 
the Secretary and the representative of miners.
    Paragraph (a)(2) in section 75.370 (Mine ventilation plan; 
submission and approval) contains the burden for underground coal mine 
operators to submit mine ventilation plan revisions for District 
Manager approval. Each mine ventilation plan must include information 
that is specified by section 75.371 (Mine ventilation plan; contents).
    Section 75.371(f) adds the following information that a mine 
operator must include in the mine ventilation plan: the minimum 
quantity of air that will be delivered to the working section for each 
mechanized mining unit (MMU), and the identification by make and model, 
of each different dust suppression system used on equipment on each 
working section, including: (1) The number, types, location, 
orientation, operating pressure, and flow rate of operating water 
sprays; (2) the maximum distance that ventilation control devices will 
be installed from each working face when mining or installing roof 
bolts in entries and crosscuts; (3) procedures for maintaining the roof 
bolter dust collection system in approved condition; and (4) 
recommended best work practices for equipment operators to minimize 
dust exposure.
    Section 75.371(j) adds a requirement that for machine mounted dust 
collectors, the ventilation plan must include the type and size of dust 
collector screens used and a description of the procedures to be 
followed to properly maintain dust collectors used on the equipment.
    Section 75.370(a)(2) requires all underground coal mine operators 
to submit revisions for mine ventilation plans to MSHA. The burden to 
submit the additional information required by section 75.371(f) and (j) 
as proposed revisions to the plan is accounted for in this package 
under section 75.370(a)(2). In addition, section 75.370(a)(3)(i) 
requires underground coal mine operators to notify the miners' 
representative at least 5 days prior to submission of mine ventilation 
plan revisions and, if requested, provide a copy of the revisions to 
the miners' representative at the time of notification. Section 
75.370(a)(3)(iii) and (f)(3) require the operator to post a copy of the 
plan revisions, and section 75.370(f)(1) requires that the operator 
provide a copy of the revisions to the miners' representative, if 
requested. MSHA assumes that a copy of the revisions will be requested. 
The burdens for notification, providing requested copies, and posting 
associated with mine ventilation plan revisions resulting from section 
75.371(f) and (j) are accounted for in this package under section 
75.370(a)(3)(i), (f)(1), (a)(3)(iii), and (f)(3) respectively.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in 
Underground Coal Mines. 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 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.
    This information collection request is available on http://www.msha.gov/regs/fedreg/informationcollection/informationcollection.asp. The information collection request will be 
available on MSHA's Web site and on

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http://www.regulations.gov. MSHA cautions the commenter against 
providing any information in the submission that should not be publicly 
disclosed. Full comments, including personal information provided, will 
be made available on www.regulations.gov and www.reginfo.gov.
    The public may also examine publicly available documents at MSHA, 
1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, VA. Sign 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 section of 
this notice.

III. Current Actions

    This request for collection of information contains provisions for 
Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in Underground Coal Mines. 
MSHA has updated the data with respect to the number of respondents, 
responses, burden hours, and burden costs supporting this information 
collection request.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0088.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 434.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 1,902,012.
    Annual Burden Hours: 313,624 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $118,982.
    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: April 8, 2015.
Sheila McConnell,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-08482 Filed 4-13-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P