[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 90 (Monday, May 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26953-26955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11293]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Extension of Information Collection Requests

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 proposed extension of the 
information collection requests (ICRs) contained in the documents 
described below. A copy of the ICRs may be obtained by contacting the 
office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before July 10, 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-2015-0006.
     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. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of 
the information collection requests contained in this notice. 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 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.

II. Current Actions

    This request for collection of information contains provisions for 
the proposed extension of the information collection requests contained 
in this notice. 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: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0040.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 13,683.
    Frequency: On occasion.

[[Page 26954]]

    Number of Responses: 104,919.
    Annual Burden Hours: 9,539 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $576.
    MSHA Forms: MSHA Form 7000-52, Contractor Identification (ID) 
Request.
    Description. Independent contractors perform services or 
construction at a mine. They may be engaged in virtually every type of 
work performed at a mine, including activities such as clearing land, 
excavating ore, processing minerals, maintaining or repairing 
equipment, or constructing new buildings or new facilities, such as 
shafts, hoists, conveyors, or kilns. Independent contractors vary in 
size, the type of work performed, and the time spent working at mine 
sites. Some contractors work exclusively at mining operations, others 
may work a single contract at a mine and never return to MSHA 
jurisdiction. MSHA uses the contractor information in this information 
collection request during inspections to determine the responsibility 
for compliance with safety and health standards.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0073.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,631.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 711.
    Annual Burden Hours: 13,872 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $17,573,769.
    Description. The information collection addressed by this notice is 
intended to protect miners by assuring that up-to-date, accurate mine 
maps contain the information needed to clarify the best alternatives 
for action during an emergency operation. Coal mine operators routinely 
use maps to create safe and effective development plans.
    Mine maps are schematic depictions of critical mine infrastructure, 
such as water, power, transportation, ventilation, and communication 
systems. Using accurate, up-to-date maps during a disaster, mine 
emergency personnel can locate refuges for miners and identify sites of 
explosion potential; they can know where stationary equipment was 
placed, where ground was secured, and where they can best begin a 
rescue operation. During a disaster, maps can be crucial to the safety 
of the emergency personnel who must enter a mine to begin a search for 
survivors.
    Mine maps may describe the current status of an operating mine or 
provide crucial information about a long-closed mine that is being 
reopened.
    Title 30 CFR 75.1200 requires each underground coal mine operator 
to have an accurate and up-to-date map of such mine drawn to scale and 
stored in a fireproof repository in an area on the surface of the mine 
chosen by the mine operator to minimize the danger of destruction by 
fire or other hazards. Sections 75.1200-1, 75.1201, 75.1202, 75.1202-1, 
and 75.1203 specify the information which must be shown on the map. The 
maps must be certified by a registered engineer or surveyor; kept 
continuously up-to-date by temporary notations and revised and 
supplemented to include the temporary notations at intervals not more 
than 6 months; and made available for inspection by a representative of 
the Secretary, State coal mine inspectors, miners and their 
representatives, operators of adjacent coal mines, and persons owning, 
leasing, or residing on surface areas of such mines or areas adjacent 
to such mines. These maps are essential to the planning and safe 
operation of the mine. In addition, these maps provide a graphic 
presentation of the locations of working sections and the locations of 
fixed surface and underground mine facilities and equipment, escapeway 
routes, coal haulage and man and materials haulage entries and other 
information essential to mine rescue or mine fire fighting activities 
in the event of mine fire, explosion or inundations of gas or water. 
The information is essential to the safe operation of adjacent mines 
and mines approaching the worked out areas of active or abandoned 
mines. Section 75.372 requires underground mine operators to submit 
three copies of an up-to-date mine map to the District Manager at 
intervals not exceeding 12 months during the operating life of the 
mine.
    Title 30 CFR 75.1204 and 75.1204-1 require that whenever an 
underground coal mine operator permanently closes or abandons a coal 
mine, or temporarily closes a coal mine for a period of more than 90 
days, the operator shall file with MSHA a copy of the mine map revised 
and supplemented to the date of closure. Maps are retained in a 
repository and are made available to mine operators of adjacent 
properties. The maps are necessary to provide an accurate record of 
underground areas that have been mined to help prevent active mine 
operators from mining into abandoned areas that may contain water or 
harmful gases.
    Title 30 CFR 77.1200, 77.1201 and 77.1202 require surface coal mine 
operators to maintain an accurate and up-to-date map of the mine and 
specifies the information to be shown on the map, the acceptable range 
of map scales, that the map be certified by a registered engineer or 
surveyor, that the map be available for inspection by the Secretary or 
his authorized representative. These maps are essential for the safe 
operation of the mine and provide essential information to operators of 
adjacent surface and underground mines. Properly prepared and 
effectively utilized surface mine maps can prevent outbursts of water 
impounded in underground mine workings and/or inundations of 
underground mines by surface impounded water or water and or gases 
impounded in surface auger mining worked out areas.
    Title 30 CFR 75.373 and 75.1721 require that after a mine is 
abandoned or declared inactive and before it is reopened, mine 
operations shall not begin until MSHA has been notified and has 
completed an inspection. Section 75.1721 specifies that once the mine 
operator notifies the MSHA District Manager on the intent to reopen a 
mine all preliminary plans must be submitted in writing prior to 
development of the coalbed unless or until all preliminary plans are 
approved.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0119.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 151.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 177,659.
    Annual Burden Hours: 14,422 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $322,624.
    Description. MSHA requires mine operators to provide important 
safety and health protections to underground coal miners who work on 
and around diesel-powered equipment. The engines powering diesel 
equipment are potential contributors to fires and explosion hazards in 
the confined environment of an underground coal mine where combustible 
coal dust and explosive methane gas are present. Diesel equipment 
operating in underground coal mines also can pose serious health risks 
to miners from exposure to diesel exhaust emissions, including diesel 
particulates, oxides of nitrogen, and carbon monoxide. Diesel exhaust 
is a lung carcinogen in animals.
    Information collection requirements are found in: section 
75.1901(a) Diesel fuel requirements; section 75.1911(j) Fire 
suppression systems for diesel-

[[Page 26955]]

powered equipment and fuel transportation units; section 75.1912(i) 
Fire suppression systems for permanent underground diesel fuel storage 
facilities; sections 75.1914(f)(1), (f)(2), (g)(5), (h)(1), and (h)(2) 
Maintenance of diesel-powered equipment; sections 75.1915(b)(5), 
(c)(1), and (c)(2) Training and qualification of persons working on 
diesel-powered equipment.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0120.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 12,493.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 179,186.
    Annual Burden Hours: 13,295 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $27,861.
    Description. Noise is a harmful physical agent and one of the most 
pervasive health hazards in mining. Repeated exposure to high levels of 
sound over time causes occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), 
a serious, often profound physical impairment in mining, with far-
reaching psychological and social effects. NIHL can be distinguished 
from aging and other factors that can contribute to hearing loss and it 
can be prevented. According to the National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health (NIOSH), NIHL is among the ``top ten'' leading 
occupational illnesses and injuries.
    For many years, NIHL was regarded as an inevitable consequence of 
working in a mine. Mining, an intensely mechanized industry, relies on 
drills, crushers, compressors, conveyors, trucks, loaders, and other 
heavy-duty equipment for the excavation, haulage, and processing of 
material. This equipment creates high sound levels, exposing machine 
operators as well as miners working nearby. MSHA, Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration, the military, and other organizations around 
the world have established and enforced standards to reduce the loss of 
hearing. Quieter equipment, isolation of workers from noise sources, 
and limiting the time workers are exposed to noise are among the many 
well-accepted methods that will prevent the costly incidence of NIHL.
    Records of miner exposures to noise are necessary so that mine 
operators and MSHA can evaluate the need for and effectiveness of 
engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective 
equipment to protect miners from harmful levels of noise that can 
result in hearing loss. However, the Agency believes that extensive 
records for this purpose are not needed. These requirements are a 
performance-oriented approach to monitoring. Records of miner hearing 
examinations enable mine operators and MSHA to ensure that the controls 
are effective in preventing NIHL for individual miners. Records of 
training are needed to confirm that miners receive the information they 
need to become active participants in hearing conservation efforts.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0131.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 11,657.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 1,157,241.
    Annual Burden Hours: 155,240 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $356,004.
    Description. Training informs miners of safety and health hazards 
inherent in the workplace and enables them to identify and avoid such 
hazards. Training becomes even more important in light of certain 
conditions that can exist when production demands increase, such as: an 
influx of new and less experienced miners and mine operators; longer 
work hours to meet production demands; and increased demand for 
contractors who may be less familiar with the dangers on mine property.
    MSHA's health and safety training requirements ensure that all 
miners receive the required training, which would result in a decrease 
in accidents, injuries, and fatalities. The information obtained from 
mine operators is used by MSHA during inspections to determine 
compliance with the requirements concerning the training and retraining 
of miners engaged in shell dredging, or employed at sand, gravel, 
surface stone, surface clay, colloidal phosphate, and surface limestone 
mines.
    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: May 5, 2015.
Sheila McConnell,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-11293 Filed 5-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P