[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 156 (Thursday, August 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48570-48571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19931]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Notification of Methane Detected in 
Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety 
and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) titled, ``Notification of Methane Detected in Underground 
Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres,'' to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, 
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before September 14, 2015.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free of charge 
from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201502-1219-002 (this link will only become active 
on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting 
Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are 
not toll-free numbers) or by email at [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request by mail or courier to the Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-
MSHA, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202-395-5806 (this is not a toll-free 
number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters are 
encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments 
by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the 
Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance 
Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210; or by email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 
202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by 
email at [email protected].

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks to extend PRA authority for 
the Notification of Methane Detected in Underground Metal and Nonmetal 
Mine Atmospheres information collection requirements codified in 
regulations 30 CFR part 57. Regulations 30 CFR 57.22004(c) requires a 
Metal/Non-Metal mine operator to notify the MSHA as soon as possible 
when any of the following events occur: There is an outburst that 
results in 0.25 percent or more methane in the mine atmosphere, there 
is a blowout that results in 0.25 percent or more methane in the mine 
atmosphere, there is an ignition of methane, or air sample results 
indicate 0.25 percent or more methane in the mine atmosphere of a I-B, 
I-C, II-B, V-B, or Category VI mine. Under Sec. Sec.  57.22239 and 
57.22231, if methane reaches 2.0 percent in a Category IV mine or if 
methane reaches 0.25 percent in the mine atmosphere of a Subcategory I-
B, II-B, V-B, or VI mine, the MSHA is to be immediately notified. 
Regulations 30 CFR 57.22229 and 57.22230 require that the mine 
atmosphere be tested for either or both methane and carbon dioxide at 
least once every seven days by a competent person or atmospheric 
monitoring system or a combination of both. Section 57.2229 applies to 
an underground Metal/Non-Metal mine categorized as I-A, III, and V-A 
mines where the atmosphere is tested for both methane and carbon 
dioxide. Section 57.22230 applies to an underground Metal/Non-Metal 
mine categorized as II-A mines where the atmosphere is tested for 
methane. Where an examination discloses hazardous conditions, affected 
miners must be informed. Sections 57.22229(d) and 57.22230(c) require 
that the person performing a test certify by signature and date that 
the test has been conducted. Certifications of examinations are to be 
kept for at least one year and made available to authorized 
representatives of the Secretary of Labor. Federal Mine Safety and 
Health Act of 1977 sections 101(a) and 103(h) and (i) authorize this 
information collection. See 30 U.S.C. 811(a); 813(h) and (i).
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that 
does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 
1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection 
under Control Number 1219-0103.
    OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) 
years without renewal, and the current approval for this collection is 
scheduled to expire on September 30, 2015. The DOL seeks to extend PRA 
authorization for this information collection for three (3) more

[[Page 48571]]

years, without any change to existing requirements. The DOL notes that 
existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB 
receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For 
additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related 
notice published in the Federal Register on May 28, 2015 (80 FR 30495).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within thirty (30) days of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1219-0103. 
The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed 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.
    Agency: DOL-MSHA.
    Title of Collection: Notification of Methane Detected in 
Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0103.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 4.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 213.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 18 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: August 7, 2015.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-19931 Filed 8-12-15; 8:45 am]
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