[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 204 (Thursday, October 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 64019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26823]



[[Page 64019]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Ground Control Plans for Surface Coal Mines 
and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines

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, ``Ground Control Plans for Surface Coal Mines and 
Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines,'' 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 November 23, 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=201507-1219-005 (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: 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 Ground Control Plans for Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas 
of Underground Coal Mines information collection. Regulations 30 CFR 
77.1000 makes it mandatory for each operator of a surface coal mine to 
establish and follow a ground control plan that is consistent with 
prudent engineering design and that will ensure safe working 
conditions. The mine operator is required by Sec.  77.1000-1 to file 
the ground control plan under Sec.  77.1000 for highwalls, pits, and 
spoil banks with the appropriate MSHA District Manager. Mining methods 
employed by the operator are selected to ensure highwall, pit, and 
spoil bank stability. In the event of a highwall failure or material 
dislodgment, there may be very little time to escape possible injury; 
therefore, preventive measures must be taken. Each plan is based on the 
type of strata expected to be encountered, the height and angle of 
highwalls and spoil banks, and the equipment to be used at the mine. 
The plan is used to show how the mine operator will maintain safe 
conditions around the highwalls, pits, and spoil banks. The MSHA 
reviews each plan to ensure highwalls, pits, and spoil banks are 
maintained in a safe condition through the use of sound engineering 
design. Federal Mine Safety & Health Act of 1977 sections 103(a) and 
103(h) authorize this information collection. See 30 U.S.C. 813(a) and 
30 U.S.C. 813(h).
    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 1219-0026.
    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 October 31, 2015. The DOL seeks to extend PRA 
authorization for this information collection for three (3) more 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 June 4, 2015 (80 FR 31925).
    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 1219-0026. 
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: Ground Control Plans for Surface Coal Mines 
and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0026.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 140.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 140.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 1,011 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $266.

    Dated: October 16, 2015.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-26823 Filed 10-21-15; 8:45 am]
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