[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 28 (Thursday, February 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7374-7375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02748]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Explosive Materials and Blasting Units in 
Metal and Nonmetal Underground Gassy 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, ``Explosive Materials and Blasting Units in Metal 
and Nonmetal Underground Gassy Mines,'' to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval, 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 March 14, 2016.

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

[[Page 7375]]

RegInfo.gov Web site at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201510-1219-002 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].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks to extend PRA authority for 
the Explosive Materials and Blasting Units in Metal and Nonmetal 
Underground Gassy Mines information collection. Under regulations 30 
CFR parts 7 and 15, the MSHA evaluates and approves explosive materials 
and blasting units as permissible for use in the mining industry; 
however, since there are no permissible explosives or blasting units 
available that have adequate blasting capacity for some metal and 
nonmetal gassy mines, regulations 30 CFR 57.22606(a) outlines the 
procedures for a mine operator to follow when using non-approved 
explosive materials and blasting units. The standard requires the mine 
operator of a Class III metal or nonmetal mine (gassy mine) to notify 
the MSHA in writing prior to the use of any non-approved explosive 
materials and blasting units. The MSHA then evaluates the non-approved 
explosive materials and determines whether they are safe for use in a 
potentially gassy environment. Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 
1977 sections 101(a) and 103(h) authorize this information collection. 
See 30 U.S.C. 811(a), 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 1219-0095.
    OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) 
years without renewal, and 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 August 3, 2015 (80 FR 46056).
    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 1219-0095. 
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: Explosive Materials and Blasting Units in 
Metal and Nonmetal Underground Gassy Mines.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0095.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 1.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 1 hour.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $6.

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

    Dated: February 4, 2016.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-02748 Filed 2-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P