[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 111 (Monday, June 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26952-26953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12099]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0142]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Sealing of 
Abandoned Areas

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. 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 Sealing of 
Abandoned Areas.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before August 11, 2017.

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-2017-0019.
     Regular Mail: Send comments to USDOL--MSHA, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 
4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452.
     Hand Delivery: USDOL--Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, VA 
22202-5452. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 4th floor via the 
East elevator.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, 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

    Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes MSHA to collect information 
necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety and health of 
miners. Further, section 101(a) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 811 
authorizes the Secretary of Labor to 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.
    MSHA's standards for sealing abandoned areas in underground coal 
mines include requirements addressing the design and construction of 
new seals and the examination, maintenance and repair of all seals.
    Section 75.335(b) sets forth procedures for the approval of seal 
design applications.
    Section 75.335(c) requires the submission and certification of 
information for seal installation.

[[Page 26953]]

    Section 75.336(a)(2) requires the mine operator to evaluate the 
atmosphere in the sealed area to determine whether sampling through the 
sampling pipes in seals provides appropriate sampling locations of the 
sealed area. The mine operator will make an evaluation for each area 
that has seals.
    Section 75.336(c) requires that mine operators immediately notify 
MSHA after a sample indicates that the oxygen concentration is 10 
percent or greater and methane is between 4.5 percent and 17 percent 
and after taking the required additional sample from the sealed 
atmosphere with seals of less than 120 psi.
    Section 75.336(e) requires a certified person to record each 
sampling result, including the location of the sampling points and the 
oxygen and methane concentrations. Also, any hazardous conditions found 
must be corrected and recorded in accordance with existing Section 
75.363.
    Section 75.337(c)(1)-(c)(5) requires a certified person to perform 
several tasks during seal construction and repair and certify that the 
tasks were done in accordance with the approved ventilation plan. In 
addition, a mine foreman or equivalent mine official must countersign 
the record.
    Section 75.337(d) requires a senior mine management official to 
certify that the construction, installation, and materials used were in 
accordance with the approved ventilation plan.
    Section 75.337(e) requires the mine operator to notify MSHA of 
certain activities concerning the construction of a set of seals. 
Section 75.337(e)(1) requires the mine operator to notify the District 
Manager between 2 and 14 days prior to commencement of seal 
construction. Section 75.337(e)(2) requires the mine operator to notify 
the District Manager, in writing, within 5 days of completion of a set 
of seals and provide a copy of the certifications required in Section 
75.337(d). Section 75.337(e)(3) requires the mine operator to submit a 
copy of the quality control test results for seal material properties 
specified by Section 75.335 within 30 days of completion of such tests.
    Section 75.337(g)(3) requires the mine operator to label sampling 
pipes to indicate the location of the sampling point when the mine 
operator installs more than one sampling pipe through a seal.
    Section 75.338(a) requires mine operators to certify that persons 
conducting sampling were trained in the use of appropriate sampling 
equipment, techniques, the location of sampling points, the frequency 
of sampling, the size and condition of sealed areas, and the use of 
continuous monitoring systems, if applicable, before they conduct 
sampling, and annually thereafter.
    Section 75.338(b) requires mine operators to certify that miners 
constructing or repairing seals, designated certified persons, and 
senior mine management officials were trained prior to constructing or 
repairing a seal and annually thereafter.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Sealing of Abandoned Areas. 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.
    The information collection request will be available 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 USDOL--
Mine Safety and Health Administration, 201 12th South, Suite 4E401, 
Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 4th 
floor via the East elevator.
    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 
Sealing of Abandoned Areas. 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: 1219-0142.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 242.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 15,800.
    Annual Burden Hours: 3,525 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $1,068,083.
    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.

Sheila McConnell,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-12099 Filed 6-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P