[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 225 (Friday, November 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55879-55880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25426]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0148]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Proximity Detection 
Systems for Continuous Mining Machines in Underground Coal Mines

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 Proximity 
Detection Systems for Continuous Mining Machines in Underground Coal 
Mines.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before January 23, 2018.

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-2017-0033.
     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. Section 813(h), authorizes MSHA to collect 
information necessary to carry out its duties 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 (Secretary) 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.
    On January 15, 2015, MSHA published a final rule that requires 
underground coal mine operators to equip continuous mining machines, 
except full-face continuous mining machines, with proximity detection 
systems (80 FR 2188). Miners working near continuous mining machines 
face pinning, crushing, and striking hazards that result in accidents 
involving life-threatening injuries and death. Proximity detection is a 
technology that uses electronic sensors to detect the motion or the 
location of one object relative to another. Proximity detection systems 
provide a warning and stop mining machines before a pinning, crushing, 
or striking accident occurs that could result in injury or death to a 
miner. The information collections contained in this final rule were 
approved under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).
    Title 30 CFR 75.1732(d)(1) requires at the completion of the check 
of the machine-mounted components of the proximity detection system 
under section 75.1732(c)(1), a certified person under section 75.100 
must certify by initials, date, and time that the check was conducted. 
Defects found as a result of the check, including corrective actions 
and dates of corrective actions, must be recorded.
    Section 75.1732(d)(2) requires the operator to make a record of the 
defects found as a result of the checks of miner-wearable components 
required under section 75.1732(c)(2), including corrective actions and 
dates of corrective actions.
    Section 75.1732(d)(3) requires the operator to make a record of the 
persons trained in the installation and maintenance of proximity 
detection systems under section 75.1732(b)(6).

[[Page 55880]]

    Section 75.1732(d)(4) requires the records to be maintained in a 
secure book or electronically in a secure computer system not 
susceptible to alteration.
    Section 75.1732(d)(5) requires records to be retained for a period 
of at least one year and that they be made available for inspection by 
authorized representatives of the Secretary and representatives of 
miners.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Proximity Detection Systems for Continuous Mining 
Machines in Underground Coal Mines. 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 CONTACT 
section of this notice.

III. Current Actions

    This request for collection of information contains provisions for 
Proximity Detection Systems for Continuous Mining Machines in 
Underground Coal Mines. 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: 1219-0148.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 209.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 291,137.
    Annual Burden Hours: 828 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $0.
    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. 2017-25426 Filed 11-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P