[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47971-47972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-19618]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0025]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Application for a 
Permit To Fire More Than 20 Boreholes and/or for the Use of 
Nonpermissible Blasting Units, Explosives, and Shot-Firing Units; 
Posting Notices of Misfires

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 ensure 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 Application for a 
Permit to Fire More than 20 Boreholes and/or for the use of 
Nonpermissible Blasting Units, Explosives, and Shot-firing Units; 
Posting Notices of Misfires.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before November 12, 2019.

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-2019-0035.
     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 (Secretary) to develop, promulgate, 
and revise as may be appropriate, improved mandatory health or safety 
standards for

[[Page 47972]]

the protection of life and prevention of injuries in coal and metal and 
nonmetal mines.
    Under Section 313 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 873, any explosives used in underground coal 
mines must be permissible. The Mine Act also provides that, under 
safeguards prescribed by the Secretary, a mine operator may permit the 
firing of more than 20 shots and the use of nonpermissible explosives 
in sinking shafts and slopes from the surface in rock. Title 30 CFR 
75.1321 outlines the procedures by which a permit may be issued for the 
firing of more than 20 boreholes and/or the use of nonpermissible shot-
firing units in underground coal mines. In those instances in which 
there is a misfire of explosives, section 75.1327 requires that a 
qualified person post each accessible entrance to the affected area 
with a warning to prohibit entry. Section 77.1909-1 outlines the 
procedures by which a coal mine operator may apply for a permit to use 
nonpermissible explosives and/or shot-firing units in the blasting of 
rock while sinking shafts or slopes for underground coal mines.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Application for a Permit to Fire More than 20 
Boreholes and/or for the use of Nonpermissible Blasting Units, 
Explosives, and Shot-firing Units; Posting Notices of Misfires. 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 
Application for a Permit to Fire More than 20 Boreholes and/or for the 
use of Nonpermissible Blasting Units, Explosives, and Shot-firing 
Units; Posting Notices of Misfires. 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: 1219-0025.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 17.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 32.
    Annual Burden Hours: 31 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $115.
    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. 2019-19618 Filed 9-10-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P