[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58412-58413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23776]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Safety Standards 
for Underground Coal Mine Ventilation--Belt Entry Used as an Intake Air 
Course To Ventilate Working Sections and Areas Where Mechanized Mining 
Equipment Is Being Installed or Removed

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 Safety Standards 
for Underground Coal Mine Ventilation--Belt Entry Used as an Intake Air 
Course to Ventilate Working Sections and Areas Where Mechanized Mining 
Equipment is Being Installed or Removed.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before December 30, 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-2019-0042.
     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 the protection of life and prevention of injuries in coal 
and metal and nonmetal mines.
    MSHA allows operators to use air from a belt air course to 
ventilate a working section, or an area where mechanized mining 
equipment is being installed or removed, only under certain conditions. 
The belt air use must be evaluated and approved by the district manager 
in the mine ventilation plan and operators must follow a number of 
other requirements that provide additional protection.
    Section 75.350(b) requires that the mine operator must include in a 
ventilation plan a justification that the use of air from a belt entry 
would afford at least the same measure of protection as where belt 
haulage entries are not used. The plan also must include information 
regarding point feeds and regulators and designated areas for dust and 
air velocity measurements.
    Section 75.351(b)(3) and 75.351(b)(4) require a mine operator to 
post a map or schematic, at a designated surface location, which shows 
the locations and type of Atmospheric Monitoring System (AMS) sensors 
at each location and the intended air flow direction at these 
locations. This map or schematic must be updated within 24 hours of any 
change in this information. Contact information for AMS and other 
appropriate personnel also must be posted at this location.
    Section 75.351(j) requires approval of the CO ambient levels, and 
the means to determine those levels, in the mine ventilation plan.
    Section 75.351(m) permits a mine to incorporate time delays into 
the AMS,

[[Page 58413]]

or to use other methods for reducing non-fire alerts and alarm levels, 
provided they are specified and approved in the mine ventilation plan. 
Permission for such time delays, or other methods of reducing non-fire 
alerts and alarms, would be granted based on associated documentation 
that justifies these changes.
    Sections 75.351(n)(2) and 75.351(n)(3) require that alarms for AMS 
be tested every seven days and CO, smoke, or methane sensors be 
calibrated, every 31 days, respectively.
    Section 75.351(o)(1)(i) requires that a record be made if the AMS 
emits an alert or alarm signal. The record would consist of the date, 
time, location, and type of sensor, and the reason for its activation.
    Section 75.351(o)(1)(ii) requires that, if an AMS malfunctions, a 
record be made of the date, the extent and cause of the malfunction, 
and the corrective action taken to return the system to proper 
operating condition.
    Section 75.351(o)(1)(iii) requires that the persons doing the 
weekly test of alert and alarm signals, the monthly calibration, or 
maintenance of the system make a record of these tests, calibrations, 
or maintenance.
    Section 75.351(o)(3) requires that all records concerning the AMS 
be kept in a book or electronically in a computer system that is secure 
and not susceptible to alteration.
    Section 75.351(p) requires the mine operator to keep these records 
for at least one year at a surface location and to make them available 
for inspection by authorized representatives of the Secretary and 
representatives of miners.
    Section 75.351(q)(3) requires that a record of annual AMS operator 
training be kept. The record will include the content of training, the 
person conducting the training, and the date the training is conducted. 
The record needs to be maintained at the mine site by the mine operator 
for at least one year.
    Sections 75.352(a), 75.352(b) and 75.352(c) require the designated 
AMS operator or other appropriate personnel to notify, investigate, or 
evacuate when malfunction, alert, or alarm signals are received.
    Section 75.371(hh) requires reporting within the mine ventilation 
plan of the ``ambient level in parts per million of carbon monoxide, 
and the method for determining the ambient level, in all areas where 
carbon monoxide sensors are installed.'' This provision is impacted by 
section 75.351(j).
    Section 75.371(kk) requires the locations where air quantities are 
measured as set forth in section 75.350(b)(6) be included in the mine 
ventilation plan.
    Section 75.371(ll) requires the locations and use of point feed 
regulators, in accordance with Sections 75.350(c) and 75.350(d)(5),to 
be in the mine ventilation plan.
    Section 75.371(mm) requires the location of any diesel-
discriminating sensor and additional carbon monoxide or smoke sensors 
installed in the belt air course to be included in the mine ventilation 
plan.
    Sections 75.371(nn), 75.371(oo), and 75.371(pp) require 
modification of the mine ventilation plan to show the length of the 
time delay or any other method used for reducing the number of non-fire 
related alert and alarm signals from CO sensors, the lower alert and 
alarm setting for CO sensors, and the alternate instrument and the 
alert and alarm levels associated with the instrument, respectively.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Safety Standards for Underground Coal Mine 
Ventilation--Belt Entry Used as an Intake Air Course to Ventilate 
Working Sections and Areas Where Mechanized Mining Equipment is Being 
Installed or Removed. 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 
Safety Standards for Underground Coal Mine Ventilation--Belt Entry Used 
as an Intake Air Course to Ventilate Working Sections and Areas Where 
Mechanized Mining Equipment is Being Installed or Removed. 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: 1219-0138.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 12.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 161.
    Annual Burden Hours: 2,478 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $38,640.
    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. 2019-23776 Filed 10-30-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P