[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3425-3426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00847]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Ventilation Plan and Main Fan Maintenance 
Record

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mining Safety 
and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) titled, ``Ventilation Plan and Main Fan Maintenance 
Record'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are 
invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before February 20, 2020.

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 RegInfo.gov website at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201910-1219-002 (this link will only become active 
on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting 
Frederick Licari by telephone at 202-693-8073, TTY 202-693-8064, (these 
are not toll-free numbers) or by email at [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request by mail 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: Frederick Licari by telephone at 202-
693-8073, 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 Ventilation Plan and Main Fan Maintenance Record information 
collection. 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 
and metal and nonmetal mines. Underground mines usually present harsh 
and hostile working environments. The ventilation system is the most 
vital life support system in underground mining and a properly 
operating ventilation system is essential for maintaining a safe and 
healthful working environment. A well planned mine ventilation system 
is necessary to assure a fresh air supply to miners at all working 
places, to control the amounts of harmful airborne contaminants in the 
mine atmosphere, and to dilute possible accumulation of explosive 
gases. Lack of adequate ventilation in underground mines has resulted 
in fatalities from asphyxiation and/or explosions due to a buildup of 
explosive gases. Inadequate ventilation can be a primary factor for 
deaths caused by disease of the lungs (e.g., silicosis). In addition, 
poor working conditions from lack of adequate ventilation contribute to 
accidents resulting from heat stress, limited visibility, or impaired 
judgment from contaminants. The mine operator is required to prepare a 
written plan of the mine ventilation system. The plan is required to be 
updated at least annually. Upon written request of the District 
Manager, the plan or revisions must be submitted to MSHA for review and 
comment. The main ventilation fans for an underground mine must be 
maintained according to the manufacturers' recommendations or a written 
periodic schedule. Upon request of an Authorized Representative of the 
Secretary of Labor, this fan maintenance schedule must be made 
available for review. The records assure compliance with the standard 
and may serve as a warning mechanism for possible ventilation problems 
before they occur.
    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 the OMB under the PRA approves it 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 1219-0016.
    OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) 
years without renewal, and the current approval for this collection is 
scheduled to expire on January 31, 2020. The DOL seeks to extend PRA 
authorization for this information collection for three (3) more years, 
without any change to existing

[[Page 3426]]

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 
September 20, 2019 (84 FR 49559).
    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 1219-0016. 
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: Ventilation Plan and Main Fan Maintenance 
Record.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0016.
    Affected Public: Private Sector: Businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 197.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 206.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 4,762 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

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

    Dated: January 14, 2020.
Frederick Licari,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-00847 Filed 1-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P