[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15501-15502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05614]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Slope and Shaft Sinking Plans (Pertains to 
Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines)

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Mine Safety 
and Health Administration (MSHA)-sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
and approval 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 April 17, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) if the information will be processed and used in a timely 
manner; (3) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (4) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (5) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

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: 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. Title 30 CFR 77.1900 
requires underground coal mine operators to submit for approval a plan 
that will provide for the safety of workmen in each slope or shaft that 
is commenced or extended from the surface to the underground coal mine. 
Each slope or shaft sinking operation is unique in that each operator 
uses different methods and equipment and encounters different 
geological strata which make it impossible for a single set of 
regulations to ensure the safety of the miners under all circumstances. 
This makes an individual slope or shaft sinking plan

[[Page 15502]]

necessary. The plan must be consistent with prudent engineering design. 
Plans include the name and location of the mine; name and address of 
the mine operator; a description of the construction work and methods 
to be used in construction of the slope or shaft, and whether all or 
part of the work will be performed by a contractor; the elevation, 
depth and dimensions of the slope or shaft; the location and elevation 
of the coalbed; the general characteristics of the strata through which 
the slope or shaft will be developed; the type of equipment which the 
operator proposes to use; the system of ventilation to be used; and 
safeguards for the prevention of caving during excavation. For 
additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related 
notice published in the Federal Register on January 2, 2020 (85 FR 
141).
    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 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 
OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for 
three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than 
three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information 
collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive 
a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.
    Agency: DOL-MSHA.
    Title of Collection: Slope and Shaft Sinking Plans (Pertains to 
Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines).
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0019.
    Affected Public: Private Sector: Businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 35.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 91.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 1,820 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $55.

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

    Dated: March 12, 2020.
Frederick Licari,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-05614 Filed 3-17-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P