[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 25, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16963-16964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06220]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0089]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Safety Defects; 
Examination, Correction, and Records

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Defects; 
Examination, Correction, and Records.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before May 26, 2020.

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-2019-0050.
     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.
    This Information Collection Request concerns recordkeeping 
requirements related to: (1) Inspection of compressed-air receivers and 
other unfired pressure vessels, (2) Boilers, (3) Safety defects; 
examination, correction and records, and (4) Examination of working 
places.
    Under sections 56.13015 and 57.13015 of title 30, Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR), compressed-air receivers and other unfired pressure 
vessels must be inspected by inspectors holding a valid National Board 
Commission and in accordance with the applicable chapters of the 
National Board Inspection Code, a Manual for Boiler and Pressure 
Vessels Inspectors, 1979. Safety defects found on compressed-air 
receivers and other unfired pressure vessels have caused injuries and 
fatalities in the mining industry.
    Records of inspections must be kept in accordance with the 
requirements of the National Board Inspection Code and the records must 
be made available to the Secretary or an authorized representative.
    Under sections 56.13030 and 57.13030 of title 30 CFR, fired 
pressure vessels (boilers) must be equipped with water level gauges, 
pressure gauges, automatic pressure-relief valves, blowdown piping and 
other safety devices approved by the American Society of Mechanical 
Engineers to protect against hazards from overpressure, flameouts, fuel 
interruptions and low water level.
    Records of inspection and repairs must be retained by the mine 
operator in accordance with the requirements of the ASME Boiler and 
Pressure Vessel Code, 1977, and the National Board Inspection Code 
(progressive records--no limit on retention time) and shall be made 
available to the Secretary or an authorized representative.
    Under sections 56.14100 and 57.14100, operators must inspect 
equipment, machinery, and tools that are to be used during a shift for 
safety defects before the equipment is placed in operation. Defects 
affecting safety are required to be corrected in a timely manner. In 
instances where the defect makes continued operation of the equipment 
hazardous to persons, the equipment must be removed from service, 
tagged to identify that it is out of use, and repaired before use is 
resumed.
    Safety defects on self-propelled mobile equipment account for many 
injuries and fatalities in the mining industry. Inspection of this 
equipment prior to use is required to ensure safe operation. The 
equipment operator is required to make a visual and operational check 
of the various primary operating systems that affect safety, such as 
brakes, lights, horn, seatbelts, tires, steering, back-up alarm, 
windshield, cab safety glass, rear and side view mirrors, and other 
safety and health related items.
    Any defects found are required to be either corrected immediately, 
or reported to and recorded by the mine operator prior to the timely 
correction. The precise format in which the record is kept is left to 
the discretion of the mine operator. Reports of uncorrected defects are 
required to be recorded by the mine operator and kept at the mine 
office from the date the defects are recorded, until the defects are 
corrected.
    Under sections 56.18002 and 57.18002 of title 30 CFR, a competent 
person designated by the operator shall examine each working place at 
least once each shift before miners begin work in that place, for 
conditions that may adversely affect safety or health. A record of each 
examination must be made before the end of the shift for which the 
examination was conducted. The record must contain the name of the 
person conducting the examination; the date of the examination; 
location of all areas examined; and description of each condition found 
that may adversely affect the safety or health of miners. When a 
condition that may adversely affect safety or health is corrected, the 
examination record shall include, or be supplemented to include, the 
date of the corrective action. The operator must maintain the 
examination records for at least one year, make the records available 
for inspection by authorized representatives of the Secretary and the 
representatives of miners, and provide these representatives a copy on 
request.

[[Page 16964]]

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection. 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 Street 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 recordkeeping 
provisions for 30 CFR 56/57.13015, 56/57.13030, 56/57.14100, and 56/
57.18002. 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: 1219-0089.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 12,280.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 4,101,012.
    Annual Burden Hours: 881,963 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $215,299.
    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. 2020-06220 Filed 3-24-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P