[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36619-36620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13001]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Escape and 
Evacuation Plans (OMB Control No. 1219-0046)

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 Escape and 
Evacuation Plans.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before August 17, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comment as follows. Please note that late, 
untimely filed comments will not be considered.
    Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments in the following 
way:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments for docket number MSHA-
2020-0020. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to 
https://www.regulations.gov will be posted to the docket, with no 
changes. Because your comment will be made public, you are responsible 
for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential 
information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such 
as your or anyone else's Social Security number or confidential 
business information.
     If you want to submit a comment with confidential 
information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, 
submit the comment as a written/paper submission.
    Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the 
following way:
     Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit DOL-MSHA, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 
4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452.
     MSHA will post your comment as well as any attachments, 
except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in the 
docket at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roslyn B. Fontaine, Acting Director, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at

[[Page 36620]]

[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 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 or other 
mines.
    Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 57.11053 
requires the development of specific escape and evacuation plans that 
address the unique conditions of each underground metal and nonmetal 
mine. Section 57.11053 also requires that mine operators make revisions 
to the escape and evacuation plan for an underground metal and nonmetal 
mine as mining progresses. The plan must be available to 
representatives of MSHA and conspicuously posted at the mine at 
locations convenient to all persons on the surface and underground. The 
mine operator and MSHA are required to jointly review the plan at least 
once every 6 months.
    The following information is required with each escape and 
evacuation plan submission:
    (1) Mine maps or diagrams showing directions of principal air flow, 
location of escape routes, and locations of existing telephones, 
primary fans, primary fan controls, fire doors, ventilation doors, and 
refuge chambers;
    (2) Procedures to show how the miners will be notified of an 
emergency;
    (3) An escape plan for each working area in the mine, including 
instructions showing how each working area should be evacuated;
    (4) A firefighting plan;
    (5) Procedures for surface personnel to follow in an emergency, 
including the notification of proper authorities and the preparation of 
rescue equipment and other equipment which may be used in rescue and 
recovery operations; and
    (6) A statement of the availability of emergency communication and 
transportation facilities, emergency power, and ventilation, and the 
location of rescue personnel and equipment.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Escape and Evacuation Plans. 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.
    Background documents related to this information collection request 
are available at https://regulations.gov and in DOL-MSHA located at 201 
12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Questions 
about the information collection requirements may be directed to the 
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of this notice 
from the previous collection of information.

III. Current Actions

    This information collection request concerns provisions for Escape 
and Evacuation Plans. MSHA has updated the data with respect to the 
number of respondents, responses, burden hours, and burden costs 
supporting this information collection request from the previous 
information collection request.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0046.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 193.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 386.
    Annual Burden Hours: 3,281 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $1,930.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized in 
the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the 
proposed information collection request; they will become a matter of 
public record and will be available at https://www.reginfo.gov.

Roslyn B. Fontaine,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-13001 Filed 6-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P