[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 216 (Friday, November 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71102-71103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24653]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Escape and Evacuation Plans

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Mining 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 December 7, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this

[[Page 71103]]

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: Anthony May by telephone at 202-693-
4129 (this is not a toll-free number) 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 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:
     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;
     Procedures to show how the miners will be notified of an 
emergency;
     An escape plan for each working area in the mine, 
including instructions showing how each working area should be 
evacuated;
     A firefighting plan;
     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
     A statement of the availability of emergency communication 
and transportation facilities, emergency power, and ventilation, and 
the location of rescue personnel and equipment.
    For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the 
related notice published in the Federal Register on June 17, 2020 (85 
FR 36619).
    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: Escape and Evacuation Plans.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0046.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 193.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 386.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 3,281 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $1,930.

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

    Dated: November 2, 2020.
Anthony May,
Management and Program Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2020-24653 Filed 11-5-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P