[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 110 (Thursday, June 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30987-30988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12159]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0103]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Notification of 
Methane Detected in Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres

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 
request for comment 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 request 
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 Notification of 
Methane Detected in Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before August 9, 2021.

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-
2021-0009. 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 your comment includes 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: Jessica Senk, 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 
or other mines.
    Methane is a flammable gas found in underground mines in the United 
States. Although methane is often associated with underground coal 
mines, it also occurs in some metal and nonmetal mines. Underground 
metal and Nonmetal mines are categorized according to the potential to 
liberate methane (30 CFR 57.22003--Mine category or subcategory). 
Methane is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, and it tends to rise 
to the roof of a mine because it is lighter than air. Although methane 
itself is nontoxic, its presence reduces the oxygen content by dilution 
when mixed with air and, consequently, can act as an asphyxiant when 
present in large quantities.
    Methane may enter the mining environment from a variety of sources 
including fractures, faults, or shear zones overlying or underlying the 
strata that surround the ore body, or from the ore body itself. It may 
occur as an occluded gas within the ore body. Methane mixed with air is 
explosive in the range of 5 to 15 percent, provided that 12 percent or 
more oxygen is present. The presence of dust containing volatile matter 
in the mine atmosphere may further enhance the potential for methane to 
explode in a mine. Section 103(i) of Mine Act requires additional 
inspections be conducted at mines depending on the amount of methane 
liberated from a mine.
    Title 30 CFR 57.22004(c) requires operators of underground metal 
and nonmetal mines to notify MSHA as soon as possible if any of the 
following events occur: (a) There is an outburst that results in 0.25 
percent or more methane in the mine atmosphere, (b) there is a blowout 
that results in 0.25 percent or more methane in the mine atmosphere, 
(c) there is an ignition of methane, or (d) air sample results indicate 
0.25 percent or more methane in the mine atmosphere of a I-B, I-C, II-
B, V-B, or Category VI mine. Under sections 57.22239 and 57.22231, if 
methane reaches 2.0 percent in a Category IV mine or if methane reaches 
0.25 percent in the mine atmosphere of a Subcategory I-B, II-B, V-B, or 
VI mine, MSHA shall be notified immediately. Although the standards do 
not specify how MSHA is to be notified, MSHA anticipates that the 
notifications would be made by telephone.
    Sections 57.22229 and 57.22230 require that the mine atmosphere be 
tested for methane and/or carbon dioxide at least once every 7 days by 
a competent person or atmospheric

[[Page 30988]]

monitoring system, or a combination of both. Section 57.2229 applies to 
underground metal and nonmetal mines categorized as I-A, III, and V-A 
mines where the atmosphere is tested for both methane and carbon 
dioxide. Section 57.22230 applies to underground metal and nonmetal 
mines categorized as II-A mines where the atmosphere is tested for 
methane. Where examinations disclose hazardous conditions, affected 
miners must be informed. Sections 57.22229(d) and 57.22230(c) require 
that the person performing the tests certify by signature and date that 
the tests have been conducted. Certifications of examinations shall be 
kept for at least 1 year and made available to authorized 
representatives of the Secretary.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Notification of Methane Detected in Underground 
Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres. 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.

III. Current Actions

    This information collection request concerns provisions for 
Notification of Methane Detected in Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mine 
Atmospheres. 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: 1219-0103.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 6.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 319.
    Annual Burden Hours: 27 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $0.
    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.

Jessica Senk,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-12159 Filed 6-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P