[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]
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