[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 31, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48768-48769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18712]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0121]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Safety Standards 
for Roof Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines and Underground Coal Mines

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 Safety Standards 
for Roof Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines and Underground Coal Mines.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before November 1, 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-
2021-0027. 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 
and metal and nonmetal mines.
    Accidents involving falls of roof, face, and rib in underground 
mines or falls of highwall in surface mines, historically, have been 
among the leading causes of miners' injuries and deaths. Prevention or 
control of falls of roof, face, and rib is uniquely difficult because 
of the variety of conditions encountered in mines that can affect the 
stability of various types of strata and the changing nature of the 
forces affecting ground stability at any given operation and time. Roof 
and rock bolts and accessories are integral parts of ground control 
systems and are used to prevent the fall of roof, face, and rib. 
Advancements in the technology of roof and rock bolts and accessories 
have aided in reducing the hazards associated with falls of roof, face, 
and rib.
    The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) publication 
``Standard Specification for Roof and Rock Bolts and Accessories'' is a

[[Page 48769]]

consensus standard used throughout the United States. It contains 
specifications for the chemical, mechanical, and dimensional 
requirements for roof and rock bolts and accessories used for ground 
support systems. The ASTM standard for roof and rock bolts and 
accessories is updated periodically to reflect advances in technology.
    Title 30 Code of Federal Regulations, parts 56 and 57 Subpart B-
Ground Control, sections 56.3203 and 57.3203, and part 75 Subpart C-
Roof Support, section 75.204, address the quality of roof and rock 
bolts and accessories and their installation. MSHA's objective in these 
regulations is to ensure the quality and effectiveness of roof and rock 
bolts and accessories and, as technology evolves, to allow for the use 
of new materials which are proven to be reliable and effective in 
controlling the mine roof, face, and rib.
    Title 30 CFR 56.3203(a), 57.3203(a), and 75.204(a) require: (1) 
That mine operators obtain a certification from the manufacturer that 
roof and rock bolts and accessories are manufactured and tested in 
accordance with the applicable ASTM specifications, and (2) that the 
manufacturer's certification is made available to an authorized 
representative of the Secretary.
    Title 30 CFR 56.3203(h) and 57.3203(h) require that if the mine 
operator uses other tensioned and non-tensioned fixtures and 
accessories for ground control that are not addressed by the applicable 
ASTM standard listed in sections 56.3203(a) and 57.3203(a), test 
methods must be established by the mine operator and used to verify 
their ground control effectiveness. Title 30 CFR 56.3203(i) and 
57.3203(i) require the mine operator to certify that the tests 
developed under sections 56.3203(h) and 57.3203(h) were conducted and 
such certifications be made available to an authorized representative 
of the Secretary.
    Title 30 CFR 75.204(f)(6) requires that the mine operator or a 
person designated by the operator certify by signature and date that 
the measurements required by paragraph (f)(5) of this section have been 
made. Paragraph (f)(5) requires that in working places from which coal 
is produced during any portion of a 24-hour period, the actual torque 
or tension on at least 1 out of every 10 previously installed 
mechanically anchored tensioned roof bolts is measured from the outby 
corner of the last open crosscut to the face in each advancing section. 
This certification shall be maintained for at least 1 year and shall be 
made available to an authorized representative of the Secretary and 
representatives of miners.
    The certification requirements are necessary to ensure compliance 
with the requirements for roof and rock bolts and accessories.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Safety Standards for Roof Bolts in Metal and 
Nonmetal Mines and Underground Coal Mines. 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 at 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 Safety 
Standards for Roof Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines and Underground 
Coal Mines. 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: 1219-0121.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 345.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 43,558.
    Annual Burden Hours: 420 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. 2021-18712 Filed 8-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P