[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4048-4049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01450]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0030]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Main Fan Operation 
and Inspection (I-A, II-A, III, and V-A 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 Main fan 
operation and inspection (I-A, II-A, III, and V-A mines).

DATES: All comments must be received on or before March 28, 2022.

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 MSHA-2021-0040. 
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. Before visiting MSHA in person, call 
202-693-9455 to make an appointment, in keeping with the Department of 
Labor's COVID-19 policy. Special health precautions may be required.
     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.

[[Page 4049]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. Aromie Noe, Acting 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 the 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(a), 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.
    Potentially gassy (explosive) conditions underground are largely 
controlled by the main fans. When accumulations of explosive gases, 
such as methane, are not swept from the mine by the main fans, they may 
reasonably be expected to contact an ignition source. The results of 
such contacts are usually disastrous, and multiple fatalities may be 
reasonably expected to occur. The standard contains significantly more 
stringent requirements for main fans in ``gassy'' mines than for main 
fans in other mines. Title 30 CFR 57.22204, which only applies to metal 
and nonmetal underground mines that are categorized as ``gassy,'' 
requires main fans to have pressure-recording systems. This standard 
also requires main fans to be inspected daily while operating if 
persons are underground and certification made of such inspections by 
signature and date. Certifications and pressure recordings must be 
retained for one 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 Main fan operation and inspection (I-A, II-A, 
III, and V-A 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 
related to the information collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used in the estimate;
     Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the information collection 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 main 
fan operation and inspection in I-A, II-A, III, and V-A 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: 1219-0030.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 6.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 5,940.
    Annual Burden Hours: 2,046 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $6,000.
    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.

Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-01450 Filed 1-25-22; 8:45 am]
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