[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4047-4048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01451]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0026]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Ground Control for 
Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of 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 Ground Control 
for Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal 
Mines.

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

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 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-2021-0039. 
Comments, including attachments, submitted electronically 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.

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 MSHA to collect information 
necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety and health of 
miners. Further, section 103(h) requires that every operator of a coal 
or other mine establish and maintain records, make reports, and provide 
required

[[Page 4048]]

information to the Secretary of Labor (Secretary). Section 101(a) of 
the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 811(a), authorizes the 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.
    Each operator of a surface coal mine is required under 30 CFR 
77.1000 to establish and follow a ground control plan for highwalls, 
pits, and spoil banks that is consistent with prudent engineering 
design and which will ensure safe working conditions. The mine operator 
is required by section 77.1000-1 to file the ground control plan with 
the appropriate District Manager. The mining methods employed by the 
operator are selected to ensure highwall, pit, and spoil bank 
stability. In the event of a highwall failure or material dislodgment, 
there may be very little time to escape possible injury; therefore, 
preventive measures must be taken. Each plan is based on the type of 
strata expected to be encountered, the height and angle of highwalls 
and spoil banks, and the equipment to be used at the mine. The plan is 
used to show how the mine operator will maintain safe working 
conditions around the highwalls, pits, and spoil banks. Each plan is 
reviewed by MSHA to ensure that highwalls, pits, and spoil banks are 
maintained in a safe condition through implementation of sound 
engineering design.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Ground Control for Surface Coal Mines and Surface 
Work Areas of 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 
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 ground 
control for surface coal mines and surface work areas of 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: 1219-0026.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 287.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 287.
    Annual Burden Hours: 1,962 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $545.
    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. 2022-01451 Filed 1-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P