[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2134-2136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00419]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0144]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Mine Rescue Teams; 
Arrangements for Emergency Medical Assistance and Transportation for 
Injured Persons; Agreements; Reporting Requirements; Posting 
Requirements

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 
consultation program 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 program 
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 Mine Rescue 
Teams; Arrangements for Emergency Medical Assistance and Transportation 
for Injured Persons; Agreements; Reporting Requirements; Posting 
Requirements.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before March 13, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements 
of this notice may be sent by any of the methods listed below.
     Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket 
number MSHA-2022-0064.
     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, 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 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.
    30 CFR part 49 subpart A, Mine Rescue Teams for Underground Metal 
and Nonmetal (MNM) Mines, requires every operator of an underground 
mine to assure the availability of mine rescue capability for purposes 
of emergency rescue and recovery. This collection of information 
relates to the availability of mine rescue teams; alternate mine rescue 
capability for small and remote

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mines and mines with special mining conditions; inspection and 
maintenance records of mine rescue equipment and apparatus; physical 
requirements for team members and alternates; and experience and 
training requirements for team members and alternates. 30 CFR part 49 
subpart A includes sections Sec. Sec.  49.1-49.9 for MNM mine 
operators.
    30 CFR 49.2 (Availability of mine rescue teams) requires each 
operator of an underground metal and non-metal mine to send the 
District Manager a statement describing the mine's method of compliance 
with this standard.
    30 CFR 49.3 (Alternative mine rescue capability for small and 
remote mines) provides that operators of small and remote mines may 
submit an application for alternative mine rescue capability to MSHA 
for approval.
    30 CFR 49.4 (Alternative mine rescue capability for special mining 
conditions) provides that operators of small and remote mines may 
submit an application for special mining conditions capability to MSHA 
for approval.
    30 CFR 49.5 (Mine rescue station) provides that operators of an 
underground metal and nonmental mine shall designate, in advance, the 
location of the mine rescue station serving the mine. Mine rescue 
stations are to provide a centralized storage location for rescue 
equipment. This centralized storage location may be either at the mine 
site, affiliated mines, or a separate mine rescue structure. Mine 
rescue stations shall provide a proper storage environment to assure 
equipment readiness for immediate use.
    30 CFR 49.6 (Equipment and maintenance requirements) requires that 
a person trained in the use and care of a breathing apparatus must 
inspect and test the apparatus at intervals not exceeding 30 days and 
must certify by signature and date that the required inspections and 
tests were done, and record any corrective action taken.
    30 CFR 49.7 (Physical requirements for mine rescue team) requires 
that each member of a mine rescue team be examined annually by a 
physician who must certify that each person is physically fit to 
perform mine rescue and recovery work.
    30 CFR 49.8 (Training for mine rescue teams) requires that a record 
of the training received by each mine rescue team member be made and 
kept on file at the mine rescue station for a period of 1 year. The 
operator must provide the District Manager information concerning the 
schedule of upcoming training when requested.
    30 CFR 49.9 (Mine emergency notification plan) requires that each 
mine have a mine rescue notification plan outlining the procedures to 
be followed in notifying the mine rescue teams when there is an 
emergency that requires their services.
    30 CFR part 49 subpart B Mine Rescue Teams for Underground Coal 
Mines, sets standards related to the availability of mine rescue teams; 
alternate mine rescue capability for small and remote mines; inspection 
and maintenance records of mine rescue equipment and apparatus; 
physical requirements for mine rescue team members and alternates; and 
experience and training requirements for team members and alternates. 
The collection of information under 30 CFR part 49, subpart B, covers 
the following requirements for underground coal mines. 30 CFR part 49 
subpart B includes sections Sec. Sec.  49.11-49.60 for coal mine 
operators.
    30 CFR 49.12 (Availability of mine rescue teams) requires each 
operator of an underground coal mine to send the District Manager a 
statement describing the mine's method of compliance with this 
standard.
    30 CFR 49.13 (Alternative mine rescue capability for small and 
remote mines) provides that operators of small and remote mines may 
submit an application for alternative mine rescue capability to MSHA 
for approval.
    30 CFR 49.16 (Equipment and maintenance requirements) requires that 
a person trained in the use and care of a breathing apparatus must 
inspect and test the apparatus at intervals not exceeding 30 days and 
must certify by signature and date that the required inspections and 
tests were done, and record any corrective action taken.
    30 CFR 49.17 (Physical requirements for mine rescue team) requires 
that each member of a mine rescue team be examined annually by a 
physician who must certify that each person is physically fit to 
perform mine rescue and recovery work.
    30 CFR 49.18 (Training for mine rescue teams) requires that a 
record of the training received by each mine rescue team member be made 
and kept on file at the mine rescue station for a period of 1 year. The 
operator must provide the District Manager information concerning the 
schedule of upcoming training when requested.
    30 CFR 49.19 (Mine emergency notification plan) requires that each 
mine have a mine rescue notification plan outlining the procedures to 
be followed in notifying the mine rescue teams when there is an 
emergency that requires their services.
    30 CFR 49.50 (Certification of coal mine rescue teams) requires 
underground coal mine operators to certify that each designated coal 
mine rescue team meets the requirements of 30 CFR part 49 subpart B.
    30 CFR 75.1713-1 and 77.1702 (Arrangements for emergency medical 
assistance and transportation for injured persons; agreements; 
reporting requirements; posting requirements) require coal mine 
operators to make arrangements for 24-hour emergency medical assistance 
and transportation for injured persons and to post this information at 
appropriate places at the mine, including the names, titles, addresses, 
and telephone numbers of all persons or services currently available 
under those arrangements.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Mine Rescue Teams; Arrangements for Emergency 
Medical Assistance and Transportation for Injured Persons; Agreements; 
Reporting Requirements; Posting Requirements. 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.
    The information collection request will be available on http://www.regulations.gov. MSHA cautions the commenter against providing any 
information in the submission that should not be publicly disclosed. 
Full comments, including personal information provided, will be made 
available on www.regulations.gov and www.reginfo.gov.
    The public may also examine publicly available documents at DOL-
MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street 
South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Sign in at the 
receptionist's desk on the 4th floor via the East elevator. Before 
visiting MSHA in person, call 202-693-9455 to make an appointment, in 
keeping with the Department of Labor's

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COVID-19 policy. Special health precautions may be required.
    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 request for collection of information contains provisions for 
Mine Rescue Teams; Arrangements for Emergency Medical Assistance and 
Transportation for Injured Persons; Agreements; Reporting Requirements; 
Posting Requirements. MSHA has updated the data with respect to the 
number of respondents, responses, burden hours, and burden costs 
supporting this information collection request.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0144.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 362.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 30,463.
    Annual Burden Hours: 5,106 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $265.
    MSHA Forms: MSHA Form 2000-224, Operator's Annual Certification of 
Mine Rescue Team Qualifications And MSHA Form 5000-3, Certificate of 
Physical Qualification for Mine Rescue Work.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-00419 Filed 1-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P