[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17025-17026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05717]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0024]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Application for 
Waiver of Surface Facilities 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 Application for 
Waiver of Surface Facilities Requirements.

DATES: All comments must be received by the Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances on or before May 22, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements 
of this notice may be sent by any of the methods listed below. Please 
note that late, untimely filed comments will not be considered.
     Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket 
number MSHA-2022-0074.
     Mail/Hand Delivery: 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 all comments 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). These are not toll-free numbers.

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 71.400 (Bathing facilities; change rooms; sanitary flush 
toilet facilities), 71.401 (Location of facilities), 71.402 (Minimum 
requirements for bathing facilities, change rooms, and sanitary flush 
toilet facilities) and 75.1712-1 (Availability of surface bathing 
facilities; change rooms; and sanitary facilities), 75.1712-2 (Location 
of surface facilities), 75.1712-3 (Minimum requirements of surface 
bathing facilities, change rooms, and sanitary toilet facilities) 
require coal mine operators to provide bathing facilities, clothing 
change rooms, and sanitary flush toilet facilities in a location that 
is convenient for use of the miners. If the operator is unable to meet 
any or all of the requirements, the operator may apply for a waiver. 
71.403 (Waiver of surface facilities requirements; posting of waiver), 
71.404 (Application for waiver of surface facilities requirements), 
75.1712-4 (Waiver of surface facilities requirements), and 75.1712-5 
(Application for waiver of surface facilities) provide procedures by 
which an operator may apply for and be granted a waiver. Applications 
must be submitted to the MSHA District Manager for the district in 
which the mine is located and must contain the name and address of the 
mine operator, name and location of the mine, and a detailed statement 
of the grounds on which the waiver is requested.
    Waivers for surface mines may be granted by the District Manager 
for a period not to exceed 1 year. If the waiver is granted, surface 
mine operators may apply for annual extensions of the approved waiver. 
Waivers for underground mines may be granted by the District Manager 
for the period of time requested by the underground mine operator as 
long as the circumstances that were used to justify granting the waiver 
remain in effect. Waivers are not transferable to a successor coal mine 
operator.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Application for Waiver of Surface Facilities 
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 https://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

[[Page 17026]]

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 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 CONTACT 
section of this notice.

III. Current Actions

    This request for collection of information contains provisions for 
Application for Waiver of Surface Facilities 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: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0024.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 186.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 186.
    Annual Burden Hours: 74 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $930.
    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, Mine Safety and Health Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-05717 Filed 3-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P