[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 140 (Monday, July 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47520-47521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15583]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0116]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Examinations and 
Testing of Electrical Equipment, Including Examination, Testing, and 
Maintenance of High Voltage Longwalls

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. Mine 
Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments on the 
information collection for Examinations and Testing of Electrical 
Equipment, Including Examination, Testing, and Maintenance of High 
Voltage Longwalls.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before September 22, 2023.

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 E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket 
number MSHA-2023-xxxx.
     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). This not a toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act) (Pub. L. 91-173, as amended by Pub. L. 95-164), 30 U.S.C. 
813(h), authorizes the Mine Safety and Health Administration (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 or other mines.
    Inadequate maintenance of electric equipment is a major cause of 
serious electrical accidents in the coal mining industry. It is 
imperative that mine operators adopt and follow an effective 
maintenance program to ensure that electric equipment is maintained in 
a safe operating condition to prevent electrocutions, mine fires, and 
mine explosions. MSHA regulations require the mine operator to 
establish an electrical maintenance program by specifying minimum 
requirements for the examination, testing, and maintenance of electric 
equipment. The regulations also contain recordkeeping requirements that 
help operators in implementing an effective maintenance program.

(a) Examinations of Electric Equipment

 Underground Coal Mines
    (1) 30 CFR 75.512 requires that all electric equipment be 
frequently examined, tested, and maintained by a qualified person to 
assure safe operating conditions. When a potentially dangerous 
condition is found on electric equipment, such equipment shall be 
removed from service until such condition is corrected and that a 
record of such examinations be kept. 30 CFR 75.512-2 specifies that 
required examinations and tests be made at least weekly.
    (2) 30 CFR 75.703-3(d)(11) requires that all grounding diodes be 
tested, examined, and maintained as electric equipment and records of 
these activities be kept in accordance with the provisions of 30 CFR 
75.512.
 Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal 
Mines
    (3) 30 CFR 77.502 requires that electric equipment be frequently 
examined, tested, and maintained by a qualified person to ensure safe 
operating conditions. When a potentially dangerous condition is found 
on electric equipment, such equipment shall be removed from service 
until such condition is corrected and that a record of such 
examinations be kept. 30 CFR 77.502-2 requires these examinations and 
tests at least monthly.

(b) Examinations of High-Voltage Circuit Breakers

 Underground Coal Mines
    (1) 30 CFR 75.800 requires that circuit breakers protecting high-
voltage circuits, which enter the underground area of a coal mine, be 
properly tested and maintained as prescribed by the Secretary. Such 
breakers must be equipped with devices to provide protection against 
under-voltage grounded phase, short circuit, and overcurrent. 30 CFR 
75.800-3 requires that such circuit breakers be tested and examined at 
least once each month. Tests must include: (1) Breaking continuity of 
the ground check conductor, where ground check monitoring is used; and 
(2) Actuating at least two (2) of the auxiliary protective relays. 
Examination must include visual observation of all components of the 
circuit breaker and its auxiliary devices, and such repairs or 
adjustments as are indicated by such tests and examinations shall be 
carried out immediately. 30 CFR 75.800-4 requires that a record of the 
examinations and tests be made. These records must be made in a secure 
book that is not susceptible to alteration or electronically in a 
computer system so as to be secure and not susceptible to alteration. 
These records shall be retained at a surface location at the mine for 
at least one year and shall be made available to authorized 
representatives of the Secretary, the representative of miners, and 
other interested persons.
    (2) 30 CFR 75.820 requires persons to lock-out and tag 
disconnecting devices when working on circuits and

[[Page 47521]]

equipment associated with high-voltage longwalls.
    (3) 30 CFR 75.821(a) requires testing and examination of each unit 
of high-voltage longwall equipment and circuits to determine that 
electrical protection, equipment grounding, permissibility, cable 
insulation, and control devices are being properly maintained to 
prevent fire, electrical shock, ignition, or operational hazards. These 
tests and examinations, including the activation of the ground-fault 
test circuit, are required once every seven days. 30 CFR 75.821(b) 
requires that each ground-wire monitor and associated circuits be 
examined and tested at least once every 30 days. 30 CFR 75.821(d) 
requires that, at the completion of examinations and tests, the person 
making the examinations and tests must certify that they have been 
conducted. In addition, a record must be made of any unsafe condition 
found and any corrective action taken. These certifications and records 
must be kept at least 1 year.
 Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal 
Mines
    (4) 30 CFR 77.800 requires that circuit breakers protecting high-
voltage portable or mobile equipment be properly tested and maintained. 
30 CFR 77.800-1 requires that such circuit breakers be tested and 
examined at least once each month by a person qualified as provided in 
77.103. Tests must include: (1) Breaking continuity of the ground check 
conductor where ground check monitoring is used; and (2) Actuating any 
of the auxiliary protective relays. Examination must include visual 
observation of all components of the circuit breaker and its auxiliary 
devices, and such repairs or adjustments as are indicated by such tests 
and examinations shall be carried out immediately. 30 CFR 77.800-2 
requires a record of each test, examination, repair, or adjustment of 
all circuit breakers protecting high-voltage circuits. Such record must 
be kept in a book approved by the Secretary.

(c) Examinations of Low- and Medium-Voltage Circuits

 Underground Coal Mines
    (1) 30 CFR 75.900 requires that circuit breakers protecting low- 
and medium-voltage power circuits serving three-phase alternating-
current equipment be properly tested and maintained. 30 CFR 75.900-3 
requires that such circuit breakers be tested and examined at least 
once each month by a person qualified as provided in 75.153. 30 CFR 
75.900-4 requires the operator of any coal mine shall maintain a 
written record of each test, examination, repair, or adjustment of all 
circuit breakers protecting low- and medium-voltage circuits serving 
three-phase alternating current equipment used in the mine. Such record 
shall be kept in a book approved by the Secretary.
 Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal 
Mines
    (2) 30 CFR 77.900 requires that circuit breakers protecting low- 
and medium-voltage circuits which supply power to portable or mobile 
three-phase alternating-current equipment be properly tested and 
maintained. 30 CFR 77.900-1 requires that such circuit breakers be 
tested and examined at least once each month by a person qualified as 
provided in 77.103. 30 CFR 77.900-2 requires that a record of the 
examinations and tests be made.

(d) Tests and Calibrations of Automatic Circuit Interrupting Devices

    30 CFR 75.1001-1(b) requires that automatic circuit interrupting 
devices that protect trolley wires and trolley feeder wires be tested 
and calibrated at intervals not to exceed 6 months. An authorized 
representative of the Secretary may require additional testing or 
calibration of these devices. 30 CFR 75.1001-1(c) requires that a 
record of the tests and calibrations be kept.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Examinations and Testing of Electrical Equipment, 
Including Examination, Testing, and Maintenance of High Voltage 
Longwalls. 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 USDOL-
Mine Safety and Health Administration, 201 12th 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 section of 
this notice.

III. Current Actions

    This information collection request concerns provisions for 
Examinations and Testing of Electrical Equipment, Including 
Examination, Testing, and Maintenance of High Voltage Longwalls. 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: 1219-0116.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Annual Respondents: 755.
    Number of Annual Responses: 359,146.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Annual Burden Hours: 67,313 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.

Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer, Mine Safety and Health Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-15583 Filed 7-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P