[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88970-88971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28354]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Sealing of Abandoned Areas

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Mine Safety 
and Health Administration (MSHA)-sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that the agency 
receives on or before January 25, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Howell by telephone at 202-
693-6782, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MSHA's standards for sealing abandoned areas 
in underground coal mines includes requirements covering the design and 
construction of new seals and the maintenance and repair of all seals. 
Miners rely on seals to protect them from the hazardous, and sometimes 
explosive, environments within the sealed area. MSHA inspectors use the 
records to determine that tests and examinations, required by the 
standards, are being done correctly. Records collected under these 
standards

[[Page 88971]]

will help ensure that the construction and maintenance of seals are 
done correctly, certified persons conducting sampling in sealed areas 
are adequately trained, and results from sampling in sealed areas are 
recorded, so that problems can be identified and corrected. For 
additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related 
notice published in the Federal Register on August 4, 2023 (88 FRN 
51859).
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless the OMB approves it and displays a currently valid 
OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions 
of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to 
comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid 
OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    Agency: DOL-MSHA.
    Title of Collection: Sealing of Abandoned Areas.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0142.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profits.
    Number of Respondents: 166.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 44,626.
    Annual Burden Hours: 4,570 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $799,282.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D))

Michael Howell,
Senior Paperwork Reduction Act Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2023-28354 Filed 12-22-23; 8:45 am]
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