[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3951-3952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01119]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0148]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Proximity Detection 
Systems for Continuous Mining Machines in Underground Coal Mines

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), 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. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments on the information collection for Proximity 
Detection Systems for Continuous Mining Machines in Underground Coal 
Mines.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before March 22, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements 
of this notice may be sent by any of the methods listed below. Please 
note that late comments received after the deadline will not be 
considered.
     Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket 
number MSHA-2023-0057.
     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, 
as amended (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(a), 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 and metal and nonmetal mines.
    Under 30 CFR 75.1732, underground coal mine operators must equip 
continuous mining machines, except full-face continuous mining 
machines, with proximity detection systems. Miners working near 
continuous mining machines face pinning, crushing, and striking hazards 
that result in accidents

[[Page 3952]]

involving life-threatening injuries and death. Proximity detection is a 
technology that uses electronic sensors to detect the motion or the 
location of one object relative to another. Proximity detection systems 
provide a warning and stop continuous mining machines before a pinning, 
crushing, or striking accident occurs that could result in injury or 
death to a miner.
    Under 30 CFR 75.1732(d)(1), at the completion of the check of the 
machine-mounted components of the proximity detection system described 
under 75.1732(c)(1), a certified person must certify by initials, date, 
and time that the check was conducted. The certified person is defined 
under 30 CFR 75.100 as a person who has been certified as a mine 
foreman (mine manager), an assistant mine foreman (section foreman), or 
a preshift examiner (mine examiner). Defects found as a result of the 
check, including corrective actions and dates of corrective actions, 
must be recorded before the end of the shift.
    Under 30 CFR 75.1732(d)(2), the operator must make a record of the 
defects found as a result of the checks of miner-wearable components 
required under 75.1732(c)(2), including corrective actions and dates of 
corrective actions.
    Under 30 CFR 75.1732(d)(3), the operator must make a record of the 
persons trained in the installation and maintenance of proximity 
detection systems under 75.1732(b)(6).
    Under 30 CFR 75.1732(d)(4), the operator must maintain records in a 
secure book or electronically in a secure computer system not 
susceptible to alteration.
    Under 30 CFR 75.1732(d)(5), the operator must retain records for at 
least one year and make them available for inspection by authorized 
representatives of the Secretary and representatives of miners.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Proximity Detection Systems for Continuous Mining 
Machines in 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 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, 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 section of 
this notice.

III. Current Actions

    This information collection request concerns provisions for 
Proximity Detection Systems for Continuous Mining Machines in 
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: 1219-0148.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Annual Respondents: 168.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Number of Annual Responses: 245,337.
    Annual Burden Hours: 697 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included 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 be available at https://www.reginfo.gov.

Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer, Mine Safety and Health Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-01119 Filed 1-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P