[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 158 (Thursday, August 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66453-66454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18184]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0096]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Underground Retorts

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 request for comment 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 request 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 entitled Underground 
Retorts.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before October 15, 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-2024-0013.
     Mail/Hand Delivery: DOL-MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, 4th Floor West, 
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 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(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, metal, and 
nonmetal mines.
    In order to fulfill the statutory mandates to promote miners' 
health and safety, MSHA requires the collection of information entitled 
Underground Retorts. The information collection addressed by this 
notice is intended to ensure that combustible gases at underground oil 
shale mines are kept at acceptable levels and do not expose miners to 
explosive or other hazardous conditions.
    Title 30 CFR 57.22401 sets forth safety requirements for using a 
retort to extract oil from shale in underground metal and nonmetal I-A 
and I-B mines (mines that operate in a combustible ore and either 
liberate methane or have the potential to liberate methane based on the 
history of the mine or the geological area in which the mine is 
located). Prior to ignition of underground retorts, mine operators must 
submit a written ignition operation plan to the MSHA District Manager 
for the area where the mine is located. The ignition operation plan 
must contain site-specific safeguards and safety procedures for the 
underground areas of the mine which are affected by the retorts. The 
required contents listed in 30 CFR 57.22401(b) include:
    (1) Acceptable levels of combustible gases and oxygen in retort 
off-gases during start-up and during burning; levels at which 
corrective action will be initiated; levels at which personnel will be 
removed from the retort areas, from the mine, and from endangered 
surface areas; and the conditions for reentering the mine;
    (2) Specifications and locations of off-gas monitoring procedures 
and equipment;
    (3) Specifications for construction of retort bulkheads and seals, 
and their locations;
    (4) Procedures for ignition of a retort and for reignition 
following a shutdown; and
    (5) Details of area monitoring and alarm systems for hazardous 
gases and

[[Page 66454]]

actions to be taken to ensure safety of personnel.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Underground Retorts. 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 https://www.regulations.gov and https://www.reginfo.gov.
    The public may also examine publicly available documents at DOL-
MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, 201 12th Street 
South, 4th Floor West, Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Sign in at the 
receptionist's desk on the 4th Floor via the West 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 
Underground Retorts. MSHA has updated the data with respect to the 
number of respondents, responses, time burden, 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: 1219-0096.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Annual Respondents: 1.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Annual Responses: 1.
    Annual Time Burden: 160 hours.
    Annual Other Burden Costs: $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. 2024-18184 Filed 8-14-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P