[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68469-68471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19016]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0004]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Roof Control Plan 
for 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 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 Roof Control 
Plan for Underground Coal Mines.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before October 25, 2024.

[[Page 68470]]


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-2024-0012.
     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

A. Legal Authority

    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.
    Section 302(a) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 862, requires that a roof 
control plan and revisions thereof suitable to the roof conditions and 
mining system of each underground coal mine be first approved by the 
Secretary before implementation by the operator. The plan must show the 
type of support and spacing approved by the Secretary, and the plan 
must be reviewed at least every 6 months by the Secretary.

B. Information Collection

    In order to fulfill the statutory mandates to promote miners' 
health and safety, MSHA requires the collection of information entitled 
Roof Control Plan for Underground Coal Mines. The information 
collection is intended to ensure that underground coal mine operators 
develop and maintain roof control plans approved by MSHA.
1. New Roof Control Plans and Revisions
    Under 30 CFR 75.215, the roof control plan for each longwall mining 
section is required to specify the methods that will be used to 
maintain a safe travelway out of the section through the tailgate side 
of the longwall and the procedures that will be followed if a ground 
failure prevents travel out of the section through the tailgate side of 
the longwall.
    Under 30 CFR 75.220(a)(1), each underground coal mine operator must 
develop and follow a roof control plan, approved by the District 
Manager, that is suitable to the prevailing geological conditions and 
the mining system to be used at the mine. The standard also requires 
that additional measures be taken to protect persons if unusual hazards 
are encountered.
    Under 30 CFR 75.220(a)(2), the proposed roof control plan and any 
revisions must be submitted, in writing, to the District Manager. The 
required elements of the mine map are listed in 30 CFR 75.221(a), 
including a description and drawings of the sequence of installation 
and spacing of supports, a description of the methods to be used for 
the protection of persons from falling material, and a description of 
the roof and rib support for refuge alternatives.
    Under 30 CFR 75.223(a), a mine operator must propose revisions to 
the roof control plan when conditions indicate that the plan is not 
suitable for controlling the roof, face, ribs, or coal or rock bursts, 
or when accident and injury experience at the mine indicates the plan 
is inadequate. The mine operator is required to review accident and 
injury experience at each mine at least every six months.
2. Unplanned Roof or Rib Fall and Coal or Rock Burst
    Under 30 CFR 75.223(b), underground coal mine operators are 
required to plot each unplanned roof fall and rib fall and coal or rock 
burst that occurs in the active workings on a mine map when certain 
criteria are met.
3. Records
    Under 30 CFR 75.220(e), the approved roof control plan and any 
revisions must be available to the miners and their representatives.
    Under 30 CFR 75.223(c), the mine map on which roof falls are 
plotted must be available at the mine site for inspection by MSHA and 
miners' representatives.
4. Plan Review and Approval
    Under 30 CFR 75.220(b)(1), the mine operator will be notified in 
writing of the approval or denial of approval of a proposed roof 
control plan or proposed revision. Under 30 CFR 75.220(b)(2), when MSHA 
denies the approval of a proposed plan or revision, the deficiencies of 
the plan or revision and recommended changes are specified and the mine 
operator will have an opportunity to discuss the deficiencies and 
changes with the District Manager.
    Roof control plans, and revisions to those plans, are evaluated by 
MSHA specialists in accordance with the criteria set forth in 30 CFR 
75.222. Under 30 CFR 75.222(a), the District Manager may require 
additional measures in plans and may approve roof control plans that do 
not conform to the applicable criteria, provided that effective control 
of the roof, face, and ribs can be maintained.
    Under 30 CFR 75.223(d), MSHA must review the roof control plan 
every six months. This review requires MSHA to take into consideration 
any falls of the roof, face, and ribs and the adequacy of the support 
systems used at the time.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Roof Control Plan for 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 https://www.regulations.gov. MSHA cautions commenters against providing any

[[Page 68471]]

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 Roof 
Control Plan for Underground Coal Mines. 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: 1219-0004.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Annual Respondents: 167.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Annual Responses: 1,019.
    Annual Time Burden: 2,974 hours.
    Annual Other Burden Costs: $3,396.
    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. 2024-19016 Filed 8-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P