[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 126 (Thursday, July 3, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29579-29581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-12437]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0140]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection: High-Voltage
Continuous Mining Machine Standards for Underground Coal Mines
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-
clearance consultation program for all information collections to
provide the 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 titled ``High-Voltage Continuous Mining Machine Standards
for Underground Coal Mines.''
DATES: All comments must be received on or before September 2, 2025.
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-2025-0038.
Mail/Hand Delivery: DOL-MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room C3522,
Washington, DC 20210. Before visiting MSHA in person, call 202-693-9455
to make an appointment.
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: Jessica Senk, Acting Director, Office
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at
[email protected] (email); (202) 693-9440 (voice);
or (202)
[[Page 29580]]
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
(Mine Act), as amended, 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, metal and nonmetal mines.
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) governs paperwork burdens
imposed on the public by Federal agencies for using identical questions
to collect information from 10 or more persons. The PRA defines
paperwork burden in 44 U.S.C. 3502(2) as time, effort, or financial
resources expended to generate, maintain, or provide information to or
for a Federal agency. Under 44 U.S.C. 3507, the PRA also establishes
policies and procedures of information collection for controlling
paperwork burdens imposed by Federal agencies on the public, including
evaluating public comments.
B. Information Collection
To fulfill its statutory mandate to promote miners' health and
safety, MSHA requires information under the information collection
request (ICR) titled ``High-Voltage Continuous Mining Machine Standards
for Underground Coal Mines.'' The information collection is intended to
ensure that underground coal mine operators conduct necessary
examinations and tests relating to hazardous conditions encountered by
miners working with and around high-voltage continuous mining machines
(HVCMMs). The records of these examinations and tests are critical to
decisions that impact the health and safety of miners working with and
around HVCMMs.
Requirements in 30 CFR part 75 provide for the safe use of HVCMMs
for those underground coal mine operators that choose to use an HVCMM.
These requirements for examination, maintenance, and recordkeeping on
HVCMMs reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock, ignition, and other
operational hazards.
Burden costs associated with the ICR include:
(i) Examinations and corrective actions prior to tramming HVCMM in
and out of the mine and from section to section;
(ii) Locking out and tagging of high-voltage trailing cables; and
(iii) Examinations, corrective actions, and recordkeeping of
HVCMMs.
Authorization and the associated rule text are described below.
1. Examinations and Corrective Actions Prior to Tramming HVCMMs In and
Out of the Mine and From Section to Section
Under 30 CFR 75.829(b)(1), prior to tramming the HVCMM, a qualified
person must activate the ground-fault and ground-wire monitor test
circuits of the power sources (medium-voltage power source and step-up
transformer) to assure that the corresponding circuit-interrupting
device opens the circuit. Corrective actions and recordkeeping
resulting from these tests must be in accordance with paragraphs
75.832(f) and (g).
Under 30 CFR 75.829(b)(2), prior to tramming the HVCMM and where
applicable, a person designated by the mine operator must activate the
test circuit for the grounded-phase detection circuit on the HVCMM to
assure that the detection circuit is functioning properly. Corrective
actions resulting from these tests must be in accordance with paragraph
75.832(f).
Under 30 CFR 75.832(f), when examinations or tests of equipment
reveal a risk of fire, electrical shock, ignition, or operational
hazard, the equipment must be immediately removed from service or
repaired.
Under 30 CFR 75.832(g)(1), at the completion of examinations
required for HVCMMs under 30 CFR 75.832(a), ground-fault test circuit
verification under 30 CFR 75.832(b), and ground-wire monitor
examinations and tests under 30 CFR 75.832(c), the person conducting
the examinations and tests must:
(i) Certify by signature and date that the examinations and tests
have been conducted.
(ii) Make a record of any unsafe condition found.
Under 30 CFR 75.832(g)(2), any corrective actions must be recorded
by the person taking the corrective action.
Under 30 CFR 75.832(g)(3), these records must be countersigned by
the mine foreman or equivalent mine official by the end of the mine
foreman's or equivalent mine official's next regularly scheduled
working shift.
Under 30 CFR 75.832(g)(4), records must be maintained in a secure
book that is not susceptible to alteration or electronically in a
computer system that is secure and not susceptible to alteration.
Under 30 CFR 75.832(g)(5), certifications and records must be kept
for at least 1 year and must be made available for inspection by
authorized representatives of the Secretary and representatives of
miners.
2. Locking Out and Tagging of High-Voltage Trailing Cables
Under 30 CFR 75.831(a), prior to performing electrical work, other
than troubleshooting and testing, on the high-voltage trailing cable or
HVCMM, a qualified person must de-energize the power center and follow
procedures specified:
(i) If a trailing cable disconnecting switch is provided:
(a) Open and ground the power conductors, lock out and tag the
disconnecting switch; and
(b) Lock out and tag the plug to the power receptacle.
(ii) If a trailing cable disconnecting switch is not provided and a
cable coupler is used as a disconnecting device:
(a) Remove the plug from the power receptacle and connect it to the
grounding receptacle;
(b) Lock out and tag the plug to the grounding receptacle; and
(c) Place a dust cover over the power receptacle.
Under 30 CFR 75.831(b), during troubleshooting and testing, the de-
energized high-voltage cable may be disconnected from the power center
only for that period of time necessary to locate the defective
condition. Prior to troubleshooting and testing trailing cables, a
qualified person must perform the following:
(i) If a trailing cable disconnecting switch is provided:
(a) Open and ground power conductors and lock out and tag the
disconnecting switch;
(b) Disconnect the plug from the power receptacle;
(c) Lock out and tag the plug; and
(d) Place a dust cover over the power receptacle.
(ii) If a trailing cable disconnecting switch is not provided and a
cable coupler is used as a disconnecting device:
(a) Remove the plug from the power receptacle and connect it to the
grounding receptacle to ground the power conductors;
(b) Remove the plug from the grounding receptacle and install a
lock and tag on the plug; and
(c) Place a dust cover over the power receptacle.
Under 30 CFR 75.831(d), before any work is performed inside any
[[Page 29581]]
compartment of the power center, except for troubleshooting and testing
energized circuits as specified in 30 CFR 75.831(c) regarding
troubleshooting and testing limitations, a qualified person must:
(i) De-energize affected circuits;
(ii) Open the corresponding disconnecting switch, lock it out, and
tag it to assure the circuit is isolated;
(iii) Visually verify that the contacts of the disconnecting switch
are open and grounded; and
(iv) Discharge all high-voltage capacitors and circuits.
Under 30 CFR 75.831(e)(1), when more than one qualified person is
performing electrical work, including troubleshooting and testing, each
person must install an individual lock and tag. Each lock and tag must
be removed only by the persons who installed them.
Under 30 CFR 75.831(e)(2), if the person who installed the lock and
tag is unavailable, the lock and tag may be removed by a person
authorized by the operator, provided that:
(i) The authorized person is a qualified person; and
(ii) The mine operator assures that the person who installed the
lock and tag is aware that the lock and tag have been removed.
3. Examinations, Corrective Actions, and Recordkeeping of HVCMMs
A. Examinations and Tests
Under 30 CFR 75.832(a), at least once every 7 days, a qualified
person must examine each HVCMM to verify that electrical protection,
equipment grounding, permissibility, cable insulation, and control
devices are properly installed and maintained.
Under 30 CFR 75.832(b), at least once every 7 days, and prior to
tramming the HVCMM, a qualified person must activate the ground-fault
test circuit to verify that it will cause the corresponding circuit-
interrupting device to open.
Under 30 CFR 75.832(c), at least once every 7 days, and prior to
tramming the HVCMM, a qualified person must examine and test each HVCMM
ground-wire monitor circuit to verify that it will cause the
corresponding circuit-interrupting device to open.
Under 30 CFR 75.832(d)(1), once each day during the shift that the
HVCMM is first energized, a qualified person must de-energize and
inspect the entire length of the high-voltage trailing cable from the
power center to the HVCMM. The inspection must include examination of
the outer jacket repairs and splices for damage, and assure guarding is
provided where required.
Under 30 CFR 75.832(d)(2), at the beginning of each shift that the
HVCMM is energized, a person designated by the mine operator must de-
energize and visually inspect the high-voltage trailing cable for
damage to the outer jacket. This inspection must be conducted from the
HVCMM to the following locations:
(i) The last open crosscut;
(ii) Within 150 feet of the working place during retreat or second
mining; or
(iii) Up to 150 feet from the HVCMM when the machine is used in
outby areas.
Under 30 CFR 75.832(e), when a grounded-phase test circuit is
provided on an HVCMM, a person designated by the mine operator must
activate the test circuit at the beginning of each production shift to
assure that the detection circuit is functioning properly.
B. Corrective Actions
Under 30 CFR 75.832(f), when examinations or tests of equipment
reveal a risk of fire, electrical shock, ignition, or operational
hazard, the equipment must be immediately removed from service or
repaired.
C. Certification and Recordkeeping
Results of examinations, tests, and corrective actions are recorded
under 30 CFR 75.832(g).
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection titled ``High-Voltage Continuous Mining Machine Standards
for Underground Coal Mines.'' MSHA is particularly interested in
comments that:
Evaluate whether the information collection 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 information collection, 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 information collection 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, 200 Constitution
Avenue NW, Room C3522, Washington, DC 20210. Before visiting MSHA in
person, call 202-693-9455 to make an appointment.
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 High-
Voltage Continuous Mining Machine Standards 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: 1219-0140.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit entity.
Number of Annual Respondents: 3.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Annual Responses: 4,070.
Annual Time Burden: 124 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.
Jessica Senk,
Certifying Officer, Mine Safety and Health Administration.
[FR Doc. 2025-12437 Filed 7-2-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P