[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 126 (Thursday, July 3, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29585-29587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-12440]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0020]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Operations Mining
Under a Body of Water
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 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
[[Page 29586]]
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 ``Operations Mining Under a Body of
Water.''
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-2025-0051.
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) 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 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.
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 mandates to promote miners' health and
safety, MSHA requires the information collected under the information
collection request (ICR) titled ``Operations Mining Under a Body of
Water.'' This information collection is intended to ensure that
underground coal mine operators apply for a permit before mining under
bodies of water. MSHA reviews mine operators' applications and issues
permits to protect miners from hazards such as flooding, cave-ins, and
drowning.
Burden Costs Associated With This ICR Include:
1. Mine operators preparing and submitting applications for permits
to work under a body of water; and
2. MSHA reviewing applications and issuing permits to work under a
body of water.
Authorization and the associated rule text are described below.
1. Mine Operators Preparing and Submitting Applications for Permits To
Work Under a Body of Water (30 CFR 75.1716-1, 75.1716-2, and 75.1716-3)
Under 30 CFR 75.1716-1, whenever an operator plans to mine coal
from a coal mine opened after March 30, 1970, or from any working
section in a mine opened prior to such date, and in such manner that
mining operations will be conducted, or tunnels constructed, under any
river, stream, lake, or other body of water, the coal mine operator
must give notice to the District Manager prior to the commencement of
coal mining operations.
Under 30 CFR 75.1716-2, if in the judgment of the District Manager
the proposed mining operations constitute a hazard to miners, the
District Manager must promptly notify the operator that a permit is
required.
Under 30 CFR 75.1716-3, an application for a permit must be filed
with the District Manager and must contain the following general
information:
(a) Name and address of the company.
(b) Name and address of the mine.
(c) Projected mining and ground support plans.
(d) A mine map showing the location of the river, stream, lake, or
other body of water and its relation to the location of all working
places.
(e) A profile map showing the type of strata and the distance in
elevation between the coal bed and the river, stream, lake or other
body of water involved. The type of strata will be determined by core
test drill holes as prescribed by the District Manager.
2. MSHA Reviewing Applications and Issuing Permits To Work Under a Body
of Water (30 CFR 75.1716-4)
Under 30 CFR 75.1716-4, if the District Manager determines that the
proposed mining operations under water can be safely conducted, the
District Manager must issue a permit for conducting the proposed mining
operations under the terms and conditions deemed necessary to protect
the safety of miners engaged in operations.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection titled ``Operations Mining Under a Body of Water.'' 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 ICR is available on https://www.regulations.gov. MSHA cautions
commenters against providing any information in their 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
[[Page 29587]]
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 ICR may be directed to the person listed in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of this notice.
III. Current Actions
This ICR concerns provisions for Operations Mining Under a Body of
Water. MSHA has updated the data with respect to the number of
respondents, responses, time burden, and burden costs supporting this
ICR 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: 1219-0020.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit entity.
Number of Annual Respondents: 99.
Frequency: On Occasion.
Number of Annual Responses: 50.
Annual Time Burden: 275 hours.
Annual Other Burden Costs: $300.
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 ICR; 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. 2025-12440 Filed 7-2-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P