Notice2021-26726
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Records of Preshift and Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas at Coal Mines
Primary source
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Published
December 10, 2021
Issuing agencies
Labor DepartmentMine Safety and Health Administration
Abstract
The Department of Labor, 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. Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments on the information collection for Records of Preshift and Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas of Slope and Shaft Sinking Operations at Coal Mines (pertains slope and shaft sinking operations at coal mines).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 235 (Friday, December 10, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 235 (Friday, December 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70536-70537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26726]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0082]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Records of Preshift
and Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas at Coal Mines
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, 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.
Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is
soliciting comments on the information collection for Records of
Preshift and Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas of Slope and
Shaft Sinking Operations at Coal Mines (pertains slope and shaft
sinking operations at coal mines).
DATES: All comments must be received on or before February 8, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comment as follows. Please note that late,
untimely filed comments will not be considered.
Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments in the following
way:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments for MSHA-2021-0035.
Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> will be posted to the docket, with no changes.
Because your comment will be made public, you are responsible for
ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential
information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such
as your or anyone else's Social Security number or confidential
business information.
<bullet> If your comment includes confidential information that you
do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a
written/paper submission.
Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the
following way:
<bullet> Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit 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.
<bullet> MSHA will post your comment as well as any attachments,
except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in the
docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. Aromie Noe, Acting Director, Office
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#59140a11187730373f362b34382d303637773a3635353c3a2d3036372a193d3635773e362f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d598869d94fbbcbbb3baa7b8b4a1bcbabbfbb6bab9b9b0b6a1bcbabba695b1bab9fbb2baa3">[email protected]</span></a>
[[Page 70537]]
(email); (202) 693-9440 (voice); or (202) 693-9441 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
(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 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.
The sinking of slopes and shafts is a particularly hazardous
operation where conditions change drastically in short periods of time.
Explosive methane and other harmful gases can be expected to infiltrate
the work environment at any time. The working environment is typically
a confined area in close proximity to moving equipment. Accordingly, 30
CFR 77.1901 requires operators to examine slope and shaft areas for
hazardous conditions, including tests for methane and oxygen
deficiency, within 90 minutes before each shift, once during each shift
when employees are inside any slope or shaft during development, and
before and after blasting. The surface area surrounding each slope and
shaft is also required to be inspected for hazards.
The standard also requires that a record be kept of the results of
the inspections. The record includes a description of any hazardous
condition found and the corrective action taken to abate it. The record
is necessary to ensure that the inspections and tests are conducted in
a timely fashion and that corrective action is taken when hazardous
conditions are identified, thereby ensuring a safe working environment
for the slope and shaft sinking employees. The record is maintained at
the mine site for the duration of the operation.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection related to Records of Preshift and Onshift Inspections of
Slope and Shaft Areas of Slope and Shaft Sinking Operations at Coal
Mines (pertains slope and shaft sinking operations at coal mines). MSHA
is particularly interested in comments that:
<bullet> 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;
<bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA's estimate of the burden
related to the information collection, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used in the estimate;
<bullet> Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected; and
<bullet> 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.
Background documents related to this information collection request
are available at <a href="https://regulations.gov">https://regulations.gov</a> and at DOL-MSHA located at 201
12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Questions
about the information collection requirements may be directed to the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: section of this
notice.
III. Current Actions
This information collection request concerns provisions for records
of preshift and onshift inspections of slope and shaft areas at 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: 1219-0082.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 15.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Responses: 6,600.
Annual Burden Hours: 8,250 hours.
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $0.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 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 will be available at <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov">https://www.reginfo.gov</a>.
Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-26726 Filed 12-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.