Notice2024-18181
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Notification of Methane Detected in Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 15, 2024
Issuing agencies
Labor DepartmentMine Safety and Health Administration
Abstract
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 Notification of Methane Detected in Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 158 (Thursday, August 15, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 158 (Thursday, August 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66454-66455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18181]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0103]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Notification of
Methane Detected in Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres
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 Notification
of Methane Detected in Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres.
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.
<bullet> Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket
number MSHA-2024-0016.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> MSHA will post all comments 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, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cd809e858ce3a4a3aba2bfa0acb9a4a2a3e3aea2a1a1a8aeb9a4a2a3be8da9a2a1e3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d499879c95fabdbab2bba6b9b5a0bdbbbafab7bbb8b8b1b7a0bdbbbaa794b0bbb8fab3bba2">[email protected]</span></a> (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 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 fulfil the statutory mandates to protect miners' health
and safety, MSHA requires the collection of information entitled
Notification of Methane Detected in Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mine
Atmospheres. The information collection addressed by this notice is
intended to ensure that all underground mines, and the surface mills of
Subcategory I-C mines (gilsonite), protect miners against the hazards
of methane and dusts containing volatile matter.
Methane is a flammable gas found in underground mines in the United
States. Although methane is often associated with underground coal
mines, it also occurs in some metal and nonmetal (MNM) mines. Under 30
CFR
[[Page 66455]]
57.22003, underground MNM mines are categorized according to the
potential to liberate methane. Methane is a colorless, odorless,
tasteless gas, and it tends to rise to the roof of a mine because it is
lighter than air. Although methane itself is nontoxic, its presence
reduces the oxygen content by dilution when mixed with air and,
consequently, can act as an asphyxiant when present in large
quantities. Methane may enter the mining environment from a variety of
sources including fractures, faults, or shear zones overlying or
underlying the strata that surround the ore body, or from the ore body
itself. It may occur as an occluded gas within the ore body. Methane
mixed with air is explosive in the range of 5 to 15 percent, provided
that 12 percent or more oxygen is present at room temperature. The
presence of dust containing volatile matter in the mine atmosphere may
further elevate the explosive potential of methane in a mine. Section
103(i) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 813(i), requires additional
inspections to be conducted at mines depending on the amount of methane
liberated from a mine.
i. Notifications to MSHA
Under 30 CFR 57.22004(c), mine operators of underground MNM mines
must notify MSHA as soon as possible if any of the following events
occur: (a) there is an outburst that results in 0.25 percent or more
methane in the mine atmosphere, (b) there is a blowout that results in
0.25 percent or more methane in the mine atmosphere, (c) there is an
ignition of methane, or (d) air sample results indicate 0.25 percent or
more methane in the mine atmosphere of a I-B, I-C, II-B, V-B, or
Category VI mine.
Under 30 CFR 57.22231 and 57.22239, mine operators must notify MSHA
immediately if methane reaches 2.0 percent in a Category IV mine or if
methane reaches 0.25 percent in the mine atmosphere of a Subcategory I-
B, II-B, V-B, or VI mine as defined in section 57.22003. Under 30 CFR
57.22231, underground MNM mine operators are required to make changes
to improve ventilation if methane reaches 0.25 percent in the mine
atmosphere. Under 30 CFR 57.22239, if methane reaches 2.0 percent in
the mine atmosphere, mine operators are required to withdraw all
persons, other than competent persons necessary to make ventilation
changes, from the mine until methane is reduced to less than 0.5
percent in a Category IV mine. Although the standards do not specify
how MSHA is to be notified, MSHA anticipates that the notifications
would be made by telephone.
ii. Records of Weekly Certification
Under 30 CFR 57.22229(a) and 57.22230(a), the mine atmosphere must
be tested for methane and/or carbon dioxide at least once every seven
days by a competent person or atmospheric monitoring system, or a
combination of both. Under 30 CFR 57.2229, underground MNM mines
categorized as I-A, III, and V-A mines are required to test the
atmosphere for both methane and carbon dioxide. Under 30 CFR 57.22230,
underground MNM mines categorized as II-A mines are required to test
the atmosphere for methane. Under 30 CFR 57.22229(d) and 57.22230(c),
the person performing the tests must certify by signature and date that
the tests have been conducted. Certifications of examinations shall be
kept for at least one year and made available to authorized
representatives of the Secretary.
iii. Informing All Affected Miners
Under 30 CFR 57.22229(c) and 57.22230(b), mine operators must
inform affected miners and take corrective actions when examinations
disclose hazardous conditions.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection related to Notification of Methane Detected in Underground
Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres. 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 of
the collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
<bullet> Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected; and
<bullet> 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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. 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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov">https://www.reginfo.gov</a>.
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 CONTACT
section of this notice.
III. Current Actions
This information collection request concerns provisions for
Notification of Methane Detected in Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mine
Atmospheres. 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: 1219-0103.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Annual Respondents: 4.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Annual Responses: 213.
Annual Time Burden: 18 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 <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov">https://www.reginfo.gov</a>.
Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer, Mine Safety and Health Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-18181 Filed 8-14-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
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