Notice2024-24500
Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Safety Standards for Roof Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines and Underground Coal Mines
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
October 23, 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 consultation program 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 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 entitled Safety Standards for Roof Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines and Underground Coal Mines.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84627-84629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24500]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0121]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Safety Standards
for Roof Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines and 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 consultation program 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 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 entitled Safety
Standards for Roof Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines and Underground
Coal Mines.
DATES: All comments must be received on or before December 23, 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-2024-0026.
<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.
<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#de938d969ff0b7b0b8b1acb3bfaab7b1b0f0bdb1b2b2bbbdaab7b1b0ad9ebab1b2f0b9b1a8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b1608131a7532353d3429363a2f32343575383437373e382f323435281b3f3437753c342d">[email protected]</span></a> (email); (202) 693-9440 (voice);
or (202) 693-9441 (facsimile). These are not toll-free numbers.
[[Page 84628]]
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.
B. Information Collection
In order to fulfill the statutory mandates to promote miners'
health and safety, MSHA requires the collection of information under
the information collection request entitled Safety Standards for Roof
Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines and Underground Coal Mines. The
information collection is intended to ensure that mine roof, face, and
rib are adequately supported and that ground control systems are
effective.
Accidents involving falls of mine roof, face, and rib in
underground mines or falls of highwall in surface mines, historically,
have been among the leading causes of injuries and deaths. Preventing
or controlling roof, face, or rib falls is uniquely difficult because
of the variety of conditions encountered in mines that can affect the
stability of various types of strata. Additionally, the nature of the
forces affecting ground stability at any given operation and time are
constantly changing. Roof and rock bolts and accessories are integral
parts of ground control systems and are used to prevent the fall of
roof, face, and rib. Advancements in the technology of roof and rock
bolts and accessories have aided in reducing the hazards associated
with falls of roof, face, and rib.
1. Providing Manufacturers' Certifications
It is necessary to ensure that roof and rock bolts and accessories
are up to safety standards as they are imperative to protecting miners'
safety and health. Under 30 CFR 56.3203, 57.3203 and 75.204, the
quality of roof and rock bolts and accessories and their installation
are addressed.
These provisions incorporate by reference the American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM) F432-95 entitled ``Standard Specification
for Roof and Rock Bolts and Accessories.'' This ASTM standard, a
consensus standard used throughout the United States, contains
specifications for the chemical, mechanical, and dimensional
requirements for roof and rock bolts and accessories used for ground
support systems. These regulations ensure the quality and effectiveness
of roof and rock bolts and accessories and, as technology evolves,
allow for the use of new materials which are proven to be reliable and
effective in controlling the mine roof, face, and rib.
1-1. MNM Mines
Roof and rock bolts and accessories must be certified to the ASTM
standard, or otherwise tested in similar circumstances to the ones in
which they are being used. Certifications of purchase or tests must be
made available upon request.
Under 30 CFR 56.3203(a) and 57.3203(a), mine operators of MNM
mines, both surface and underground, must obtain a certification from
the manufacturer that roof and rock bolts and accessories are
manufactured and tested in accordance with the applicable ASTM
specifications, and that the manufacturer's certification is made
available to an authorized representative of the Secretary and to the
representative of miners.
Under 30 CFR 56.3203(h) and 57.3203(h), if mine operators of MNM
mines use other tensioned and non-tensioned fixtures and accessories
for ground control that are not addressed by the applicable ASTM
standards listed in 30 CFR 56.3203(a) and 57.3203(a), test methods must
be established by the mine operator and used to verify their ground
control effectiveness.
Under 30 CFR 56.3203(i) and 57.3203(i), the mine operator must
certify that the tests developed under 30 CFR 56.3203(h) and 57.3203(h)
were conducted and such certifications be made available to an
authorized representative of the Secretary.
1-2. Coal Mines
Under 30 CFR 75.204(a), mine operators of underground coal mines
must obtain a certification from the manufacturer that roof bolts and
accessories are manufactured and tested in accordance with the
applicable ASTM specifications, and that the manufacturer's
certification is made available to an authorized representative of the
Secretary and to the representative of miners.
2. Bolt Tension Measurements of Coal Mines
Bolt tension must be adjusted so that tension is not too high or
too low for anchored roof bolts. Therefore, tension must be measured,
and mine operators must take corrective action if the tension on roof
bolts is not optimal.
Under 30 CFR 75.204(f)(5), in working places from which coal is
produced during any portion of a 24-hour period, the actual torque or
tension on at least one out of every 10 previously installed
mechanically anchored tensioned roof bolts must be measured from the
outby corner of the last open crosscut to the face in each advancing
section. The mine operator must take corrective action if the majority
of the bolts measured either:
(a) Do not maintain at least 70 percent of the minimum torque or
tension specified in the roof control plan, 50 percent if the roof bolt
plates bear against wood; or
(b) Have exceeded the maximum specified torque or tension by 50
percent.
Under 30 CFR 75.204(f)(6), mine operators of a coal mine or a
person designated by the operator must certify by signature and date
that the measurements required by 30 CFR 75.204(f)(5) have been made.
This certification must be maintained for at least one year and must be
made available to an authorized representative of the Secretary and
representatives of miners.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection related to Safety Standards for Roof Bolts in Metal and
Nonmetal Mines and Underground 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 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.
[[Page 84629]]
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.
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 Safety
Standards for Roof Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines and 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: 1219-0121.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Annual Respondents: 484.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Annual Responses: 79,167.
Annual Time Burden: 740 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. 2024-24500 Filed 10-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on October 23, 2024.
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.