Notice2025-01523
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in Underground Coal Mines
Primary source
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Published
January 24, 2025
Issuing agencies
Labor Department
Abstract
The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 15 (Friday, January 24, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 15 (Friday, January 24, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8160-8161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01523]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request; Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in
Underground Coal Mines
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Mine Safety
and Health Administration (MSHA)-sponsored information collection
request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review
and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.
DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that the agency
receives on or before February 24, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Howell by telephone at 202-
693-6782, or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#90d4dfdccfc0c2d1cfc0c5d2dcd9d3d0f4fffcbef7ffe6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7c383330232c2e3d232c293e30353f3c181310521b130a">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Section 101(a) of the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the Mine Act), the Secretary may by rule
in accordance with procedures set forth in this section and in
accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code (without
regard to any reference in such section to sections 556 and 557 of such
title), 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 or other mines. In addition, section 303
requires that all coal mines be ventilated by mechanical ventilation
equipment installed and operated in a manner approved by an authorized
representative of the Secretary and such equipment be examined daily
and a record be kept of such examination.
Underground coal mines usually present harsh and hostile working
environments. The ventilation system is the most vital life support
system in underground mining and a properly operating ventilation
system is essential for maintaining a safe and healthful working
environment. Lack of adequate ventilation in underground mines has
resulted in fatalities from asphyxiation and explosions.
An underground mine is a maze of tunnels that must be adequately
ventilated with fresh air to provide a safe environment for miners.
Methane is liberated from the strata, and noxious gases and dusts from
blasting and other mining activities may be present. The explosive and
noxious gases and dusts must be diluted, rendered harmless, and carried
to the surface by the ventilating currents. Sufficient air must be
provided to maintain the level of respirable dust at or below 2
milligrams per cubic meter of air and air quality must be
[[Page 8161]]
maintained in accordance with MSHA standards. Mechanical ventilation
equipment of sufficient capacity must operate at all times while miners
are in the mine. Ground conditions are subject to frequent changes,
thus sufficient tests and examinations are necessary to ensure the
integrity of the ventilation system and to detect any changes that may
require adjustments in the system. Records of tests and examinations
are necessary to ensure that the ventilation system is being maintained
and that changes which could adversely affect the integrity of the
system, or the safety of the miners are not occurring. These
examination, reporting and recordkeeping requirements of Sec. Sec.
75.310, 75.312, 75.342, 75.351, 75.360 through 75.364, 75.370, 75.371,
and 75.382 also incorporate examinations of other critical aspects of
the underground work environment such as roof conditions and electrical
equipment which have historically caused numerous fatalities if not
properly maintained and operated. For additional substantive
information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the
Federal Register on October 9, 2024 (89 FR 81942).
Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the
Department, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and
the public is generally not required to respond to an information
collection, unless the OMB approves it and displays a currently valid
OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions
of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to
comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid
OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
Agency: DOL-MSHA.
Title of Collection: Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in
Underground Coal Mines.
OMB Control Number: 1219-0088.
Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profits.
Number of Respondents: 225.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Responses: 1,910,978.
Annual Burden Hours: 150,674 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $69,865.
(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D)).
Michael Howell,
Senior Paperwork Reduction Act Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2025-01523 Filed 1-23-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
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