Notice2025-09155

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Ground Control Plans for Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of 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
May 22, 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 98 (Thursday, May 22, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 98 (Thursday, May 22, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21951-21952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-09155]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Ground Control Plans for Surface Coal Mines 
and Surface Work Areas of 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 June 23, 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#286c676477787a6977787d6a64616b684c4744064f475e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d99d969586898b9886898c9b95909a99bdb6b5f7beb6af">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each operator of a surface coal mine is 
required under 30 CFR 77.1000 to establish and follow a ground control 
plan that is consistent with prudent engineering design and which will 
ensure safe working conditions. The mine operator is required by Sec.  
77.1000-1 to file the ground control plan under Sec.  77.1000 for 
highwalls, pits and spoil banks with the appropriate District Manager. 
The mining methods employed by the operator are selected to ensure 
highwall, pit, and spoil bank stability. In the event of a highwall 
failure or material dislodgment, there may be very little time to 
escape possible injury; therefore, preventive measures must be taken. 
Each plan is based on the type of strata expected to be encountered, 
the height and angle of highwalls and spoil banks, and the equipment to 
be used at the mine. The plan is used to show how the mine operator 
will maintain safe conditions around the highwalls, pits, and spoil 
banks. Each plan is reviewed by MSHA to ensure that highwalls, pits, 
and spoil banks are maintained in a safe condition

[[Page 21952]]

through the use of sound engineering design. For additional substantive 
information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the 
Federal Register on December 27, 2024 (89 FR 105633).
    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: Ground Control Plans for Surface Coal Mines 
and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0026.
    Affected Public: Private Sector.
    Number of Respondents: 349.
    Number of Responses: 349.
    Annual Burden Hours: 2,398 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $663.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D))

Michael Howell,
Senior Paperwork Reduction Act Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2025-09155 Filed 5-21-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on May 22, 2025.

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