Notice2025-18543
Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Program To Prevent Smoking in Hazardous 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
September 25, 2025
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 for all information collections, to provide the 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 titled "Program to Prevent Smoking in Hazardous Areas of Underground Coal Mines."
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 184 (Thursday, September 25, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 184 (Thursday, September 25, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46263-46264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18543]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0041]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Program To Prevent
Smoking in Hazardous Areas of 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 for all information collections, to
provide the 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 titled ``Program to Prevent Smoking in Hazardous Areas of
Underground Coal Mines.''
DATES: All comments must be received on or before November 24, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements
of this notice may be sent by any of the methods listed below. Please
note that 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 instructions for submitting comments for docket number MSHA-
2025-0071.
<bullet> Mail/Hand Delivery: DOL-MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room C3522,
Washington, DC 20210. Before visiting MSHA in person, call 202-693-9440
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: Jessica D. Senk, Acting Director,
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d69b859e97f8bfb8b0b9a4bbb7a2bfb9b8f8b5b9babab3b5a2bfb9b8a596b2b9baf8b1b9a0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9fd2ccd7deb1f6f1f9f0edf2feebf6f0f1b1fcf0f3f3fafcebf6f0f1ecdffbf0f3b1f8f0e9">[email protected]</span></a> (email); (202) 693-9440 (voice);
or (202) 693-9441 (facsimile). These are not toll-free numbers.
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 (MNM) mines.
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) governs paperwork burdens
imposed on the public by Federal agencies for using identical questions
to collect information from 10 or more persons. The PRA defines
paperwork burden in 44 U.S.C. 3502(2) as time, effort, or financial
resources expended to generate, maintain, or provide information to or
for a Federal agency. Under 44 U.S.C. 3507, the PRA also establishes
policies and procedures of information collection for controlling
paperwork burdens imposed by Federal agencies on the public, including
evaluating public comments.
B. Information Collection
To fulfill its statutory mandate to promote miners' health and
safety, MSHA requires information collected under the ICR titled
``Program to Prevent Smoking in Hazardous Areas of Underground Coal
Mines.'' This information collection is intended to ensure persons
entering the underground area of the mine do not carry smoking
materials, matches, or lighters and determine the mine operator's
compliance with the requirement to institute a smoking prevention
program.
Burden costs associated with the ICR include developing and
submitting smoking prevention programs for MSHA's approval.
The associated standards that authorize the collection of
information are described below.
1. Developing Smoking Prevention Programs
Under 30 CFR 75.1702, no person is allowed to smoke, carry smoking
materials, matches, or lighters underground, or smoke in or around oil
houses, explosives magazines, or other surface areas where such
practice may
[[Page 46264]]
cause a fire or explosion. The operator must institute a program,
approved by the Secretary, to ensure that any person entering the
underground area of the mine does not carry smoking materials, matches,
or lighters.
2. Submitting Smoking Prevention Programs
Under 30 CFR 75.1702-1, programs to ensure that any person entering
the underground area of the mine does not carry smoking materials,
matches, or lighters must be submitted to the District Manager for
approval.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection titled ``Program to Prevent Smoking in Hazardous Areas of
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.
The ICR available on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. MSHA cautions
commenters 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, 200 Constitution
Avenue NW, Room C3522, Washington, DC 20210. Before visiting MSHA in
person, call 202-693-9440 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 ICR concerns provisions for Program to Prevent Smoking in
Hazardous Areas of Underground Coal Mines. MSHA has updated the data
with respect to the number of respondents, responses, time burden, and
burden costs supporting this ICR from the previous ICR.
Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved
collection.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
OMB Number: 1219-0041.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit entity.
Number of Annual Respondents: 24.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Annual Responses: 25.
Annual Time Burden: 13 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 ICR; they will become a matter of public
record and be available at <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov">https://www.reginfo.gov</a>.
Jessica D. Senk,
Certifying Officer, Mine Safety and Health Administration.
[FR Doc. 2025-18543 Filed 9-24-25; 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.