Notice2026-05779
Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Health Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure (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
March 25, 2026
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 "Health Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure (Underground Coal Mines)."
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14595-14596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05779]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0124]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Health Standards
for Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure (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 ``Health Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter
Exposure (Underground Coal Mines).''
DATES: All comments must be received on or before May 26, 2026.
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-
2026-0034.
<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#f2bfa1bab3dc9b9c949d809f93869b9d9cdc919d9e9e9791869b9d9c81b2969d9edc959d84"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7fae4fff699ded9d1d8c5dad6c3ded8d999d4d8dbdbd2d4c3ded8d9c4f7d3d8db99d0d8c1">[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 and metal
and nonmetal (MNM) mines.
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
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 under the information collection
request (ICR) titled ``Health Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter
Exposure (Underground Coal Mines).'' The information collection is
intended to ensure that mine operators are in compliance with the
health standard regarding diesel particulate matter in underground coal
mines and provide useful information to mine operators and miners'
representatives about the safety and health conditions in a miner's
workplace.
Burden costs associated with this ICR include:
1. Miner Training Records
1-1. Scheduling trainings
1-2. Creating training records
1-3. Providing copies of training records
2. Diesel Equipment Inventories
2-1. Submitting diesel equipment inventories
2-2. Providing copies of inventories
The associated standards that authorize the collection of
information are described below.
1. Miner Training Records
1-1. Scheduling Trainings
Under 30 CFR 72.510(a), [underground coal mine] operators must
provide annual training to all miners at a mine who can reasonably be
expected to be exposed to diesel emissions on that property. The
training must include--
(1) The health risks associated with exposure to diesel particulate
matter;
(2) The methods used in the mine to control diesel particulate
matter concentrations;
(3) Identification of the personnel responsible for maintaining
those controls; and
(4) Actions miners must take to ensure the controls operate as
intended.
1-2. Creating Training Records
Under 30 CFR 72.510(b)(1), operators must keep a record of the
training for one year after completion of the training. An operator may
keep the record elsewhere if the record is immediately accessible from
the mine site by electronic transmission.
1-3. Providing Copies of Training Records
Under 30 CFR 72.510(b)(2), upon request from an authorized
representative of the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, or from the authorized representative of miners, mine
operators must promptly provide access to any such training record.
Whenever an operator ceases to do business, that operator must transfer
the training records, or a copy, to any successor operator who must
maintain them for the required period.
[[Page 14596]]
2. Diesel Equipment Inventories
2-1. Submitting Diesel Equipment Inventories
Under 30 CFR 72.520(a), the operator of each mine that utilizes
diesel equipment underground, shall prepare and submit in writing to
the District Manager an inventory of diesel equipment used in the mine.
The inventory shall include the number and type of diesel-powered units
used underground, including make and model of unit, type of equipment,
make and model of engine, serial number of engine, brake horsepower
rating of engine, emissions of engine in grams per hour or grams per
brake horsepower-hour, approval number of engine, make and model of
aftertreatment device, serial number of aftertreatment device if
available, and efficiency of aftertreatment device.
2-2. Providing Copies of Inventories
Under 30 CFR 72.520(b), the mine operator shall make changes to the
diesel equipment inventory as equipment or emission control systems are
added, deleted or modified and submit revisions to the District
Manager, within 7 calendar days. Mine operators shall submit revisions
to the District Manager within 7 calendar days of any change to the
diesel equipment inventory.
Under 30 CFR 72.520(c), if requested, the mine operators shall
provide a copy of the diesel equipment inventory to the representative
of the miners within 3 days of the request.
Mine operators' burden and costs associated with recordkeeping and
reporting requirements of the use and maintenance of diesel equipment
included in a separate information collection request under OMB Control
Number 1219-0119 titled ``Diesel-Powered Equipment in Underground Coal
Mines.''
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection titled ``Health Standards for Diesel Particulate Matter
Exposure (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 is 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 Health Standards for Diesel
Particulate Matter Exposure (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: 1219-0124.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit entity.
Number of Annual Respondents: 146.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Annual Responses: 27,954.
Annual Time Burden: 703 hours.
Annual Recordkeeping Costs: $24.
MSHA Form: Diesel Inventory (This is an optional web collection
instrument.)
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. 2026-05779 Filed 3-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 25, 2026.
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.