80_FR_45196 80 FR 45051 - Fees for Testing, Evaluation, and Approval of Mining Products

80 FR 45051 - Fees for Testing, Evaluation, and Approval of Mining Products

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 145 (July 29, 2015)

Page Range45051-45057
FR Document2015-18617

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is revising the Agency's regulation for administering fees for testing, evaluation, and approval of products manufactured for use in mines. This final rule revises the fees charged for these services. The final rule also includes a fee for approval services that MSHA provides to applicants or approval holders under the existing rule, but for which the Agency currently does not charge a fee, and for other activities required to support the approval process. This change will allow MSHA to charge fees that reflect the full cost of the approval services provided.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 145 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 145 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45051-45057]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18617]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Part 5

[Docket No. MSHA-2014-0016]
RIN 1219-AB82


Fees for Testing, Evaluation, and Approval of Mining Products

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is revising 
the Agency's regulation for administering fees for testing, evaluation, 
and approval of products manufactured for use in mines. This final rule 
revises the fees charged for these services. The final rule also 
includes a fee for approval services that MSHA provides to applicants 
or approval holders under the existing rule, but for which the Agency 
currently does not charge a fee, and for other activities required to 
support the approval process. This change will allow MSHA to charge 
fees that reflect the full cost of the approval services provided.

DATES: The final rule is effective on October 1, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila A. McConnell, Acting Director, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at 
[email protected] (email); 202-693-9440 (voice); or 202-693-
9441 (facsimile). (These are not toll-free numbers).

[[Page 45052]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary
II. Background
III. Section-by-Section Analysis
IV. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and 
Executive Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review
V. Feasibility
VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act, Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act, and Executive Order 13272: Proper 
Consideration of Small Entities in Agency Rulemaking
VII. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
VIII. Other Regulatory Considerations

Availability of Information

    Docket: Access rulemaking documents electronically at http://www.msha.gov/regsinfo.htm or http://www.regulations.gov. [Docket Number 
MSHA-2014-0016]. Obtain a copy of a rulemaking document from the Office 
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, by request to 202-693-
9440 (voice) or 202-693-9441 (facsimile). (These are not toll-free 
numbers.)
    Email Notification: To subscribe to receive an email notification 
when MSHA publishes rules, program information, instructions, or 
policy, in the Federal Register, go to http://www.msha.gov/subscriptions/subscribe.aspx.

I. Executive Summary

A. Purpose of Regulatory Action

    As part of the U.S. Department of Labor, under the Federal Mine 
Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), as amended, MSHA's mission is 
to prevent death, disease, and injury from mining and promote safe and 
healthy workplaces for the Nation's miners. Since 1911, MSHA and its 
predecessor agencies have evaluated and tested products for use in 
mines to prevent fires, explosions, and accidents.

B. Summary of Major Provisions

    Under the final rule, MSHA revises the hourly rate for the fees 
charged to applicants and approval holders to include all costs 
associated with the approval program. MSHA calculates the hourly rate 
by dividing the total approval program costs (direct and indirect) 
during a prior fiscal year, including internal quality control 
activities and post-approval product audits, by the number of total 
direct hours spent on approval program activities for the same period. 
These changes in how MSHA calculates fees increase the hourly rate to 
$121.

C. Costs and Benefits

    This rule is not economically significant. The final rule will 
produce zero costs and zero benefits because the fees MSHA collects are 
transfer payments. MSHA discusses transfer payments in section IV of 
this preamble.

II. Background

    Under various authorities,\1\ MSHA historically has collected fees 
for its services in evaluating, testing, and approving products. 
Originally, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, an MSHA predecessor agency, 
billed applicants for approval services using published individual fee 
schedules, e.g., each approval part in Title 30, Chapter I, included a 
list of flat fees for different tests, evaluations, and other services 
performed for approval activities (30 FR 3752-3757). On May 8, 1987 (52 
FR 17506), MSHA eliminated the individual fee schedules and established 
part 5, which created an hourly rate for administration and calculation 
of fees for services in Title 30, Chapter I, Subchapter B, Testing, 
Evaluation, and Approval of Mining Products. On August 9, 2005 (70 FR 
46336), MSHA revised part 5 and its fee procedures. That rule 
eliminated the application fee, allowed pre-authorization of 
expenditures for processing applications, and allowed outside 
organizations to set fees when conducting part 15 testing on MSHA's 
behalf.
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    \1\ These authorities are: Public Law 61-525, Ch. 285, 36 Stat. 
1419 (1911); Public Law 62-386, Ch. 72, Sec. 5, 37 Stat. 682 (1913); 
Public Law 72-212, Ch. 314, Sec. 311, 47 Stat. 410 (1932); 30 U.S.C. 
961(c)(2); and Title V of the Independent Offices Appropriations Act 
of 1952, Public Law 82-137, 65 Stat. 290 (1951), as amended, 31 
U.S.C. 9701.
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    Section 205 of the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (CFO Act) 
and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-25 Revised, 
User Charges (7/8/1993), require agencies to review the user charges in 
their programs to ensure that the charges reflect the full costs of the 
services provided. Traditionally, MSHA reviews its user charges 
annually; however, MSHA last revised its hourly rate under part 5 to 
$97.00 on December 29, 2010 (75 FR 82074).
    Under 30 U.S.C. 966, MSHA may retain up to $2,499,000 of fees 
collected for the approval and certification of equipment, materials, 
and explosives for use in mines.
    MSHA proposed revisions to its existing regulations on fees for 
testing, evaluation and approval of mining products on October 9, 2014 
(79 FR 61035). This final rule addresses the comments received in 
response to the proposed rule.

III. Section-by-Section Analysis

    In this final rule, the term ``approval'' includes approvals, 
certifications, acceptances, and evaluations MSHA issues under Title 
30, Chapter I, Subchapter B, Testing, Evaluation, and Approval of 
Mining Products.

A. Sec.  5.10 Purpose and Scope

    Final Sec.  5.10, like the proposal, provides the purpose and scope 
of the rule. It also establishes a system under which MSHA charges a 
fee for approval program services for products manufactured for use in 
mines. Like the proposal, the final rule identifies the activities in 
the approval program.
    The approval program represents all the activities necessary for 
MSHA to assure that products approved for use in mines are designed, 
manufactured, and maintained in accordance with approval requirements. 
The approval program includes: (1) Application processing; (2) testing 
and evaluation; (3) approval decisions; (4) post-approval activities; 
and (5) the termination of approvals.
    1. Application processing begins when an applicant files a new 
application for approval. MSHA administratively reviews each new 
application and, on determining that the application is complete, 
prepares a maximum fee estimate and sends it to the applicant. The 
applicant must agree to pay the estimated fee before MSHA will begin 
testing, as needed, and evaluating the product.
    2. Testing and evaluation includes technical evaluation, analysis, 
test set up, testing, test tear down, any consultation on the 
application, and internal quality control activities. MSHA uses 
internal quality control programs to monitor and improve its testing 
and evaluation processes (e.g., internal administrative and technical 
reviews; internal audits; and calibration, repair, and maintenance of 
test equipment).
    3. Following testing and evaluating a product, MSHA makes an 
approval decision and notifies the applicant by letter of the Agency's 
findings and decision. If the product is approved, the letter 
identifies the approved specifications for the design, construction, 
maintenance, and conditions of use for the product. If the product is 
not approved or if the application is cancelled, the letter identifies 
the reasons for the decision. All approval documentation is kept on 
file at MSHA.
    4. MSHA also conducts the following post-approval activities:

[[Page 45053]]

     Changing approvals (e.g., extensions \2\ of approvals, 
field modifications, and modification through the Revised Acceptance 
Modification Program (RAMP)).
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    \2\ An extension of the approval is a document MSHA issues that 
states that a change to the product previously approved by MSHA is 
approved and authorizes the continued use of the approval marking 
with the appropriate extension number for the change added.
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     Conducting post-approval product audits and field audits.
     Responding to complaints.
     Investigating product failures.
     Monitoring regional or nationwide product recall or 
retrofit programs.
     Conducting administrative actions, such as transfer of 
approval numbers.
    5. Termination of an approval may occur when an approval holder 
voluntarily requests termination of an approval, when MSHA revokes an 
approval because of compliance or safety issues, or when MSHA issues 
regulations that make an approval obsolete.
    MSHA did not receive any comments on Sec.  5.10 and it is finalized 
as proposed.

B. Sec.  5.30 Fee Calculation

    Final Sec.  5.30, like the proposal, addresses the hourly rate 
calculation, the activities for which MSHA charges a fee, activities 
that are not subject to a fee, the fee estimate, and any changes to the 
fee estimate. Section 5.30 is finalized as proposed.
    Under final Sec.  5.30(a), like the proposal, MSHA will continue to 
charge a fee based on an hourly rate for approval program activities 
and other associated costs, such as travel expenses and part 15 fees. 
Part 15 fees for services provided to MSHA by other organizations will 
be set by those organizations.
    Final paragraph Sec.  5.30(b), like the proposal, is derived from 
existing Sec.  5.30(a) and identifies the costs MSHA incurs in 
administering the approval program. Under the final rule, like the 
proposal, the hourly rate is calculated to reflect the costs of the 
overall approval program. Under the existing rule, the hourly rate 
includes only the application processing; testing and evaluation; and 
approval decision costs.
    Also under the existing rule, some post-approval activities, such 
as changes to approvals, are included in the approval program costs 
used in calculating the hourly rate. Under the existing rule, however, 
MSHA had excluded the costs of monitoring to assure approved products 
continue to be manufactured and maintained as approved because MSHA 
considered these activities to be enforcement activities rather than 
approval program activities (52 FR 17507-17508). As stated previously, 
OMB Circular No. A-25 requires that agencies recover the full costs of 
services rendered. To more accurately account for costs, MSHA proposed 
to include the direct and indirect cost of these post-approval product 
activities in the hourly rate calculation because these activities are 
an important part of the approval program. These activities assure 
MSHA, operators, and miners that products continue to be designed, 
manufactured, and maintained in accordance with the approval 
requirements.
    Under the final rule, like the proposal, MSHA will continue to 
determine an hourly rate to cover direct and indirect costs. MSHA bases 
the hourly rate on all approval program costs the Agency incurred 
during a prior fiscal year. The hourly rate is the total approval 
program costs (direct and indirect) divided by the number of direct 
hours spent on all approval program activities. Final paragraph Sec.  
5.30(b) lists the approval program costs that MSHA will include in the 
hourly rate calculation.
    Final paragraph Sec.  5.30(b)(1), like the proposal, defines direct 
costs as consisting of compensation and benefit costs for all hours 
worked in support of the approval program and is derived, in part, from 
existing Sec.  5.10(b)(1) and (b)(2). These costs include approval 
program activities, such as testing and evaluation, including internal 
quality control; and post-approval activities, including post-approval 
product audits.
    Final paragraph Sec.  5.30(b)(2), like the proposal, defines 
indirect costs and is derived, in part, from existing Sec.  5.10(b)(3) 
and (b)(4). Indirect costs include the approval program's proportionate 
share of the hours worked to manage and operate the Approval and 
Certification Center (A&CC). These costs are associated with activities 
required for information technology (IT) and A&CC management and 
administration. Indirect costs also include the approval program's 
proportionate share of depreciation for buildings, their improvements, 
and equipment; a proportionate share of utilities, equipment rental, 
facility and equipment maintenance, security, supplies and materials, 
and other costs necessary for the operation and maintenance of the 
A&CC; and a proportionate share of Department of Labor-provided 
services that would include financial systems, and audit and IT 
support.
    A commenter asked what MSHA considers to be indirect costs. Section 
5.30(b)(2) in this final rule and in the preamble to the proposed rule 
(79 FR 61037) defines indirect costs. MSHA's definition of indirect 
costs is consistent with OMB Circular No. A-25. MSHA determined that 
the definition in the final rule adequately addresses the commenter's 
question.
    Final Sec.  5.30(c), like the proposal, is derived from existing 
Sec.  5.10(b) and includes activities for which MSHA charges a fee. 
These activities continue to include application processing (e.g., 
administrative and technical review of applications, computer tracking, 
and status reporting); testing and evaluation (e.g., analysis of 
drawings, technical evaluation, testing, test set up and test tear 
down, and internal quality control activities); approval decisions 
(e.g., consultation on applications, records control and security, 
document preparation); and post-approval activities, such as changes to 
approvals. Like the proposal, final Sec.  5.30(c) describes internal 
quality control activities and post-approval product audits as part of 
the approval program, as MSHA is required to recover costs associated 
with the approval program (OMB Circular No. A-25).
    A commenter objected to MSHA charging for internal quality control. 
Under the final rule, like the proposal, MSHA will charge applicants 
and approval holders a fee for internal quality control activities. 
These activities are an integral part of the approval program. MSHA 
uses internal quality control activities to monitor and improve the 
Agency's testing and evaluation processes and for quality control. 
These internal quality control activities assure applicants and 
approval holders that consistent, accurate, and up-to-date scientific 
methods are used when MSHA is evaluating and testing products. For 
example, MSHA has standard procedures to repair, maintain, and 
calibrate laboratory equipment in accordance with the manufacturers' 
specifications. Each applicant and approval holder receives a benefit 
from these internal quality control activities.
    MSHA will distribute the hours worked and costs of internal quality 
control activities, based on the hours worked on each application. 
Hours worked on specific internal quality control activities, however, 
are not charged to a particular application. Instead, MSHA will charge 
each applicant a prorated share. MSHA will calculate the prior year's 
internal quality control hours as a percentage of total hours, multiply 
that percentage by the number of direct hours worked on a particular 
application, and add the result to the number of direct hours worked on 
that application.

[[Page 45054]]

    A commenter objected to MSHA charging a fee for post-approval 
product audits stating that MSHA could charge for exaggerated paperwork 
evaluations and could audit the same company as often as they want. 
Under existing 30 CFR 7.8(b), 14.10(b), and 15.10(b), MSHA audits a 
specific product no more than once a year, except for cause, and the 
approval-holder may attend any testing MSHA conducts on their product. 
Post-approval product audits are part of the approval program (post-
approval activities) because they are necessary to assure that products 
have been manufactured as approved.
    Under the final rule, like the proposal, MSHA will charge approval 
holders for the Agency's post-approval product audits, but will not 
charge for investigations or audits based on complaints about the 
products.
    Internal quality control activities and post-approval product 
audits assure MSHA, operators, and miners that products are and 
continue to be designed, manufactured, and maintained in accordance 
with the approval requirements to ensure the health and safety of 
miners. For these reasons, MSHA will charge a fee for these activities.
    Existing Sec.  5.10(c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3), and (c)(4) are revised 
and redesignated, in part, as final Sec.  5.30(d). Final Sec.  5.30(d), 
like the proposal, addresses the activities for which MSHA will not 
charge a fee. These include technical assistance not related to 
approval applications; technical programs, including development of new 
technology programs; participation in research conducted by other 
government agencies or private organizations; and regulatory review 
activities, including participation in the development of health and 
safety standards, regulations, and legislation.
    MSHA did not receive any comments on proposed Sec.  5.30(d) and it 
is finalized as proposed.
    Existing paragraphs Sec.  5.30(b), (c), and (d) are redesignated as 
final paragraphs Sec.  5.30(e), (f), and (g) under Sec.  5.30 Fee 
Calculation.
    Final paragraph Sec.  5.30(e), like the proposal, is revised by 
renumbering existing paragraphs Sec.  5.30(b)(1) and (b)(2) as Sec.  
5.30(e)(1) and (e)(2), respectively. Final paragraphs Sec.  5.30(f) and 
(g) remain unchanged.
    MSHA did not receive any comments on Sec.  5.30(e), (f), and (g) 
and these sections are finalized as proposed.

C. Sec.  5.40 Fee Administration

    Final Sec.  5.40, like the proposal, is revised by adding 
``approval holders'' to entities to be billed and replacing 
``processing of the application is completed'' with ``approval program 
activities are completed.'' MSHA will continue to charge applicants a 
fee for approvals and some post-approval activities (e.g., modification 
to approvals), and will charge approval holders a fee for post-approval 
product audits when the approval program activities are completed.
    MSHA received no comments on proposed Sec.  5.40 and it is 
finalized as proposed.

D. Sec.  5.50 Fee Revisions

    Final Sec.  5.50, like the proposal, replaces ``fee schedule'' with 
``hourly rate'' because MSHA no longer has a fee schedule. A commenter 
questioned why MSHA has a scheduling fee. As discussed in this final 
rule and in the preamble to the proposed rule, MSHA eliminated the 
individual fee schedules in 1987 and created a single hourly rate for 
calculation of fees.
    Like the proposal, MSHA is revising the hourly rate from $97 under 
the existing rule to $121 using fiscal year (FY) 2012 data. A commenter 
objected to MSHA raising the hourly rate, citing challenging times 
being faced by the coal industry. This commenter was particularly 
concerned about the impact of the increase in fees on a small 
manufacturing company in the coal service industry. In response to this 
comment, MSHA states below, in Section V. Feasibility, that the 
increase in the hourly rate is below one percent of the estimated 
annual revenues of the impacted industries. The final rule, like the 
proposal, removes the term ``fee schedule'' from Sec.  5.50 and it is 
finalized as proposed.

E. Other Comments

    MSHA received general comments that objected to the overall 
rulemaking and to MSHA collecting more money than the Agency has the 
authority to retain. Under OMB Circular No. A-25, MSHA is required to 
review the user fees in its programs to ensure that the charges reflect 
the full costs of the services provided. This action transfers the cost 
of MSHA approval program services from the taxpayer to the applicants 
or approval holders who benefit from these services. Fees collected in 
excess of those the Agency is authorized to retain are sent back to the 
U.S. Treasury.

IV. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

    Executive Orders (E.O.) 12866 and 13563 generally direct agencies 
to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives 
and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that 
maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, 
public health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). 
E.O. 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. To comply with these Executive Orders, MSHA has included 
the following impact analysis.
    Section 3(f) of the E.O. 12866 defines a significant regulatory 
action as an action that is likely to result in a rule that: (1) Has an 
annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, or adversely and 
materially affects a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, 
jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local or 
tribal governments or communities; (2) creates a serious inconsistency 
or otherwise interferes with an action taken or planned by another 
agency; (3) materially alters the budgetary impacts of entitlement 
grants, user fees, or loan programs, or the rights and obligations of 
recipients thereof; or (4) raises novel legal or policy issues arising 
out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles 
set forth in the Executive Order. OMB has determined that this is a 
significant regulatory action.
    The final rule would not have an annual effect of $100 million or 
more on the economy and, under E.O. 12866, is not considered 
economically significant. MSHA has not prepared a separate regulatory 
economic analysis for this rulemaking. Rather, the analysis is 
presented below.

A. Overview

    MSHA will continue to charge a fee for approval services based on 
an hourly rate. As under the existing rule, MSHA's hourly rate will 
include direct costs and indirect costs. However, under the final rule, 
MSHA will calculate the hourly rate by dividing all approval program 
costs incurred by the Agency during a prior fiscal year by the number 
of direct hours spent on approval program activities for the same 
period.
    The final rule will increase the hourly rate from $97 to $121, an 
increase of $24.
    MSHA will also begin to charge a fee for internal quality control 
activities and post-approval product audits. In FY 2012, MSHA collected 
approximately $1.2 million in fees. Under this final rule, MSHA 
estimates that the Agency would have collected a total of $2.7 million 
in fees in FY 2012, an increase of $1.5 million.

[[Page 45055]]

    The charges under the final rule are fees and are considered 
transfer payments, not costs, under OMB Circular No. A-4, Regulatory 
Analysis (09/17/2003). Transfer payments are payments from one group to 
another that do not affect total resources available to society. Under 
the final rule, the applicant or the approval holder pays for services 
for which they receive a benefit. These services are currently paid for 
by the taxpayer.
    Because the fees MSHA collects are a transfer, there are zero costs 
and zero benefits regardless of the discount rate (OMB Circular No. A-
4, Regulatory Analysis (09/17/2003) Section (G) Accounting Statement).

B. Benefits

    The rule will not produce any quantifiable benefits because the 
only impact is the transfer payment.

C. Projected Impacts

    MSHA analyzed A&CC invoice data from FY 2012. Using the U.S. 
Economic Census North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 
data, MSHA estimated the impact of the final rule on mining and non-
mining industries. NAICS is the standard used by Federal statistical 
agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of 
collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the 
U.S. business economy (http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/).
    From the A&CC post-approval product audit data and FY 2012 
invoices, MSHA identified 30 industries that received A&CC approval 
program services. MSHA grouped this data into three general industry 
categories: Coal Mining, Other Mining, and Non-Mining.
    MSHA estimated the fees that will be collected under this final 
rule by summing the impact of the hourly rate increase and the increase 
from charging for internal quality control activities and post-approval 
product audits. Under this final rule, fees will increase by 
approximately $1.5 million annually ($0.3 million from the hourly rate 
increase + $1.1 million for internal quality control activities + $0.1 
million for post-approval product audit activities). Of the $1.5 
million, the increase in fees for the coal and other mining industries 
will total approximately $0.9 million annually. The remaining $0.6 
million will be distributed among the non-mining industries that seek 
product approval from MSHA.
    MSHA estimated the fee increase from the final hourly rate by 
multiplying the number of chargeable hours for FY 2012 (12,189 hours) 
by the final hourly rate of $121. In 2012, MSHA estimated that the 
final hourly rate would have resulted in approximately $1.5 million in 
fees collected, an increase of $300,000 (($121 new rate-$97 old rate) x 
12,189 hours).
    MSHA also estimated the fees from charging for internal quality 
control activities. MSHA uses internal quality control activities to 
monitor and improve the Agency's testing and evaluation processes. 
These activities include internal process reviews; maintaining 
laboratory equipment; and repairing, maintaining, and calibrating 
laboratory equipment to assure the equipment produces reliable and 
accurate results. In FY 2012, MSHA spent 9,015 hours on these 
activities. MSHA multiplied the 9,015 hours by the proposed $121 hourly 
rate. This results in an estimated annual impact of $1.1 million.
    In addition, MSHA analyzed post-approval product audit data from 
2008 to 2012 to estimate the increase in fees from charging for these 
services. In any given year, post-approval product audits are completed 
only on a subset of the total products approved by the A&CC. In 2012, 
MSHA spent approximately 1,000 hours on 125 post-approval product 
audits. Multiplying the 1,000 hours by the proposed $121 hourly rate 
results in an estimated annual impact of $121,000. The average 
estimated impact would have been $970 for each approval holder audited 
in 2012.

V. Feasibility

    MSHA concludes that the final rule would be economically feasible.
    MSHA has traditionally used a revenue screening test--whether the 
annualized compliance costs of a regulation are less than one percent 
of revenues (dollar change/revenue), or are negative (i.e., provide net 
cost savings) to establish presumptively that compliance with the 
regulation is economically feasible. MSHA relies on Agency data to 
identify revenue for covered mining entities and the 2007 Economic 
Census data to identify revenue by NAICS industry categories for non-
mining entities.
    MSHA performed the revenue screening test comparing the annual 
impact to annual revenues for all three categories and found that the 
percentage impact rounds to zero percent of revenue in each case. Given 
the relatively small impact compared to industry total revenues, any 
further analysis would not be productive.
    Because the estimated impacts are below one percent of estimated 
annual revenue of the impacted industries, MSHA concludes that 
compliance with the provisions of the final rule is economically 
feasible.

VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act, Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act, and Executive Order 13272: Proper Consideration of Small 
Entities in Agency Rulemaking

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) as amended by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 and other 
statutes, and E.O. 13272 requires agencies to consider the effects of 
their final and existing regulations on small entities and to examine 
alternatives that would minimize the small entity impacts while still 
meeting the regulations' purposes. MSHA has reviewed the final rule to 
assess the potential impact on small businesses, small governmental 
jurisdictions, and small organizations.
    The applicants who will be affected by the final rule represent 30 
industries. The Small Business Administration's (SBA's) size standard 
for a small entity (13 CFR 121.201) differs by industry code. For 
mining, SBA defines a small entity as one with 500 or fewer employees. 
For non-mining industries that would be impacted by this rule, SBA 
defines a small entity as one that has revenues of $7.5 million or 
less. MSHA used the SBA's definitions for a small entity, FY 2012 
invoice data, and NAICS industry data to evaluate the small business 
impact.
    For the non-mining industries, the affected industries represent 
small business revenues of approximately $474 billion. The final rule 
will increase fees for non-mining industries by approximately $0.5 
million. The impact from an increase in fees is essentially zero 
percent of revenue ($0.5 million/$474 billion).
    For the mining industries, MSHA data shows small coal mine revenues 
of $30 billion. The final rule will increase fees for small coal mines 
by approximately $0.9 million. MSHA data shows other small mine 
revenues (not coal mines) of $57 billion. The final rule will increase 
fees for small mines other than coal by approximately $6,000. The 
impact from an increase in fees is zero percent for both mining 
categories.
    Approximately $100,000 in increased fees is primarily attributable 
to foreign entities. MSHA concludes that the impact on the U.S. economy 
and its businesses would be de minimis.
    Several commenters stated that large companies could absorb the 
increase in fees and that the small companies would be adversely 
affected. MSHA's analysis determined that the impact of the final rule 
for both small mining and small non-mining entities is essentially

[[Page 45056]]

zero percent of annual revenues. Additionally, considering MSHA's 
traditional definition of small mines (1-19 employees), the impact of 
the final rule is essentially zero percent. The Agency concludes that 
one rate is appropriate for all company sizes.
    MSHA certifies that the final rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

VII. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This final rule contains no information collections subject to 
review by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The paperwork 
associated with applications for approval are considered under the 
specific part in Title 30, Chapter 1, Subchapter B that contains the 
requirements for the specific product submitted for MSHA approval.

VIII. Other Regulatory Considerations

A. The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    MSHA has reviewed the final rule under the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.). MSHA has determined that this 
final rule does not include any federal mandate that may result in 
increased expenditures by State, local, or tribal governments; nor 
would it increase private sector expenditures by more than $100 million 
(adjusted for inflation) in any one year or significantly or uniquely 
affect small governments. Accordingly, under the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act, no further Agency action or analysis is required.

B. The Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act of 1999: 
Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

    Section 654 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act of 1999 (5 U.S.C. 601 note), as amended, requires agencies to 
assess the impact of agency action on family well-being. MSHA has 
determined that this final rule would have no effect on family 
stability or safety, marital commitment, parental rights and authority, 
or income or poverty of families and children. Accordingly, MSHA 
certifies that this final rule will not impact family well-being.

C. Executive Order 12630: Government Actions and Interference With 
Constitutionally Protected Property Rights

    Executive Order 12630 requires Federal agencies to ``identify the 
takings implications of final regulatory actions . . . .'' MSHA has 
determined that this final rule will not include a regulatory or policy 
action with takings implications. Accordingly, under E.O. 12630, no 
further Agency action or analysis is required.

D. Executive Order 12988: Civil Justice Reform

    Executive Order 12988 contains requirements for Federal agencies 
promulgating new regulations or reviewing existing regulations to 
minimize litigation by eliminating drafting errors and ambiguity, 
providing a clear legal standard for affected conduct rather than a 
general standard, promoting simplification, and reducing burden. MSHA 
has reviewed this final rule and has determined that it would meet the 
applicable standards provided in E.O. 12988 to minimize litigation and 
undue burden on the Federal court system.

E. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks

    MSHA has determined that this final rule will have no adverse 
impact on children. Accordingly, under E.O. 13045, no further Agency 
action or analysis is required.

F. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    MSHA has determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications because it would not have substantial direct effects on 
the States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Accordingly, under E.O. 13132, no further 
Agency action or analysis is required.

G. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    MSHA has determined that this final rule does not have tribal 
implications because it would not have substantial direct effects on 
one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal 
government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities between the Federal government and Indian tribes. 
Accordingly, under E.O. 13175, no further Agency action or analysis is 
required.

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use

    MSHA has reviewed this final rule for its impact on the supply, 
distribution, and use of energy because it applies to the coal mining 
industry. Insofar as the final rule would result in an increase to the 
yearly transfer of $0.9 million for the coal mining industry relative 
to annual revenues of $41 billion in 2012, it is not a ``significant 
energy action'' because it is not ``likely to have a significant 
adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy (including 
a shortfall in supply, price increases, and increased use of foreign 
supplies).'' Accordingly, under E.O. 13211, no further Agency action or 
analysis is required.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 5

    Mine safety and health.

    Dated: July 23, 2015.
Joseph A. Main,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, and under the authority of 
the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended, MSHA is 
revising 30 CFR part 5 to read as follows:

PART 5--FEES FOR TESTING, EVALUATION, AND APPROVAL OF MINING 
PRODUCTS

Sec.
5.10 Purpose and scope.
5.30 Fee calculation.
5.40 Fee administration.
5.50 Fee revisions.

    Authority:  30 U.S.C. 957.


Sec.  5.10  Purpose and scope.

    This part establishes a system under which MSHA charges a fee for 
services provided. This part includes the management and calculation of 
fees for the approval program, which includes: Application processing, 
testing and evaluation, approval decisions, post-approval activities, 
and termination of approvals.


Sec.  5.30  Fee calculation.

    (a) Fee calculation. MSHA charges a fee based on an hourly rate for 
Approval and Certification Center (A&CC) approval program activities 
and other associated costs, such as travel expenses and part 15 fees. 
Part 15 fees for services provided to MSHA by other organizations may 
be set by those organizations.
    (b) Hourly rate calculation. The hourly rate consists of direct and 
indirect costs of the A&CC's approval program divided by the number of 
direct hours worked on all approval program activities.
    (1) Direct costs are compensation and benefit costs for hours 
worked on approval program activities.

[[Page 45057]]

    (2) Indirect costs are a proportionate share of the following A&CC 
costs:
    (i) Compensation and benefit hours worked in support of all A&CC 
activities;
    (ii) A&CC building and equipment depreciation costs;
    (iii) A&CC utilities, facility and equipment maintenance, and 
supplies and materials; and
    (iv) Information Technology and other services the Department of 
Labor provides to the A&CC.
    (c) Fees are charged for--
    (1) Application processing (e.g., administrative and technical 
review of applications, computer tracking, and status reporting);
    (2) Testing and evaluation (e.g., analysis of drawings, technical 
evaluation, testing, test set up and test tear down, and internal 
quality control activities);
    (3) Approval decisions (e.g., consultation on applications, records 
control and security, document preparation); and
    (4) Two post-approval activities: changes to approvals and post-
approval product audits.
    (d) Fees are not charged for--
    (1) Technical assistance not related to processing an approval 
application;
    (2) Technical programs, including development of new technology 
programs;
    (3) Participation in research conducted by other government 
agencies or private organizations; and
    (4) Regulatory review activities, including participation in the 
development of health and safety standards, regulations, and 
legislation.
    (e) Fee estimate. Except as provided in paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) 
of this section, on completion of an initial administrative review of 
the application, the A&CC will prepare a maximum fee estimate for each 
application. A&CC will begin the technical evaluation after the 
applicant authorizes the fee estimate.
    (1) The applicant may pre-authorize an expenditure for services, 
and may further choose to pre-authorize either a maximum dollar amount 
or an expenditure without a specified maximum amount.
    (i) All applications containing a pre-authorization statement will 
be put in the queue for the technical evaluation on completion of an 
initial administrative review.
    (ii) MSHA will concurrently prepare a maximum fee estimate for 
applications containing a statement pre-authorizing a maximum dollar 
amount, and will provide the applicant with this estimate.
    (2) Where MSHA's estimated maximum fee exceeds the pre-authorized 
maximum dollar amount, the applicant has the choice of cancelling the 
action and paying for all work done up to the time of the cancellation, 
or authorizing MSHA's estimate.
    (3) Under the Revised Acceptance Modification Program (RAMP), MSHA 
expedites applications for acceptance of minor changes to previously 
approved, certified, accepted, or evaluated products. The applicant 
must pre-authorize a fixed dollar amount, set by MSHA, for processing 
the application.
    (f) If unforeseen circumstances are discovered during the 
evaluation, and MSHA determines that these circumstances would result 
in the actual costs exceeding either the pre-authorized expenditure or 
the authorized maximum fee estimate, as appropriate, MSHA will prepare 
a revised maximum fee estimate for completing the evaluation. The 
applicant will have the option of either cancelling the action and 
paying for services rendered or authorizing MSHA's revised estimate, in 
which case MSHA will continue to test and evaluate the product.
    (g) If the actual cost of processing the application is less than 
MSHA's maximum fee estimate, MSHA will charge the actual cost.


Sec.  5.40  Fee administration.

    Applicants and approval holders will be billed for all fees, 
including actual travel expenses, if any, when approval program 
activities are completed. Invoices will contain specific payment 
instruction, including the address to mail payments and authorized 
methods of payment.


Sec.  5.50  Fee revisions.

    The hourly rate will remain in effect for at least one year and be 
subject to revision at least once every three years.

[FR Doc. 2015-18617 Filed 7-28-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P



                                                                                                                                                                                                       45051

                                                Rules and Regulations                                                                                          Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                               Vol. 80, No. 145

                                                                                                                                                               Wednesday, July 29, 2015



                                                This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                     Chief Counsel, International Law,                     FAA has determined that no further
                                                contains regulatory documents having general             Legislation, and Regulations Division,                rulemaking action is necessary. The
                                                applicability and legal effect, most of which            AGC–250, Federal Aviation                             direct final rule is effective on July 27,
                                                are keyed to and codified in the Code of                 Administration, 800 Independence                      2015. The FAA will consider the
                                                Federal Regulations, which is published under            Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591;                     additional suggestion submitted by the
                                                50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
                                                                                                         telephone (202) 267–3073; email                       individual commenter separately from
                                                The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by               Alex.Zektser@faa.gov.                                 this rulemaking action, as the suggestion
                                                the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            was that the FAA institute a practice in
                                                new books are listed in the first FEDERAL                                                                      addition to the one that is the subject of
                                                REGISTER issue of each week.                             Background                                            this rulemaking.
                                                                                                            Before publication of the direct final               Issued under authority provided by 49
                                                                                                         rule on May 27, 2015 (Electronic                      U.S.C. 160(f), and 51 U.S.C. 50901–50923 in
                                                DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                             Applications for Licenses, Permits, and               Washington, DC, on July 23, 2015.
                                                                                                         Safety Approvals, 80 FR 30147),                       Lirio Liu,
                                                Federal Aviation Administration
                                                                                                         applications for a license, an                        Director, Office of Rulemaking.
                                                                                                         experimental permit, or a safety                      [FR Doc. 2015–18502 Filed 7–28–15; 8:45 am]
                                                14 CFR Parts 401, 413, and 414
                                                                                                         approval made under 14 CFR part 413                   BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
                                                [Docket No.: FAA–2015–1745; Amdt. Nos                    or 414 had to be submitted to the FAA
                                                413–11 and 414–3]                                        in paper form. The FAA determined that
                                                RIN 2120–AK58                                            this paper-based submission process
                                                                                                                                                               DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
                                                                                                         was unduly burdensome because an
                                                Electronic Applications for Licenses,                    electronically-submitted application                  Mine Safety and Health Administration
                                                Permits, and Safety Approvals                            would provide the FAA with the same
                                                                                                         information as a paper application. In                30 CFR Part 5
                                                AGENCY:   Federal Aviation                               addition, the Government Paperwork
                                                Administration (FAA), DOT.                               Elimination Act (GPEA) requires that,                 [Docket No. MSHA–2014–0016]
                                                ACTION: Direct final rule; confirmation of               when practicable, a federal agency must               RIN 1219–AB82
                                                effective date and response to public                    provide the public with an option to
                                                comments.                                                transact with the agency electronically.1             Fees for Testing, Evaluation, and
                                                SUMMARY:   This action confirms the                      Accordingly, the FAA published a                      Approval of Mining Products
                                                effective date of the direct final rule,                 direct final rule, request for comments,
                                                                                                                                                               AGENCY:  Mine Safety and Health
                                                request for comments, published on                       amending the application process under
                                                                                                                                                               Administration, Labor.
                                                May 27, 2015, and dispositions the one                   14 CFR part 413 for a license or
                                                                                                         experimental permit, and under part                   ACTION: Final rule.
                                                public comment received. The rule
                                                amends commercial space                                  414 for a safety approval to allow                    SUMMARY:    The Mine Safety and Health
                                                transportation regulations to allow an                   applicants to submit their applications               Administration (MSHA) is revising the
                                                applicant for a license, experimental                    electronically.                                       Agency’s regulation for administering
                                                permit, or safety approval the option of                    The comment period on the direct                   fees for testing, evaluation, and approval
                                                submitting an application electronically.                final rule closed on June 26, 2015. Only              of products manufactured for use in
                                                                                                         one commenter submitted a comment                     mines. This final rule revises the fees
                                                DATES: The effective date of July 27,
                                                                                                         document.                                             charged for these services. The final rule
                                                2015, for the direct final rule published
                                                on May 27, 2015 (80 FR 30147), is                        Discussion of Comments                                also includes a fee for approval services
                                                confirmed.                                                                                                     that MSHA provides to applicants or
                                                                                                           The FAA only received one comment
                                                                                                                                                               approval holders under the existing
                                                ADDRESSES: For information on where to                   on June 3, 2015, from an individual
                                                                                                                                                               rule, but for which the Agency currently
                                                obtain copies of rulemaking documents                    commenter supporting the final rule.
                                                                                                                                                               does not charge a fee, and for other
                                                and other information related to this                    The commenter also recommended that
                                                                                                                                                               activities required to support the
                                                action, see ‘‘How To Obtain Additional                   in addition to this rulemaking, the FAA
                                                                                                                                                               approval process. This change will
                                                Information’’ in the SUPPLEMENTARY                       also institute a practice of providing an
                                                                                                                                                               allow MSHA to charge fees that reflect
                                                INFORMATION section of this document.                    electronic response acknowledging
                                                                                                                                                               the full cost of the approval services
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For                     receipt of the application.
                                                                                                                                                               provided.
                                                technical questions concerning this                      Conclusion
                                                action, contact Shirley McBride, Office                                                                        DATES: The final rule is effective on
                                                of Commercial Space Transportation,                        Because there were no adverse                       October 1, 2015.
                                                Regulations and Analysis Division,                       comments submitted on this rulemaking                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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                                                Federal Aviation Administration, 800                     and the only comment submitted on the                 Sheila A. McConnell, Acting Director,
                                                Independence Avenue SW.,                                 rule supported the agency action, the                 Office of Standards, Regulations, and
                                                Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202)                                                                          Variances, MSHA, at
                                                                                                           1 Office of Management and Budget,
                                                267–7470; email Shirley.McBride@                                                                               mcconnell.sheila.a@dol.gov (email);
                                                                                                         Implementation of the Government Paperwork
                                                faa.gov.                                                 Elimination Act, http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
                                                                                                                                                               202–693–9440 (voice); or 202–693–9441
                                                   For legal questions concerning this                   fedreg_gpea2 (explaining implementation of Pub.       (facsimile). (These are not toll-free
                                                action, contact Alex Zektser, Office of                  Law 105–277, sec. 1704).                              numbers).


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                                                45052             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 145 / Wednesday, July 29, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                               C. Costs and Benefits                                 III. Section-by-Section Analysis
                                                Table of Contents                                          This rule is not economically                          In this final rule, the term ‘‘approval’’
                                                                                                         significant. The final rule will produce              includes approvals, certifications,
                                                I. Executive Summary                                     zero costs and zero benefits because the
                                                II. Background                                                                                                 acceptances, and evaluations MSHA
                                                                                                         fees MSHA collects are transfer                       issues under Title 30, Chapter I,
                                                III. Section-by-Section Analysis
                                                IV. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory                    payments. MSHA discusses transfer                     Subchapter B, Testing, Evaluation, and
                                                      Planning and Review and Executive                  payments in section IV of this preamble.              Approval of Mining Products.
                                                      Order 13563: Improving Regulation and              II. Background
                                                      Regulatory Review                                                                                        A. § 5.10    Purpose and Scope
                                                V. Feasibility                                              Under various authorities,1 MSHA
                                                VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act, Small                    historically has collected fees for its                  Final § 5.10, like the proposal,
                                                      Business Regulatory Enforcement                    services in evaluating, testing, and                  provides the purpose and scope of the
                                                      Fairness Act, and Executive Order                  approving products. Originally, the U.S.              rule. It also establishes a system under
                                                      13272: Proper Consideration of Small               Bureau of Mines, an MSHA predecessor                  which MSHA charges a fee for approval
                                                      Entities in Agency Rulemaking                      agency, billed applicants for approval                program services for products
                                                VII. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                     services using published individual fee               manufactured for use in mines. Like the
                                                VIII. Other Regulatory Considerations                    schedules, e.g., each approval part in                proposal, the final rule identifies the
                                                Availability of Information                              Title 30, Chapter I, included a list of flat          activities in the approval program.
                                                                                                         fees for different tests, evaluations, and               The approval program represents all
                                                  Docket: Access rulemaking                              other services performed for approval                 the activities necessary for MSHA to
                                                documents electronically at http://                      activities (30 FR 3752–3757). On May 8,               assure that products approved for use in
                                                www.msha.gov/regsinfo.htm or http://                     1987 (52 FR 17506), MSHA eliminated                   mines are designed, manufactured, and
                                                www.regulations.gov. [Docket Number                      the individual fee schedules and                      maintained in accordance with approval
                                                MSHA–2014–0016]. Obtain a copy of a                      established part 5, which created an                  requirements. The approval program
                                                rulemaking document from the Office of                   hourly rate for administration and                    includes: (1) Application processing; (2)
                                                Standards, Regulations, and Variances,                   calculation of fees for services in Title             testing and evaluation; (3) approval
                                                MSHA, by request to 202–693–9440                         30, Chapter I, Subchapter B, Testing,                 decisions; (4) post-approval activities;
                                                (voice) or 202–693–9441 (facsimile).                     Evaluation, and Approval of Mining                    and (5) the termination of approvals.
                                                (These are not toll-free numbers.)                       Products. On August 9, 2005 (70 FR                       1. Application processing begins
                                                  Email Notification: To subscribe to                    46336), MSHA revised part 5 and its fee               when an applicant files a new
                                                receive an email notification when                       procedures. That rule eliminated the                  application for approval. MSHA
                                                MSHA publishes rules, program                            application fee, allowed pre-                         administratively reviews each new
                                                information, instructions, or policy, in                 authorization of expenditures for                     application and, on determining that the
                                                the Federal Register, go to http://                      processing applications, and allowed                  application is complete, prepares a
                                                www.msha.gov/subscriptions/                              outside organizations to set fees when
                                                                                                                                                               maximum fee estimate and sends it to
                                                subscribe.aspx.                                          conducting part 15 testing on MSHA’s
                                                                                                                                                               the applicant. The applicant must agree
                                                                                                         behalf.
                                                                                                            Section 205 of the Chief Financial                 to pay the estimated fee before MSHA
                                                I. Executive Summary
                                                                                                         Officers Act of 1990 (CFO Act) and                    will begin testing, as needed, and
                                                A. Purpose of Regulatory Action                                                                                evaluating the product.
                                                                                                         Office of Management and Budget
                                                                                                         (OMB) Circular No. A–25 Revised, User                    2. Testing and evaluation includes
                                                   As part of the U.S. Department of
                                                                                                         Charges (7/8/1993), require agencies to               technical evaluation, analysis, test set
                                                Labor, under the Federal Mine Safety
                                                                                                         review the user charges in their                      up, testing, test tear down, any
                                                and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), as
                                                                                                         programs to ensure that the charges                   consultation on the application, and
                                                amended, MSHA’s mission is to prevent
                                                                                                         reflect the full costs of the services                internal quality control activities.
                                                death, disease, and injury from mining
                                                                                                         provided. Traditionally, MSHA reviews                 MSHA uses internal quality control
                                                and promote safe and healthy
                                                                                                         its user charges annually; however,                   programs to monitor and improve its
                                                workplaces for the Nation’s miners.
                                                                                                         MSHA last revised its hourly rate under               testing and evaluation processes (e.g.,
                                                Since 1911, MSHA and its predecessor
                                                                                                         part 5 to $97.00 on December 29, 2010                 internal administrative and technical
                                                agencies have evaluated and tested
                                                                                                         (75 FR 82074).                                        reviews; internal audits; and calibration,
                                                products for use in mines to prevent
                                                                                                            Under 30 U.S.C. 966, MSHA may                      repair, and maintenance of test
                                                fires, explosions, and accidents.
                                                                                                         retain up to $2,499,000 of fees collected             equipment).
                                                B. Summary of Major Provisions                           for the approval and certification of                    3. Following testing and evaluating a
                                                                                                         equipment, materials, and explosives for              product, MSHA makes an approval
                                                  Under the final rule, MSHA revises                     use in mines.
                                                the hourly rate for the fees charged to                                                                        decision and notifies the applicant by
                                                                                                            MSHA proposed revisions to its                     letter of the Agency’s findings and
                                                applicants and approval holders to                       existing regulations on fees for testing,
                                                include all costs associated with the                                                                          decision. If the product is approved, the
                                                                                                         evaluation and approval of mining                     letter identifies the approved
                                                approval program. MSHA calculates the                    products on October 9, 2014 (79 FR
                                                hourly rate by dividing the total                                                                              specifications for the design,
                                                                                                         61035). This final rule addresses the                 construction, maintenance, and
                                                approval program costs (direct and                       comments received in response to the
                                                indirect) during a prior fiscal year,                                                                          conditions of use for the product. If the
                                                                                                         proposed rule.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                including internal quality control                                                                             product is not approved or if the
                                                activities and post-approval product                                                                           application is cancelled, the letter
                                                                                                           1 These authorities are: Public Law 61–525, Ch.

                                                audits, by the number of total direct                    285, 36 Stat. 1419 (1911); Public Law 62–386, Ch.
                                                                                                                                                               identifies the reasons for the decision.
                                                hours spent on approval program                          72, Sec. 5, 37 Stat. 682 (1913); Public Law 72–212,   All approval documentation is kept on
                                                activities for the same period. These                    Ch. 314, Sec. 311, 47 Stat. 410 (1932); 30 U.S.C.     file at MSHA.
                                                                                                         961(c)(2); and Title V of the Independent Offices
                                                changes in how MSHA calculates fees                      Appropriations Act of 1952, Public Law 82–137, 65
                                                                                                                                                                  4. MSHA also conducts the following
                                                increase the hourly rate to $121.                        Stat. 290 (1951), as amended, 31 U.S.C. 9701.         post-approval activities:


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 145 / Wednesday, July 29, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                          45053

                                                  • Changing approvals (e.g.,                            activities rather than approval program               61037) defines indirect costs. MSHA’s
                                                extensions 2 of approvals, field                         activities (52 FR 17507–17508). As                    definition of indirect costs is consistent
                                                modifications, and modification through                  stated previously, OMB Circular No. A–                with OMB Circular No. A–25. MSHA
                                                the Revised Acceptance Modification                      25 requires that agencies recover the full            determined that the definition in the
                                                Program (RAMP)).                                         costs of services rendered. To more                   final rule adequately addresses the
                                                  • Conducting post-approval product                     accurately account for costs, MSHA                    commenter’s question.
                                                audits and field audits.                                 proposed to include the direct and                       Final § 5.30(c), like the proposal, is
                                                  • Responding to complaints.                            indirect cost of these post-approval                  derived from existing § 5.10(b) and
                                                  • Investigating product failures.                      product activities in the hourly rate                 includes activities for which MSHA
                                                  • Monitoring regional or nationwide                    calculation because these activities are              charges a fee. These activities continue
                                                product recall or retrofit programs.                     an important part of the approval                     to include application processing (e.g.,
                                                  • Conducting administrative actions,                   program. These activities assure MSHA,                administrative and technical review of
                                                such as transfer of approval numbers.                    operators, and miners that products                   applications, computer tracking, and
                                                  5. Termination of an approval may                      continue to be designed, manufactured,                status reporting); testing and evaluation
                                                occur when an approval holder                            and maintained in accordance with the                 (e.g., analysis of drawings, technical
                                                voluntarily requests termination of an                   approval requirements.                                evaluation, testing, test set up and test
                                                approval, when MSHA revokes an                             Under the final rule, like the proposal,            tear down, and internal quality control
                                                approval because of compliance or                        MSHA will continue to determine an                    activities); approval decisions (e.g.,
                                                safety issues, or when MSHA issues                       hourly rate to cover direct and indirect              consultation on applications, records
                                                regulations that make an approval                        costs. MSHA bases the hourly rate on all              control and security, document
                                                obsolete.                                                approval program costs the Agency                     preparation); and post-approval
                                                  MSHA did not receive any comments                      incurred during a prior fiscal year. The              activities, such as changes to approvals.
                                                on § 5.10 and it is finalized as proposed.               hourly rate is the total approval program             Like the proposal, final § 5.30(c)
                                                B. § 5.30 Fee Calculation                                costs (direct and indirect) divided by                describes internal quality control
                                                                                                         the number of direct hours spent on all               activities and post-approval product
                                                   Final § 5.30, like the proposal,                      approval program activities. Final                    audits as part of the approval program,
                                                addresses the hourly rate calculation,                   paragraph § 5.30(b) lists the approval                as MSHA is required to recover costs
                                                the activities for which MSHA charges                    program costs that MSHA will include                  associated with the approval program
                                                a fee, activities that are not subject to a              in the hourly rate calculation.                       (OMB Circular No. A–25).
                                                fee, the fee estimate, and any changes to                  Final paragraph § 5.30(b)(1), like the                 A commenter objected to MSHA
                                                the fee estimate. Section 5.30 is                        proposal, defines direct costs as                     charging for internal quality control.
                                                finalized as proposed.                                   consisting of compensation and benefit                Under the final rule, like the proposal,
                                                   Under final § 5.30(a), like the                       costs for all hours worked in support of              MSHA will charge applicants and
                                                proposal, MSHA will continue to charge                   the approval program and is derived, in               approval holders a fee for internal
                                                a fee based on an hourly rate for                        part, from existing § 5.10(b)(1) and                  quality control activities. These
                                                approval program activities and other                    (b)(2). These costs include approval                  activities are an integral part of the
                                                associated costs, such as travel expenses                program activities, such as testing and               approval program. MSHA uses internal
                                                and part 15 fees. Part 15 fees for services              evaluation, including internal quality                quality control activities to monitor and
                                                provided to MSHA by other                                control; and post-approval activities,                improve the Agency’s testing and
                                                organizations will be set by those                       including post-approval product audits.               evaluation processes and for quality
                                                organizations.                                             Final paragraph § 5.30(b)(2), like the              control. These internal quality control
                                                   Final paragraph § 5.30(b), like the                   proposal, defines indirect costs and is               activities assure applicants and
                                                proposal, is derived from existing                       derived, in part, from existing                       approval holders that consistent,
                                                § 5.30(a) and identifies the costs MSHA                  § 5.10(b)(3) and (b)(4). Indirect costs               accurate, and up-to-date scientific
                                                incurs in administering the approval                     include the approval program’s                        methods are used when MSHA is
                                                program. Under the final rule, like the                  proportionate share of the hours worked               evaluating and testing products. For
                                                proposal, the hourly rate is calculated to               to manage and operate the Approval and                example, MSHA has standard
                                                reflect the costs of the overall approval                Certification Center (A&CC). These costs              procedures to repair, maintain, and
                                                program. Under the existing rule, the                    are associated with activities required               calibrate laboratory equipment in
                                                hourly rate includes only the                            for information technology (IT) and                   accordance with the manufacturers’
                                                application processing; testing and                      A&CC management and administration.                   specifications. Each applicant and
                                                evaluation; and approval decision costs.                 Indirect costs also include the approval              approval holder receives a benefit from
                                                   Also under the existing rule, some                    program’s proportionate share of                      these internal quality control activities.
                                                post-approval activities, such as changes                depreciation for buildings, their                        MSHA will distribute the hours
                                                to approvals, are included in the                        improvements, and equipment; a                        worked and costs of internal quality
                                                approval program costs used in                           proportionate share of utilities,                     control activities, based on the hours
                                                calculating the hourly rate. Under the                   equipment rental, facility and                        worked on each application. Hours
                                                existing rule, however, MSHA had                         equipment maintenance, security,                      worked on specific internal quality
                                                excluded the costs of monitoring to                      supplies and materials, and other costs               control activities, however, are not
                                                assure approved products continue to be                  necessary for the operation and                       charged to a particular application.
                                                manufactured and maintained as                           maintenance of the A&CC; and a                        Instead, MSHA will charge each
                                                approved because MSHA considered                         proportionate share of Department of                  applicant a prorated share. MSHA will
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                                                these activities to be enforcement                       Labor-provided services that would                    calculate the prior year’s internal
                                                                                                         include financial systems, and audit and              quality control hours as a percentage of
                                                  2 An extension of the approval is a document
                                                                                                         IT support.                                           total hours, multiply that percentage by
                                                MSHA issues that states that a change to the               A commenter asked what MSHA                         the number of direct hours worked on
                                                product previously approved by MSHA is approved
                                                and authorizes the continued use of the approval
                                                                                                         considers to be indirect costs. Section               a particular application, and add the
                                                marking with the appropriate extension number for        5.30(b)(2) in this final rule and in the              result to the number of direct hours
                                                the change added.                                        preamble to the proposed rule (79 FR                  worked on that application.


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                                                45054             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 145 / Wednesday, July 29, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                   A commenter objected to MSHA                          ‘‘processing of the application is                    all costs and benefits of available
                                                charging a fee for post-approval product                 completed’’ with ‘‘approval program                   regulatory alternatives and, if regulation
                                                audits stating that MSHA could charge                    activities are completed.’’ MSHA will                 is necessary, to select regulatory
                                                for exaggerated paperwork evaluations                    continue to charge applicants a fee for               approaches that maximize net benefits
                                                and could audit the same company as                      approvals and some post-approval                      (including potential economic,
                                                often as they want. Under existing 30                    activities (e.g., modification to                     environmental, public health and safety
                                                CFR 7.8(b), 14.10(b), and 15.10(b),                      approvals), and will charge approval                  effects, distributive impacts, and
                                                MSHA audits a specific product no                        holders a fee for post-approval product               equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the
                                                more than once a year, except for cause,                 audits when the approval program                      importance of quantifying both costs
                                                and the approval-holder may attend any                   activities are completed.                             and benefits, of reducing costs, of
                                                testing MSHA conducts on their                              MSHA received no comments on                       harmonizing rules, and of promoting
                                                product. Post-approval product audits                    proposed § 5.40 and it is finalized as                flexibility. To comply with these
                                                are part of the approval program (post-                  proposed.                                             Executive Orders, MSHA has included
                                                approval activities) because they are                                                                          the following impact analysis.
                                                                                                         D. § 5.50 Fee Revisions                                  Section 3(f) of the E.O. 12866 defines
                                                necessary to assure that products have
                                                been manufactured as approved.                              Final § 5.50, like the proposal,                   a significant regulatory action as an
                                                   Under the final rule, like the proposal,              replaces ‘‘fee schedule’’ with ‘‘hourly               action that is likely to result in a rule
                                                MSHA will charge approval holders for                    rate’’ because MSHA no longer has a fee               that: (1) Has an annual effect on the
                                                the Agency’s post-approval product                       schedule. A commenter questioned why                  economy of $100 million or more, or
                                                audits, but will not charge for                          MSHA has a scheduling fee. As                         adversely and materially affects a sector
                                                investigations or audits based on                        discussed in this final rule and in the               of the economy, productivity,
                                                complaints about the products.                           preamble to the proposed rule, MSHA                   competition, jobs, the environment,
                                                   Internal quality control activities and               eliminated the individual fee schedules               public health or safety, or State, local or
                                                post-approval product audits assure                      in 1987 and created a single hourly rate              tribal governments or communities; (2)
                                                MSHA, operators, and miners that                         for calculation of fees.                              creates a serious inconsistency or
                                                products are and continue to be                             Like the proposal, MSHA is revising                otherwise interferes with an action
                                                designed, manufactured, and                              the hourly rate from $97 under the                    taken or planned by another agency; (3)
                                                maintained in accordance with the                        existing rule to $121 using fiscal year               materially alters the budgetary impacts
                                                approval requirements to ensure the                      (FY) 2012 data. A commenter objected                  of entitlement grants, user fees, or loan
                                                health and safety of miners. For these                   to MSHA raising the hourly rate, citing               programs, or the rights and obligations
                                                reasons, MSHA will charge a fee for                      challenging times being faced by the                  of recipients thereof; or (4) raises novel
                                                these activities.                                        coal industry. This commenter was                     legal or policy issues arising out of legal
                                                   Existing § 5.10(c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3), and            particularly concerned about the impact               mandates, the President’s priorities, or
                                                (c)(4) are revised and redesignated, in                  of the increase in fees on a small                    the principles set forth in the Executive
                                                part, as final § 5.30(d). Final § 5.30(d),               manufacturing company in the coal                     Order. OMB has determined that this is
                                                like the proposal, addresses the                         service industry. In response to this                 a significant regulatory action.
                                                activities for which MSHA will not                       comment, MSHA states below, in                           The final rule would not have an
                                                charge a fee. These include technical                    Section V. Feasibility, that the increase             annual effect of $100 million or more on
                                                assistance not related to approval                       in the hourly rate is below one percent               the economy and, under E.O. 12866, is
                                                applications; technical programs,                        of the estimated annual revenues of the               not considered economically significant.
                                                including development of new                             impacted industries. The final rule, like             MSHA has not prepared a separate
                                                technology programs; participation in                    the proposal, removes the term ‘‘fee                  regulatory economic analysis for this
                                                research conducted by other                              schedule’’ from § 5.50 and it is finalized            rulemaking. Rather, the analysis is
                                                government agencies or private                           as proposed.                                          presented below.
                                                organizations; and regulatory review                     E. Other Comments                                     A. Overview
                                                activities, including participation in the
                                                development of health and safety                            MSHA received general comments                       MSHA will continue to charge a fee
                                                standards, regulations, and legislation.                 that objected to the overall rulemaking               for approval services based on an hourly
                                                   MSHA did not receive any comments                     and to MSHA collecting more money                     rate. As under the existing rule, MSHA’s
                                                on proposed § 5.30(d) and it is finalized                than the Agency has the authority to                  hourly rate will include direct costs and
                                                as proposed.                                             retain. Under OMB Circular No. A–25,                  indirect costs. However, under the final
                                                   Existing paragraphs § 5.30(b), (c), and               MSHA is required to review the user                   rule, MSHA will calculate the hourly
                                                (d) are redesignated as final paragraphs                 fees in its programs to ensure that the               rate by dividing all approval program
                                                § 5.30(e), (f), and (g) under § 5.30 Fee                 charges reflect the full costs of the                 costs incurred by the Agency during a
                                                Calculation.                                             services provided. This action transfers              prior fiscal year by the number of direct
                                                   Final paragraph § 5.30(e), like the                   the cost of MSHA approval program                     hours spent on approval program
                                                proposal, is revised by renumbering                      services from the taxpayer to the                     activities for the same period.
                                                existing paragraphs § 5.30(b)(1) and                     applicants or approval holders who                      The final rule will increase the hourly
                                                (b)(2) as § 5.30(e)(1) and (e)(2),                       benefit from these services. Fees                     rate from $97 to $121, an increase of
                                                respectively. Final paragraphs § 5.30(f)                 collected in excess of those the Agency               $24.
                                                and (g) remain unchanged.                                is authorized to retain are sent back to                MSHA will also begin to charge a fee
                                                   MSHA did not receive any comments                     the U.S. Treasury.                                    for internal quality control activities and
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                                                on § 5.30(e), (f), and (g) and these                                                                           post-approval product audits. In FY
                                                                                                         IV. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory                 2012, MSHA collected approximately
                                                sections are finalized as proposed.
                                                                                                         Planning and Review and Executive                     $1.2 million in fees. Under this final
                                                C. § 5.40 Fee Administration                             Order 13563: Improving Regulation and                 rule, MSHA estimates that the Agency
                                                  Final § 5.40, like the proposal, is                    Regulatory Review                                     would have collected a total of $2.7
                                                revised by adding ‘‘approval holders’’ to                  Executive Orders (E.O.) 12866 and                   million in fees in FY 2012, an increase
                                                entities to be billed and replacing                      13563 generally direct agencies to assess             of $1.5 million.


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 145 / Wednesday, July 29, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                             45055

                                                   The charges under the final rule are                  of $121. In 2012, MSHA estimated that                 the provisions of the final rule is
                                                fees and are considered transfer                         the final hourly rate would have                      economically feasible.
                                                payments, not costs, under OMB                           resulted in approximately $1.5 million
                                                                                                                                                               VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act, Small
                                                Circular No. A–4, Regulatory Analysis                    in fees collected, an increase of
                                                                                                                                                               Business Regulatory Enforcement
                                                (09/17/2003). Transfer payments are                      $300,000 (($121 new rate¥$97 old rate)
                                                                                                                                                               Fairness Act, and Executive Order
                                                payments from one group to another                       × 12,189 hours).
                                                                                                           MSHA also estimated the fees from                   13272: Proper Consideration of Small
                                                that do not affect total resources
                                                                                                         charging for internal quality control                 Entities in Agency Rulemaking
                                                available to society. Under the final
                                                rule, the applicant or the approval                      activities. MSHA uses internal quality                   The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980
                                                holder pays for services for which they                  control activities to monitor and                     (RFA) as amended by the Small
                                                receive a benefit. These services are                    improve the Agency’s testing and                      Business Regulatory Enforcement
                                                currently paid for by the taxpayer.                      evaluation processes. These activities                Fairness Act of 1996 and other statutes,
                                                   Because the fees MSHA collects are a                  include internal process reviews;                     and E.O. 13272 requires agencies to
                                                transfer, there are zero costs and zero                  maintaining laboratory equipment; and                 consider the effects of their final and
                                                benefits regardless of the discount rate                 repairing, maintaining, and calibrating               existing regulations on small entities
                                                (OMB Circular No. A–4, Regulatory                        laboratory equipment to assure the                    and to examine alternatives that would
                                                Analysis (09/17/2003) Section (G)                        equipment produces reliable and                       minimize the small entity impacts while
                                                Accounting Statement).                                   accurate results. In FY 2012, MSHA                    still meeting the regulations’ purposes.
                                                                                                         spent 9,015 hours on these activities.                MSHA has reviewed the final rule to
                                                B. Benefits                                              MSHA multiplied the 9,015 hours by                    assess the potential impact on small
                                                  The rule will not produce any                          the proposed $121 hourly rate. This                   businesses, small governmental
                                                quantifiable benefits because the only                   results in an estimated annual impact of              jurisdictions, and small organizations.
                                                impact is the transfer payment.                          $1.1 million.                                            The applicants who will be affected
                                                                                                           In addition, MSHA analyzed post-                    by the final rule represent 30 industries.
                                                C. Projected Impacts                                                                                           The Small Business Administration’s
                                                                                                         approval product audit data from 2008
                                                   MSHA analyzed A&CC invoice data                       to 2012 to estimate the increase in fees              (SBA’s) size standard for a small entity
                                                from FY 2012. Using the U.S. Economic                    from charging for these services. In any              (13 CFR 121.201) differs by industry
                                                Census North American Industry                           given year, post-approval product audits              code. For mining, SBA defines a small
                                                Classification System (NAICS) data,                      are completed only on a subset of the                 entity as one with 500 or fewer
                                                MSHA estimated the impact of the final                   total products approved by the A&CC. In               employees. For non-mining industries
                                                rule on mining and non-mining                            2012, MSHA spent approximately 1,000                  that would be impacted by this rule,
                                                industries. NAICS is the standard used                   hours on 125 post-approval product                    SBA defines a small entity as one that
                                                by Federal statistical agencies in                       audits. Multiplying the 1,000 hours by                has revenues of $7.5 million or less.
                                                classifying business establishments for                  the proposed $121 hourly rate results in              MSHA used the SBA’s definitions for a
                                                the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and                an estimated annual impact of $121,000.               small entity, FY 2012 invoice data, and
                                                publishing statistical data related to the               The average estimated impact would                    NAICS industry data to evaluate the
                                                U.S. business economy (http://                           have been $970 for each approval holder               small business impact.
                                                www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/).                          audited in 2012.                                         For the non-mining industries, the
                                                   From the A&CC post-approval                                                                                 affected industries represent small
                                                product audit data and FY 2012                           V. Feasibility                                        business revenues of approximately
                                                invoices, MSHA identified 30 industries                    MSHA concludes that the final rule                  $474 billion. The final rule will increase
                                                that received A&CC approval program                      would be economically feasible.                       fees for non-mining industries by
                                                services. MSHA grouped this data into                      MSHA has traditionally used a                       approximately $0.5 million. The impact
                                                three general industry categories: Coal                  revenue screening test—whether the                    from an increase in fees is essentially
                                                Mining, Other Mining, and Non-Mining.                    annualized compliance costs of a                      zero percent of revenue ($0.5 million/
                                                   MSHA estimated the fees that will be                  regulation are less than one percent of               $474 billion).
                                                collected under this final rule by                       revenues (dollar change/revenue), or are                 For the mining industries, MSHA data
                                                summing the impact of the hourly rate                    negative (i.e., provide net cost savings)             shows small coal mine revenues of $30
                                                increase and the increase from charging                  to establish presumptively that                       billion. The final rule will increase fees
                                                for internal quality control activities and              compliance with the regulation is                     for small coal mines by approximately
                                                post-approval product audits. Under                      economically feasible. MSHA relies on                 $0.9 million. MSHA data shows other
                                                this final rule, fees will increase by                   Agency data to identify revenue for                   small mine revenues (not coal mines) of
                                                approximately $1.5 million annually                      covered mining entities and the 2007                  $57 billion. The final rule will increase
                                                ($0.3 million from the hourly rate                       Economic Census data to identify                      fees for small mines other than coal by
                                                increase + $1.1 million for internal                     revenue by NAICS industry categories                  approximately $6,000. The impact from
                                                quality control activities + $0.1 million                for non-mining entities.                              an increase in fees is zero percent for
                                                for post-approval product audit                            MSHA performed the revenue                          both mining categories.
                                                activities). Of the $1.5 million, the                    screening test comparing the annual                      Approximately $100,000 in increased
                                                increase in fees for the coal and other                  impact to annual revenues for all three               fees is primarily attributable to foreign
                                                mining industries will total                             categories and found that the percentage              entities. MSHA concludes that the
                                                approximately $0.9 million annually.                     impact rounds to zero percent of                      impact on the U.S. economy and its
                                                The remaining $0.6 million will be                       revenue in each case. Given the                       businesses would be de minimis.
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                                                distributed among the non-mining                         relatively small impact compared to                      Several commenters stated that large
                                                industries that seek product approval                    industry total revenues, any further                  companies could absorb the increase in
                                                from MSHA.                                               analysis would not be productive.                     fees and that the small companies
                                                   MSHA estimated the fee increase from                    Because the estimated impacts are                   would be adversely affected. MSHA’s
                                                the final hourly rate by multiplying the                 below one percent of estimated annual                 analysis determined that the impact of
                                                number of chargeable hours for FY 2012                   revenue of the impacted industries,                   the final rule for both small mining and
                                                (12,189 hours) by the final hourly rate                  MSHA concludes that compliance with                   small non-mining entities is essentially


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                                                45056             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 145 / Wednesday, July 29, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                zero percent of annual revenues.                         . . . .’’ MSHA has determined that this               and use of energy because it applies to
                                                Additionally, considering MSHA’s                         final rule will not include a regulatory              the coal mining industry. Insofar as the
                                                traditional definition of small mines (1–                or policy action with takings                         final rule would result in an increase to
                                                19 employees), the impact of the final                   implications. Accordingly, under E.O.                 the yearly transfer of $0.9 million for the
                                                rule is essentially zero percent. The                    12630, no further Agency action or                    coal mining industry relative to annual
                                                Agency concludes that one rate is                        analysis is required.                                 revenues of $41 billion in 2012, it is not
                                                appropriate for all company sizes.                                                                             a ‘‘significant energy action’’ because it
                                                   MSHA certifies that the final rule will               D. Executive Order 12988: Civil Justice
                                                                                                                                                               is not ‘‘likely to have a significant
                                                not have a significant economic impact                   Reform
                                                                                                                                                               adverse effect on the supply,
                                                on a substantial number of small                           Executive Order 12988 contains                      distribution, or use of energy (including
                                                entities.                                                requirements for Federal agencies                     a shortfall in supply, price increases,
                                                                                                         promulgating new regulations or                       and increased use of foreign supplies).’’
                                                VII. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
                                                                                                         reviewing existing regulations to                     Accordingly, under E.O. 13211, no
                                                  This final rule contains no                            minimize litigation by eliminating                    further Agency action or analysis is
                                                information collections subject to                       drafting errors and ambiguity, providing              required.
                                                review by OMB under the Paperwork                        a clear legal standard for affected
                                                Reduction Act of 1995. The paperwork                     conduct rather than a general standard,               List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 5
                                                associated with applications for                         promoting simplification, and reducing                  Mine safety and health.
                                                approval are considered under the                        burden. MSHA has reviewed this final                    Dated: July 23, 2015.
                                                specific part in Title 30, Chapter 1,                    rule and has determined that it would
                                                Subchapter B that contains the                                                                                 Joseph A. Main,
                                                                                                         meet the applicable standards provided                Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety
                                                requirements for the specific product                    in E.O. 12988 to minimize litigation and
                                                submitted for MSHA approval.                                                                                   and Health.
                                                                                                         undue burden on the Federal court
                                                                                                         system.                                                 For the reasons set out in the
                                                VIII. Other Regulatory Considerations
                                                                                                                                                               preamble, and under the authority of the
                                                A. The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                      E. Executive Order 13045: Protection of               Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of
                                                of 1995                                                  Children From Environmental Health                    1977, as amended, MSHA is revising 30
                                                                                                         Risks and Safety Risks                                CFR part 5 to read as follows:
                                                  MSHA has reviewed the final rule
                                                under the Unfunded Mandates Reform                         MSHA has determined that this final
                                                Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).                     rule will have no adverse impact on                   PART 5—FEES FOR TESTING,
                                                MSHA has determined that this final                      children. Accordingly, under E.O.                     EVALUATION, AND APPROVAL OF
                                                rule does not include any federal                        13045, no further Agency action or                    MINING PRODUCTS
                                                mandate that may result in increased                     analysis is required.                                 Sec.
                                                expenditures by State, local, or tribal                  F. Executive Order 13132: Federalism                  5.10     Purpose and scope.
                                                governments; nor would it increase                                                                             5.30     Fee calculation.
                                                private sector expenditures by more                        MSHA has determined that this final                 5.40     Fee administration.
                                                than $100 million (adjusted for                          rule does not have federalism                         5.50     Fee revisions.
                                                inflation) in any one year or                            implications because it would not have                  Authority: 30 U.S.C. 957.
                                                significantly or uniquely affect small                   substantial direct effects on the States,
                                                governments. Accordingly, under the                      on the relationship between the national              § 5.10    Purpose and scope.
                                                Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, no                         government and the States, or on the                    This part establishes a system under
                                                further Agency action or analysis is                     distribution of power and                             which MSHA charges a fee for services
                                                required.                                                responsibilities among the various                    provided. This part includes the
                                                                                                         levels of government. Accordingly,                    management and calculation of fees for
                                                B. The Treasury and General                              under E.O. 13132, no further Agency                   the approval program, which includes:
                                                Government Appropriations Act of                         action or analysis is required.                       Application processing, testing and
                                                1999: Assessment of Federal
                                                                                                         G. Executive Order 13175: Consultation                evaluation, approval decisions, post-
                                                Regulations and Policies on Families
                                                                                                         and Coordination With Indian Tribal                   approval activities, and termination of
                                                   Section 654 of the Treasury and                                                                             approvals.
                                                General Government Appropriations                        Governments
                                                Act of 1999 (5 U.S.C. 601 note), as                         MSHA has determined that this final                § 5.30    Fee calculation.
                                                amended, requires agencies to assess the                 rule does not have tribal implications                  (a) Fee calculation. MSHA charges a
                                                impact of agency action on family well-                  because it would not have substantial                 fee based on an hourly rate for Approval
                                                being. MSHA has determined that this                     direct effects on one or more Indian                  and Certification Center (A&CC)
                                                final rule would have no effect on                       tribes, on the relationship between the               approval program activities and other
                                                family stability or safety, marital                      Federal government and Indian tribes,                 associated costs, such as travel expenses
                                                commitment, parental rights and                          or on the distribution of power and                   and part 15 fees. Part 15 fees for services
                                                authority, or income or poverty of                       responsibilities between the Federal                  provided to MSHA by other
                                                families and children. Accordingly,                      government and Indian tribes.                         organizations may be set by those
                                                MSHA certifies that this final rule will                 Accordingly, under E.O. 13175, no                     organizations.
                                                not impact family well-being.                            further Agency action or analysis is                    (b) Hourly rate calculation. The
                                                                                                         required.                                             hourly rate consists of direct and
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                                                C. Executive Order 12630: Government                                                                           indirect costs of the A&CC’s approval
                                                Actions and Interference With                            H. Executive Order 13211: Actions                     program divided by the number of
                                                Constitutionally Protected Property                      Concerning Regulations That                           direct hours worked on all approval
                                                Rights                                                   Significantly Affect Energy Supply,                   program activities.
                                                  Executive Order 12630 requires                         Distribution, or Use                                    (1) Direct costs are compensation and
                                                Federal agencies to ‘‘identify the takings                  MSHA has reviewed this final rule for              benefit costs for hours worked on
                                                implications of final regulatory actions                 its impact on the supply, distribution,               approval program activities.


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 145 / Wednesday, July 29, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                         45057

                                                  (2) Indirect costs are a proportionate                 authorized maximum dollar amount, the                 SUMMARY:   In a Notice of Finding (NOF)
                                                share of the following A&CC costs:                       applicant has the choice of cancelling                published in the Federal Register on
                                                  (i) Compensation and benefit hours                     the action and paying for all work done               July 22, 2014, the Director of FinCEN
                                                worked in support of all A&CC                            up to the time of the cancellation, or                found that reasonable grounds exist for
                                                activities;                                              authorizing MSHA’s estimate.                          concluding that FBME Bank Ltd.
                                                  (ii) A&CC building and equipment                         (3) Under the Revised Acceptance                    (FBME), formerly known as the Federal
                                                depreciation costs;                                      Modification Program (RAMP), MSHA                     Bank of the Middle East, Ltd., is a
                                                  (iii) A&CC utilities, facility and                     expedites applications for acceptance of              financial institution of primary money
                                                equipment maintenance, and supplies                      minor changes to previously approved,                 laundering concern pursuant to the
                                                and materials; and                                       certified, accepted, or evaluated                     United States Code (U.S.C.). On the
                                                  (iv) Information Technology and other                  products. The applicant must pre-                     same date, FinCEN also published in the
                                                services the Department of Labor                         authorize a fixed dollar amount, set by               Federal Register a Notice of Proposed
                                                provides to the A&CC.                                    MSHA, for processing the application.                 Rulemaking (NPRM) to propose the
                                                  (c) Fees are charged for—                                (f) If unforeseen circumstances are
                                                  (1) Application processing (e.g.,                                                                            imposition of a special measure
                                                                                                         discovered during the evaluation, and                 authorized by the U.S.C. against FBME.
                                                administrative and technical review of
                                                                                                         MSHA determines that these                            FinCEN is issuing this final rule
                                                applications, computer tracking, and
                                                                                                         circumstances would result in the actual              imposing the fifth special measure
                                                status reporting);
                                                  (2) Testing and evaluation (e.g.,                      costs exceeding either the pre-                       against FBME.
                                                analysis of drawings, technical                          authorized expenditure or the                         DATES: This final rule is effective August
                                                evaluation, testing, test set up and test                authorized maximum fee estimate, as                   28, 2015.
                                                tear down, and internal quality control                  appropriate, MSHA will prepare a
                                                                                                                                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The
                                                activities);                                             revised maximum fee estimate for
                                                                                                                                                               FinCEN Resource Center at (800) 767–
                                                  (3) Approval decisions (e.g.,                          completing the evaluation. The
                                                                                                                                                               2825.
                                                consultation on applications, records                    applicant will have the option of either
                                                                                                         cancelling the action and paying for                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                control and security, document
                                                preparation); and                                        services rendered or authorizing                      I. Background
                                                  (4) Two post-approval activities:                      MSHA’s revised estimate, in which case
                                                changes to approvals and post-approval                   MSHA will continue to test and                        A. Statutory Provisions
                                                product audits.                                          evaluate the product.                                    On October 26, 2001, the President
                                                  (d) Fees are not charged for—                            (g) If the actual cost of processing the            signed into law the Uniting and
                                                  (1) Technical assistance not related to                application is less than MSHA’s                       Strengthening America by Providing
                                                processing an approval application;                      maximum fee estimate, MSHA will                       Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept
                                                  (2) Technical programs, including                      charge the actual cost.                               and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001,
                                                development of new technology                                                                                  Public Law 107–56 (the USA PATRIOT
                                                programs;                                                § 5.40   Fee administration.
                                                                                                                                                               Act). Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act
                                                  (3) Participation in research                             Applicants and approval holders will
                                                                                                                                                               amends the anti-money laundering
                                                conducted by other government                            be billed for all fees, including actual
                                                                                                                                                               provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act
                                                agencies or private organizations; and                   travel expenses, if any, when approval
                                                  (4) Regulatory review activities,                                                                            (BSA), codified at 12 U.S.C. 1829b, 12
                                                                                                         program activities are completed.
                                                including participation in the                                                                                 U.S.C. 1951–1959, and 31 U.S.C. 5311–
                                                                                                         Invoices will contain specific payment
                                                development of health and safety                                                                               5314, 5316–5332, to promote the
                                                                                                         instruction, including the address to
                                                standards, regulations, and legislation.                                                                       prevention, detection, and prosecution
                                                                                                         mail payments and authorized methods
                                                  (e) Fee estimate. Except as provided                                                                         of international money laundering and
                                                                                                         of payment.
                                                in paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) of this                                                                           the financing of terrorism. Regulations
                                                section, on completion of an initial                     § 5.50   Fee revisions.                               implementing the BSA appear at 31 CFR
                                                administrative review of the                               The hourly rate will remain in effect               chapter X. The authority of the
                                                application, the A&CC will prepare a                     for at least one year and be subject to               Secretary of the Treasury (the Secretary)
                                                maximum fee estimate for each                            revision at least once every three years.             to administer the BSA and its
                                                application. A&CC will begin the                                                                               implementing regulations has been
                                                                                                         [FR Doc. 2015–18617 Filed 7–28–15; 8:45 am]
                                                technical evaluation after the applicant                                                                       delegated to the Director of FinCEN.
                                                                                                         BILLING CODE 4510–43–P
                                                authorizes the fee estimate.                                                                                      Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act
                                                  (1) The applicant may pre-authorize                                                                          (Section 311), codified at 31 U.S.C.
                                                an expenditure for services, and may                                                                           5318A, grants the Director of FinCEN
                                                                                                         DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                            the authority, upon finding that
                                                further choose to pre-authorize either a
                                                maximum dollar amount or an                                                                                    reasonable grounds exist for concluding
                                                                                                         Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
                                                expenditure without a specified                                                                                that a foreign jurisdiction, financial
                                                maximum amount.                                                                                                institution, class of transaction, or type
                                                                                                         31 CFR Part 1010
                                                  (i) All applications containing a pre-                                                                       of account is of ‘‘primary money
                                                authorization statement will be put in                   RIN 1506–AB27                                         laundering concern,’’ to require
                                                the queue for the technical evaluation                                                                         domestic financial institutions and
                                                on completion of an initial                              Imposition of Special Measure Against                 financial agencies to take certain
                                                administrative review.                                   FBME Bank Ltd., Formerly Known as                     ‘‘special measures’’ to address the
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                  (ii) MSHA will concurrently prepare a                  the Federal Bank of the Middle East                   primary money laundering concern.
                                                maximum fee estimate for applications                    Ltd., as a Financial Institution of                   This rulemaking imposes the fifth
                                                containing a statement pre-authorizing a                 Primary Money Laundering Concern                      special measure, codified at 31 U.S.C.
                                                maximum dollar amount, and will                          AGENCY:  Financial Crimes Enforcement                 5318A(b)(5), against FBME. The fifth
                                                provide the applicant with this estimate.                Network (FinCEN), Treasury.                           special measure allows the Director to
                                                  (2) Where MSHA’s estimated                                                                                   prohibit or impose conditions on the
                                                                                                         ACTION: Final rule.
                                                maximum fee exceeds the pre-                                                                                   opening or maintaining of


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Document Created: 2015-12-15 13:05:53
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 13:05:53
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesThe final rule is effective on October 1, 2015.
ContactSheila A. McConnell, Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at [email protected] (email); 202-693-9440 (voice); or 202-693- 9441 (facsimile). (These are not toll-free numbers).
FR Citation80 FR 45051 
RIN Number1219-AB82

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