83 FR 15875 - Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Mine Mapping and Records of Opening, Closing, and Reopening of Mines

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 71 (April 12, 2018)

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments on the information collection for Mine Mapping and Records of Opening, Closing, and Reopening of Mines.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15875-15876]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07547]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0073]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Mine Mapping and 
Records of Opening, Closing, and Reopening of Mines

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information 
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This program 
helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired 
format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments on the information collection for Mine Mapping and 
Records of Opening, Closing, and Reopening of Mines.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before June 11, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements 
of this notice may be sent by any of the methods listed below.
     Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket 
number MSHA-2018-0004.
     Regular Mail: Send comments to USDOL-MSHA, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 
4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452.
     Hand Delivery: USDOL-Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, VA 
22202-5452. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 4th Floor via the 
East elevator.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, Director, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at 
[email protected] (email); (202) 693-9440 (voice); 
or (202) 693-9441 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes MSHA to collect information 
necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety and health of 
miners. Further, section 101 (a) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 811, 
authorizes the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) to develop, promulgate, 
and revise as may be appropriate, improved mandatory health or safety 
standards for the protection of life and prevention of injuries in coal 
or other mines.
    The information collection addressed by this notice is intended to 
protect miners by assuring that up-to-date, accurate mine maps contain 
the information needed to clarify the best alternatives for action 
during an emergency operation. Coal mine operators routinely use maps 
to create safe and effective development plans.
    Mine maps are schematic depictions of critical mine infrastructure, 
such as water, power, transportation, ventilation, and communication 
systems. Using accurate, up-to-date maps during a disaster, mine 
emergency personnel can locate refuges for miners and identify sites of 
explosion potential; they can know where stationary equipment was 
placed, where ground was secured, and where they can best begin a 
rescue operation. During a disaster, maps can be crucial to the safety 
of the emergency personnel who must enter a mine to begin a search for 
survivors.
    Mine maps may describe the current status of an operating mine or 
provide

[[Page 15876]]

crucial information about a long-closed mine that is being reopened.
    Title 30 CFR 75.1200 requires each underground coal mine operator 
to have an accurate and up-to-date map of such mine drawn to scale and 
stored in a fireproof repository in an area on the surface of the mine 
chosen by the mine operator to minimize the danger of destruction by 
fire or other hazards. Sections 75.1200-1, 75.1201, 75.1202, 75.1202-1, 
and 75.1203 specify the information which must be shown on the map. The 
maps must be certified by a registered engineer or surveyor; kept 
continuously up-to-date by temporary notations and revised and 
supplemented to include the temporary notations at intervals not more 
than 6 months; and made available for inspection by a representative of 
the Secretary, State coal mine inspectors, miners and their 
representatives, operators of adjacent coal mines, and persons owning, 
leasing, or residing on surface areas of such mines or areas adjacent 
to such mines. These maps are essential to the planning and safe 
operation of the mine. In addition, these maps provide a graphic 
presentation of the locations of working sections and the locations of 
fixed surface and underground mine facilities and equipment, escapeway 
routes, coal haulage and man and materials haulage entries and other 
information essential to mine rescue or mine fire fighting activities 
in the event of mine fire, explosion or inundations of gas or water. 
The information is essential to the safe operation of adjacent mines 
and mines approaching the worked out areas of active or abandoned 
mines. Section 75.372 requires underground mine operators to submit 
three copies of an up-to-date mine map to the District Manager at 
intervals not exceeding 12 months during the operating life of the 
mine.
    Title 30 CFR 75.1204 and 75.1204-1 require that whenever an 
underground coal mine operator permanently closes or abandons a coal 
mine, or temporarily closes a coal mine for a period of more than 90 
days, the operator shall file with MSHA a copy of the mine map revised 
and supplemented to the date of closure. Maps are retained in a 
repository and are made available to mine operators of adjacent 
properties. The maps are necessary to provide an accurate record of 
underground areas that have been mined to help prevent active mine 
operators from mining into abandoned areas that may contain water or 
harmful gases.
    Title 30 CFR 77.1200, 77.1201 and 77.1202 require surface coal mine 
operators to maintain an accurate and up-to-date map of the mine and 
specifies the information to be shown on the map, the acceptable range 
of map scales, that the map be certified by a registered engineer or 
surveyor, that the map be available for inspection by the Secretary or 
his authorized representative. These maps are essential for the safe 
operation of the mine and provide essential information to operators of 
adjacent surface and underground mines. Properly prepared and 
effectively utilized surface mine maps can prevent outbursts of water 
impounded in underground mine workings and/or inundations of 
underground mines by surface impounded water or water and or gases 
impounded in surface auger mining worked out areas.
    Title 30 CFR 75.373 and 75.1721 require that after a mine is 
abandoned or declared inactive and before it is reopened, mine 
operations shall not begin until MSHA has been notified and has 
completed an inspection. Section 75.1721 specifies that once the mine 
operator notifies the MSHA District Manager on the intent to reopen a 
mine all preliminary plans must be submitted in writing prior to 
development of the coalbed unless or until all preliminary plans are 
approved.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Mine Mapping and Records of Opening, Closing, and 
Reopening of Mines. MSHA is particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA's estimate of the burden of 
the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
     Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    The information collection request will be available on http://www.regulations.gov. MSHA cautions the commenter against providing any 
information in the submission that should not be publicly disclosed. 
Full comments, including personal information provided, will be made 
available on www.regulations.gov and www.reginfo.gov.
    The public may also examine publicly available documents at USDOL-
Mine Safety and Health Administration, 201 12th South, Suite 4E401, 
Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 4th 
Floor via the East elevator.
    Questions about the information collection requirements may be 
directed to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section of this notice.

III. Current Actions

    This request for collection of information contains provisions for 
Mine Mapping and Records of Opening, Closing, and Reopening of Mines. 
MSHA has updated the data with respect to the number of respondents, 
responses, burden hours, and burden costs supporting this information 
collection request.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0073.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 614.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 267.
    Annual Burden Hours: 5,650 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $7,620,554.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

Sheila McConnell,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-07547 Filed 4-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P