83 FR 30983 - Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Refuge Alternatives for Underground Coal Mines

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 127 (July 2, 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 Refuge Alternatives for Underground Coal Mines.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 127 (Monday, July 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30983-30984]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14091]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0146]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Refuge Alternatives 
for Underground Coal 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 Refuge 
Alternatives for Underground Coal Mines.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before August 31, 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-2018-0023.
     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.
    Each underground coal mine has an emergency response plan (ERP) and 
refuge alternatives (RA) that protect miners when escape from a mine 
during a mine emergency is not possible by providing secure spaces with 
isolated atmospheres that create life-sustaining environments.
    Title 30 CFR 75.1506 requires mine operators to provide refuge 
alternatives.
    Section 75.1507 requires the development and implementation of 
emergency response plans. It requires that the ERP provide detailed 
information about the RAs used in the mine. This information assists 
miners, supervisors, emergency responders, and MSHA in assuring that 
all essential preparations are made and required materials are readily 
available and in working order. A mine operator may notify the District 
Manager and update the existing ERP if there is a need to locate an RA 
in a different location than the one identified in the ERP for that 
mine (as required by section 75.1506(c)(2)).
    Section 75.1508 requires the mine operator to certify that persons 
assigned to examine, maintain, and repair RAs and components are 
trained for those tasks. Training certifications assist MSHA in 
determining that persons received the required training. The training 
certification for persons assigned to examine RAs is integrated into 
existing requirements for preshift examinations of the mine under 
section 75.360 (OMB 1219-0088). The training certification for persons 
assigned to maintain and repair RAs is included in this package under 
section 75.1508(a).
    Section 75.1508(b) requires a record of any maintenance and repair 
performed on an RA. This record assists MSHA in identifying design 
flaws or other weaknesses in the refuge alternative or its components 
that could adversely impact the safety of miners.

[[Page 30984]]

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Refuge Alternatives for Underground Coal 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 
Refuge Alternatives for Underground Coal 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: 1219-0146.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 10.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 36.
    Annual Burden Hours: 159 hours.
    Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $36.
    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. 2018-14091 Filed 6-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P