Ground Control Plans for Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Ground Control for Deep Cover UG Coal.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-08-21
Technical Assistance for Safe and Healthful Mining.docx Supplementary Document	2012-08-21
PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P11-02 - Ground Control.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-08-21
1219-0026 Final SS 8-21-2012.doc Supporting Statement A	2012-08-22

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
43813	Ground Control Plan Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1219-0026	ICR Reference No: 201204-1219-006
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200907-1219-002
Agency/Subagency: DOL/MSHA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Ground Control Plans for Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 10/23/2012
	Date Received in OIRA: 08/27/2012
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	10/31/2015	36 Months From Approved	10/31/2012
Responses	844	0	327
Time Burden (Hours)	5,840	0	2,841
Cost Burden (Dollars)	2,844	0	520

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Abstract: Each operator of a surface coal mine is required under 30 CFR 77.1000 to establish and follow a ground control plan that is consistent with prudent engineering design and which will ensure safe working conditions. The mine operator is required by § 77.1000-1 to file the ground control plan under § 77.1000 for highwalls, pits and spoil banks with the appropriate District Manager. The mining methods employed by the operator are selected to ensure highwall, pit, and spoil bank stability. In the event of a highwall failure or material dislodgment, there may be very little time to escape possible injury; therefore, preventive measures must be taken. Each plan is based on the type of strata expected to be encountered, the height and angle of highwalls and spoil banks, and the equipment to be used at the mine. The plan is used to show how the mine operator will maintain safe conditions around the highwalls, pits, and spoil banks. Each plan is reviewed by MSHA to ensure that highwalls, pits, and spoil banks are maintained in a safe condition through the use of sound engineering design.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 91 - 173 103 Name of Law: Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	77 FR 26046	05/02/2012
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	77 FR 51827	08/27/2012
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Ground Control Plan

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	844	327	0	0	517	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	5,840	2,841	0	0	2,999	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	2,844	520	0	0	2,324	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Respondents: There has been an increase of 18 respondents (from 925 to 943) due to a change in the number of surface coal mines requiring a ground control plan to be filed with MSHA. Responses: There has been an Increase of 517 responses (from 327 to 844). MSHA believes this reported increase is due to MSHA's main office having improved its data collection in recent years concerning the number and type of ground control plans submitted by mine operators to the various district offices. Previously, these data were optionally submitted by the district offices to MSHA's central database; submission of these data by district offices is now required by headquarters. Burden Hours: There has been an increase of 2,999 hours (from 2,841 to 5,840). Because of this significant increase in the estimated number of responses, there is also a significant increase in the estimate of burden hours. In addition, MSHA reduced its estimate of clerical time for copying, filing, and mailing plans from 1.0 hour to 0.1 hour for the burden hour estimate. MSHA determined that the 2009 estimate of an hour to copy, file, and mail a 6-page plan was an over-estimate. Annual Cost Burden: There has been an increase of $2,324 (from $520 to $2,844). MSHA increased its estimate of the cost burden to submit plans by including copying costs in addition to postage.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $25,877

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 08/27/2012

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