Sealing of Abandoned Areas Standard

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
RELEVANT REGULATORY PROVISIONS.doc Supplementary Document	2011-06-22
1219-0142 Supporting Statement 3-2014.doc Supporting Statement A	2014-07-31
1219-0142 60-Day PUBLISHED FRN v79 p19387 4-8-14.pdf Supplementary Document	2014-06-10

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
180247	Sealing of Abandoned Areas Standard	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1219-0142	ICR Reference No: 201403-1219-008
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201101-1219-017
Agency/Subagency: DOL/MSHA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Sealing of Abandoned Areas Standard
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 10/24/2014
	Date Received in OIRA: 08/18/2014
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	10/31/2017	36 Months From Approved	10/31/2014
Responses	54,857	0	90,360
Time Burden (Hours)	6,380	0	9,057
Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,510,674	0	1,941,719

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Abstract: MSHA's standards for sealing abandoned areas in underground coal mines includes requirements covering the design and construction of new seals and the maintenance and repair of all seals. Records that will be collected under this rule will help assure that the construction and maintenance of seals are done correctly; certified persons conducting sampling in sealed areas are adequately trained; and results from sampling in sealed areas are recorded, so that problems can be found and fixed.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 109 - 236 10 Name of Law: Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 1966
   PL: Pub.L. 91 - 173 101(b) and (103)(h) Name of Law: Federal Mine Health and Safety Act
  

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:
	79 FR 19387	04/08/2014
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	79 FR 48768	08/18/2014
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Sealing of Abandoned Areas Standard

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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	54,857	90,360	0	0	-35,503	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	6,380	9,057	0	0	-2,677	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,510,674	1,941,719	0	0	-431,045	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: The number of producing underground coal mines has decreased from 361 to 301. In addition, the percentage of sealed areas with seals of less than 120 psi strength continues to decrease as operators build new, stronger seals. Due to the decrease in respondents, responses decreased as well from 90,360 to 54,857, and burden hours decreased from 9,057 to 6,380. Response time increased for annual burden hours and to notify MSHA under section 75.336(c) but this increase in burden hours did not offset the overall decrease in burden hours.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,510,661

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: 08/18/2014

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