Requires coal mine operators to submit
to MSHA annual reports and certification on refuse piles and
impoundments and to keep records of the results of weekly
examinations and instrumentation monitoring. Impoundments are
structures that can impound water, sediment, or slurry or any
combination of materials; and refuse piles are deposits of coal
mine waste (other than overburden or spoil) that are removed during
mining operations or separated from mined coal and deposited on the
surface. The failure of these structures can have a devastating
affect on a community. To avoid or minimize such disasters,
standards have been promulgated for the design, construction, and
maintenance of these structures; for annual certifications; for
certification for hazardous refuse piles; for the frequency of
inspections; and the methods of abandonment for impoundments and
impounding structures.
US Code:
30
USC 813(h) Name of Law: Federal Mine Safety & Health of
1977
US Code: 30
USC 811 Name of Law: Federal Mine Safety & Health of
1977
MSHA records show a slight
increase in the number of respondents from 629 to 632. The number
of active impoundments increased due to an industry effort to
keeping existing facilities in operation longer by increasing the
elevation and capacity for refuse disposal at impoundments rather
than developing new sites because of the relative scarcity of
suitable locations. There was a decrease in the number of
impoundment plans. The number of responses overall increased by 49
(from 31,365 to 31,414), and consequently, burden hours increased
by 222 (from 76,572 to 76,794). These increases in responses and
burden hours are due to the slight increase in the number of active
impoundments and the associated increase in the number of
inspections for these impoundments. This burden estimate also
continues to recognize that contract engineering firms perform 95
percent of the engineering work associated with impoundments and
refuse piles. MSHA assesses a decrease of $1,422,343 (from
$3,456,928 to $2,034,585) in burden cost due to the decrease in
impoundment plans.
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:
(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;
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.
MSHA-2017-0018-0001.pdf
1219-0015 Supporting Statement 1-2018.doc
Refuse Piles and Impounding Structures--Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements