1219-0103 Published Frn 6-10-21

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 110 / Thursday, June 10, 2021 / Notices
required by the standard in the affected
areas of the mine.
(d) Employees will be trained on how
to properly use and take care of the
CleanSpace EX according to
manufacturer guidelines.
(e) Qualified miners will receive
training regarding the information in the
Decision and Order before using the
equipment in the relevant part of the
mine. A record of the training will be
kept and available upon request.
(f) Within 60 days of the Decision and
Order becoming finalized, the petitioner
will submit proposed revisions to 30
CFR 75.370, mine ventilation, to be
approved under the 30 CFR part 48
training plan by the Coal Mine Safety
and Health District Manager. The
revisions will specify initial and
refresher training. When the training is
conducted, the MSHA Certificate of
Training (Form 5000–23) will be
completed. Comments will be made on
the certificate to note non-permissible
testing equipment training.
The petitioner asserts that the
alternate method proposed will at all
times guarantee no less than the same
measure of protection afforded the
miners under the mandatory standard.
Jessica D. Senk,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations,
and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2021–12161 Filed 6–9–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520–43–P

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219–0103]

Proposed Extension of Information
Collection; Notification of Methane
Detected in Underground Metal and
Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres
Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
AGENCY:

The Department of Labor, as
part of its continuing effort to reduce
paperwork and respondent burden,
conducts a pre-clearance request for
comment 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 request 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

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SUMMARY:

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properly assessed. Currently, the Mine
Safety and Health Administration
(MSHA) is soliciting comments on the
information collection for Notification
of Methane Detected in Underground
Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres.
DATES: All comments must be received
on or before August 9, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comment
as follows. Please note that late,
untimely filed comments will not be
considered.
Electronic Submissions: Submit
electronic comments in the following
way:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
for docket number MSHA–2021–0009.
Comments submitted electronically,
including attachments, to https://
www.regulations.gov will be posted to
the docket, with no changes. Because
your comment will be made public, you
are responsible for ensuring that your
comment does not include any
confidential information that you or a
third party may not wish to be posted,
such as your or anyone else’s Social
Security number or confidential
business information.
• If your comment includes
confidential information that you do not
wish to be made available to the public,
submit the comment as a written/paper
submission.
Written/Paper Submissions: Submit
written/paper submissions in the
following way:
• Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit
DOL–MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th
Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington,
VA 22202–5452.
• MSHA will post your comment as
well as any attachments, except for
information submitted and marked as
confidential, in the docket at https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jessica Senk, 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

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30987

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.
Methane is a flammable gas found in
underground mines in the United
States. Although methane is often
associated with underground coal
mines, it also occurs in some metal and
nonmetal mines. Underground metal
and Nonmetal mines are categorized
according to the potential to liberate
methane (30 CFR 57.22003—Mine
category or subcategory). Methane is a
colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, and it
tends to rise to the roof of a mine
because it is lighter than air. Although
methane itself is nontoxic, its presence
reduces the oxygen content by dilution
when mixed with air and, consequently,
can act as an asphyxiant when present
in large quantities.
Methane may enter the mining
environment from a variety of sources
including fractures, faults, or shear
zones overlying or underlying the strata
that surround the ore body, or from the
ore body itself. It may occur as an
occluded gas within the ore body.
Methane mixed with air is explosive in
the range of 5 to 15 percent, provided
that 12 percent or more oxygen is
present. The presence of dust containing
volatile matter in the mine atmosphere
may further enhance the potential for
methane to explode in a mine. Section
103(i) of Mine Act requires additional
inspections be conducted at mines
depending on the amount of methane
liberated from a mine.
Title 30 CFR 57.22004(c) requires
operators of underground metal and
nonmetal mines to notify MSHA as soon
as possible if any of the following events
occur: (a) There is an outburst that
results in 0.25 percent or more methane
in the mine atmosphere, (b) there is a
blowout that results in 0.25 percent or
more methane in the mine atmosphere,
(c) there is an ignition of methane, or (d)
air sample results indicate 0.25 percent
or more methane in the mine
atmosphere of a I–B, I–C, II–B, V–B, or
Category VI mine. Under sections
57.22239 and 57.22231, if methane
reaches 2.0 percent in a Category IV
mine or if methane reaches 0.25 percent
in the mine atmosphere of a
Subcategory I–B, II–B, V–B, or VI mine,
MSHA shall be notified immediately.
Although the standards do not specify
how MSHA is to be notified, MSHA
anticipates that the notifications would
be made by telephone.
Sections 57.22229 and 57.22230
require that the mine atmosphere be
tested for methane and/or carbon
dioxide at least once every 7 days by a
competent person or atmospheric

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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 110 / Thursday, June 10, 2021 / Notices

monitoring system, or a combination of
both. Section 57.2229 applies to
underground metal and nonmetal mines
categorized as I–A, III, and V–A mines
where the atmosphere is tested for both
methane and carbon dioxide. Section
57.22230 applies to underground metal
and nonmetal mines categorized as II–
A mines where the atmosphere is tested
for methane. Where examinations
disclose hazardous conditions, affected
miners must be informed. Sections
57.22229(d) and 57.22230(c) require that
the person performing the tests certify
by signature and date that the tests have
been conducted. Certifications of
examinations shall be kept for at least 1
year and made available to authorized
representatives of the Secretary.

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II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments
concerning the proposed information
collection related to Notification of
Methane Detected in Underground
Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres.
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.
Background documents related to this
information collection request are
available at https://regulations.gov and
in DOL–MSHA located at 201 12th
Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington,
VA 22202–5452. Questions about the
information collection requirements
may be directed to the person listed in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of
this notice.
III. Current Actions
This information collection request
concerns provisions for Notification of
Methane Detected in Underground
Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres.
MSHA has updated the data with
respect to the number of respondents,
responses, burden hours, and burden
costs supporting this information

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collection request from the previous
information collection request.
Type of Review: Extension, without
change, of a currently approved
collection.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health
Administration.
OMB Number: 1219–0103.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit.
Number of Respondents: 6.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Responses: 319.
Annual Burden Hours: 27 hours.
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper
Cost: $0.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized in the
request for Office of Management and
Budget approval of the proposed
information collection request; they will
become a matter of public record and
will be available at https://
www.reginfo.gov.
Jessica Senk,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021–12159 Filed 6–9–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–43–P

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE
CORPORATION
[MCC FR 21–05]

Notice of First Amendment to Compact
With the Republic of Ghana
Millennium Challenge
Corporation.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:

In accordance with the
Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, as
amended, the Millennium Challenge
Corporation is publishing a summary,
justification, and full text of the
proposed First Amendment to
Millennium Challenge Compact
between the United States of America,
acting through the Millennium
Challenge Corporation, and the
Republic of Ghana. Representatives of
the United States Government and the
Government of Ghana plan to conclude
the Amendment in June 2021.

SUMMARY:

(Authority: 22 U.S.C. 7708 (i) (2))
Dated: June 4, 2021.
Thomas G. Hohenthaner,
Acting VP/General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary.

Summary of First Amendment to
Millennium Challenge Compact With
the Republic of Ghana
The Board of Directors of the
Millennium Challenge Corporation
(‘‘MCC’’) has approved an amendment

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(the ‘‘Amendment’’) to the existing
US$308.2 million, five-year Millennium
Challenge Compact between the United
States of America, acting through MCC,
and the Republic of Ghana (the
‘‘Compact’’).
Background
The Compact was signed August 5,
2014 and entered into force on
September 6, 2016. The Compact aims
to improve Ghana’s power sector
through investments that provide more
reliable and affordable electricity to
Ghana’s businesses and households.
Compact projects focus on improving
the infrastructure in the country’s
southern electricity distribution
network, advancing energy efficiency
programs, increasing power reliability
and access to key markets, and
strengthening Ghana’s electricity sector
regulatory institutions. The investment
strategy is based on an integrated loss
management approach to reduce
technical and commercial losses in the
distribution system, reduce distribution
system vulnerability, and reduce the
frequency and duration of power
outages.
Scope of the Amendment
MCC proposes to extend the term of
the Compact for an additional ninemonths to June 6, 2022 and to provide
additional funding up to $7,651,395.
The term extension is necessary to
mitigate implementation delays due to
the COVID–19 pandemic and to
complete infrastructure projects as
originally contemplated. The proposed
additional funding will be used to cover
additional program administration and
related oversight costs associated with
extending the Compact’s term.
Justification for the Amendment
In late January 2020, MCC received
the first reports from Ghana of COVID–
19-related manufacturing delays from
equipment suppliers. On March 12,
2020, the Government of Ghana
confirmed its first two cases of COVID–
19 and later announced measures to
prevent and control the virus’ spread.
These included mandated social
distancing, restrictions on foreign
national entry to the country, border
closures, and partial lockdowns across
major cities, including the capital city of
Accra, the location of major compact
project sites. The impact of these
measures was immediate and seriously
affected the implementation timeline of
compact activities.
Measures to mitigate the spread of
COVID–19 led to global supply chain
disruptions and restrictions on the
movement of technical experts, project

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