1219-0119 60-Day FRN Published 8-26-2024

Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 165 / Monday, August 26, 2024 / Notices
information in the submission that
should not be publicly disclosed. Full
comments, including personal
information provided, will be made
available on https://
www.regulations.gov and https://
www.reginfo.gov.
The public may also examine publicly
available documents at DOL–MSHA,
Office of Standards, Regulations and
Variances, 201 12th Street South, 4th
Floor West, Arlington, VA 22202–5452.
Sign in at the receptionist’s desk on the
4th Floor via the West elevator. Before
visiting MSHA in person, call 202–693–
9455 to make an appointment, in
keeping with the Department of Labor’s
COVID–19 policy. Special health
precautions may be required.
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

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This information collection request
concerns provisions for Roof Control
Plan for Underground Coal Mines.
MSHA has updated the data with
respect to the number of respondents,
responses, time burden, and burden
costs supporting this information
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: 1219–0004.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit.
Number of Annual Respondents: 167.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Annual Responses: 1,019.
Annual Time Burden: 2,974 hours.
Annual Other Burden Costs: $3,396.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and
included 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 be available at https://
www.reginfo.gov.
Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer, Mine Safety and Health
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024–19016 Filed 8–23–24; 8:45 am]
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Mine Safety and Health Administration

693–9441 (facsimile). These are not tollfree numbers.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[OMB Control No. 1219–0119]

I. Background

Proposed Extension of Information
Collection; Diesel-Powered Equipment
in Underground Coal Mines

A. Legal Authority
Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act of 1977, as
amended (Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 813(h),
authorizes the Mine Safety and Health
Administration (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(a), 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, metal and nonmetal
mines.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
AGENCY:

The Department of Labor
(DOL), 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.
The Mine Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA) is soliciting
comments on the information collection
entitled Diesel-Powered Equipment in
Underground Coal Mines.
DATES: All comments must be received
on or before October 25, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the
information collection requirements of
this notice may be sent by any of the
methods listed below. Please note that
late comments received after the
deadline will not be considered.
• Federal E-Rulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
on-line instructions for submitting
comments for docket number MSHA–
2024–0019.
• Mail/Hand Delivery: DOL–MSHA,
Office of Standards, Regulations, and
Variances, 201 12th Street South, 4th
Floor West, Arlington, VA 22202–5452.
Before visiting MSHA in person, call
202–693–9455 to make an appointment,
in keeping with the Department of
Labor’s COVID–19 policy. Special
health precautions may be required.
• MSHA will post all comments as
well as any attachments, except for
information submitted and marked as
confidential, in the docket at https://
www.regulations.gov.
SUMMARY:

S.
Aromie Noe, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances,
MSHA, at
[email protected]
(email); (202) 693–9440 (voice); or (202)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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B. Information Collection
In order to fulfill the statutory
mandates to promote miners’ health and
safety, MSHA requires the collection of
information entitled Diesel-Powered
Equipment in Underground Coal Mines.
The information collection is intended
to assist MSHA in determining
compliance and to provide useful
information to mine operators and
miners’ representatives about the
performance of diesel engines and any
deterioration or defective condition of
these engines needing corrective action.
The engines powering diesel
equipment are potential contributors to
fires and explosion hazards in the
confined environment of an
underground coal mine where
combustible coal dust and explosive
methane gas are present. Also, since
diesel exhaust is a lung carcinogen in
humans, diesel equipment operating in
underground coal mines can pose
serious health risks to miners from
exposure to diesel exhaust emissions,
including diesel particulates, oxides of
nitrogen, and carbon monoxide.
For these reasons, MSHA requires
mine operators to provide important
safety and health protections to
underground coal miners who work on
and around diesel-powered equipment.
Safety requirements for diesel-powered
equipment include many of the proven
features required in existing standards
for electric-powered mobile equipment,
such as cabs or canopies, methane
monitors, brakes, and lights. Sampling
of diesel exhaust emissions is required
to protect miners from overexposure to
carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide
contained in diesel exhaust.
This information collection includes
records for use and maintenance of

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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 165 / Monday, August 26, 2024 / Notices

diesel equipment; testing and
maintenance of fire suppression systems
on both the equipment and at fueling
stations; exhaust gas sampling; essential
testing and maintenance of dieselpowered equipment conducted
regularly by qualified persons;
corrective actions taken; and the
persons performing the maintenance,
repairs, examinations, and tests trained
and qualified to perform such tasks.
1. Records of Diesel Fuel Purchases
Under 30 CFR 75.1901(a), the mine
operator must provide to MSHA, upon
request, evidence that the diesel fuel
purchased for use in diesel-powered
equipment underground meets the
requirements of having a sulfur content
no greater than 0.05 percent and a flash
point of 100 °F (38 °C) or greater.
2. Markings of Underground Diesel Fuel
Tanks and Safety Cans
Under 30 CFR 75.1904(b)(4)(i),
underground diesel fuel tanks and
safety cans must be provided with
liquid tight connections for all tank
openings that are identified by
conspicuous markings that specify the
function.

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3. Markings of Diesel Fuel
Transportation Unit Tanks and Safety
Cans
Under 30 CFR 75.1906(d), diesel fuel
transportation unit tanks and safety cans
must be conspicuously marked as
containing diesel fuel.
4. Inspections and Recordkeeping of
Fire Suppression Systems for DieselPowered Equipment and Fuel
Transportation Units
Under 30 CFR 75.1911(i), each fire
suppression system for diesel-powered
equipment and fuel transportation units
must be tested and maintained in
accordance with the manufacturer’s
recommendation and as required by the
nationally recognized independent
testing laboratory listing or approval
and be visually inspected at least once
each week by a person trained to make
such inspections. Under 30 CFR
75.1911(j), persons performing
inspections and tests of fire suppression
systems must make a record when a fire
suppression system does not meet the
installation or maintenance
requirements. Under 30 CFR
75.1911(j)(1), the record must include
the equipment or facility, the defect
found, and the corrective action taken.
Under 30 CFR 75.1911(j)(2), records are
to be kept in a secure manner that is not
susceptible to alteration. Under 30 CFR
75.1911(j)(3), records must be
maintained at a surface location at the

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mine for one year and made available
for inspection by MSHA and miners’
representatives (30 CFR 75.1911(j)(3)).
5. Inspections and Recordkeeping of
Fire Suppression Systems for Permanent
Underground Diesel Fuel Storage
Facilities
Under 30 CFR 75.1912(h). each fire
suppression system for permanent
underground diesel fuel storage
facilities must be tested and maintained
in accordance with the manufacturer’s
recommendation and as required by the
nationally recognized independent
testing laboratory listing or approval,
and visually inspected at least once
each week by a person trained to make
such inspections. Under 30 CFR
75.1912(i), persons performing
inspections and tests of fire suppression
systems must make a record when a fire
suppression system does not meet the
installation or maintenance
requirements. Under 30 CFR
75.1912(i)(1), the record must include
the equipment or facility, the defect
found, and the corrective action taken.
Under 30 CFR 75.1912(i)(2) and (i)(3),
records are to be kept in a secure
manner and maintained at a surface
location at the mine for one year and
made available for inspection by MSHA
and miners’ representatives.
6. Inspections and Recordkeeping of
Diesel-Powered Equipment
Under 30 CFR 75.1914(f), all dieselpowered equipment must be examined
and tested weekly by a qualified person.
Under 30 CFR 75.1914(f)(2), persons
performing weekly examinations and
tests of diesel-powered equipment must
make a record when the equipment is
not in approved or safe condition. The
record must include the equipment, the
defect found, and the corrective action
taken.
7. Development of SOP and
Recordkeeping for Testing Undiluted
Exhaust Emissions of Diesel-Powered
Equipment
Under 30 CFR 75.1914(g), undiluted
exhaust emissions of diesel engines in
diesel-powered equipment and heavyduty nonpermissible diesel-powered
equipment used in underground coal
mines must be tested and evaluated
weekly by a trained person. Under 30
CFR 75.1914(g)(1)–(4), the mine
operator must develop and implement
written standard operating procedures
(SOP) for testing and evaluation
including methods of achieving
repeatable loaded engine operating
condition, sampling, analytics,
evaluation and interpretation, and
concentration of carbon monoxide. The

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SOP must also specify the maintenance
of records necessary to track engine
performance as required in 30 CFR
75.1914(g)(5).
Under 30 CFR 75.1914(h)(1) and
(h)(2), weekly examinations and tests of
diesel-powered equipment and
undiluted exhaust emissions of diesel
engines must be recorded securely and
retained at a surface location at the mine
for at least one year and made available
for inspection by MSHA and miners’
representatives.
8. Training Program of Persons Working
on Diesel-Powered Equipment
Under 30 CFR 75.1915(b)(5), a
training and qualification program of
persons working on diesel-powered
equipment must be in writing, including
a description of the course content,
materials, and teaching methods for
initial training and retraining. Under 30
CFR 75.1915(c), the operator is required
to maintain a copy of the training and
qualification program and a record of
the names of all persons qualified under
the program. Under 30 CFR 75.1915
(c)(1) and (c)(2), these records must be
kept in a secure manner at surface
location of the mine and made available
for inspection by MSHA and miners’
representatives.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments
concerning the proposed information
collection entitled Diesel-Powered
Equipment in 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 https://
www.regulations.gov. MSHA cautions
the commenter against providing any
information in the submission that
should not be publicly disclosed. Full
comments, including personal

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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 165 / Monday, August 26, 2024 / Notices
information provided, will be made
available on https://
www.regulations.gov and https://
www.reginfo.gov.
The public may also examine publicly
available documents at DOL–MSHA,
Office of Standards, Regulations and
Variances, 201 12th Street South, 4th
Floor West, Arlington, VA 22202–5452.
Sign in at the receptionist’s desk on the
4th Floor via the West elevator. Before
visiting MSHA in person, call 202–693–
9455 to make an appointment, in
keeping with the Department of Labor’s
COVID–19 policy. Special health
precautions may be required.
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

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This information collection request
concerns provisions for Diesel-Powered
Equipment in Underground Coal Mines.
MSHA has updated the data with
respect to the number of respondents,
responses, time burden, and burden
costs supporting this information
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: 1219–0119.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit.
Number of Annual Respondents: 161.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Annual Responses:
218,811.
Annual Time Burden: 17,673 hours.
Annual Other Burden Costs:
$398,170.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and
included 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 be available at https://
www.reginfo.gov.
Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer, Mine Safety and Health
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024–19009 Filed 8–23–24; 8:45 am]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Request for Information (RFI) on
National Science Board-National
Science Foundation Merit Review
Commission Review of NSF’s Merit
Review Policy and Processes
National Science Foundation
Request for information.

AGENCY:
ACTION:

The National Science Board–
National Science Foundation
Commission on Merit Review (MRX) is
issuing this Request for Information
(RFI) to seek input from interested
individuals and parties to inform the
MRX’s review of NSF’s Merit Review
criteria, policy and processes.
Information on the MRX is available
at https://www.nsf.gov/nsb/committees/
mrxcmte.jsp.

SUMMARY:

Interested individuals and
parties are invited to submit responses
to this Request for Information on or
before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on
Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
ADDRESSES:
Online: Respond to this RFI at the
following url: https://
nsfevaluation.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/
form/SV_6xOeZ04jar2xmhU.
Following this link allows you to
access an online form where you can
provide input on up to six topics
described in more detail in the
Supplementary Information section
below. You are encouraged to respond
to only those that are of interest to you.
You may, but are not required to,
provide input on each topic to submit
your response.
Mail: Attn: Portia Flowers, 2415
Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA,
22314, USA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Portia Flowers (703/292–7000,
[email protected]).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Please
refer to definitions provided at the end
of this notice for terms used in these
Information Requests.
DATES:

Information Requests
1. MRX is interested in identifying
opportunities to improve NSF’s current
Merit Review criteria, policy, and
processes. Importantly, this includes
documenting and understanding any
areas of misunderstanding, gaps, or lack
of clarity regarding (a) the three Merit
Review Principles which are the
foundations of the Merit Review
Process, (b) the two statutory Merit
Review Criteria which are used to
evaluate all proposals to NSF, and (c)
the five Merit Review Elements NSF
uses to assess each criterion. Are the

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Principles, Criteria, and Elements clear?
Could they be improved upon? The
MRX welcomes feedback on any or all
of these, and particularly on the Broader
Impacts Criterion. Chapter 3 of NSF’s
Proposal & Award Policies and
Procedures Guide (PAPPG) defines
terms in this Information Request. See
https://new.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/241/ch-3-proposal-processing-review#amerit-review-principles-and-criteria-af2.
Individuals responding to this request
are encouraged to indicate whether their
perspectives are informed by
experience(s) preparing and/or
reviewing proposals to NSF.
2. NSF strives to conduct a fair,
competitive, transparent Merit Review
process for the selection of projects. To
accomplish this, NSF relies on a process
that considers both the technical aspects
of a proposed project and its potential
to contribute more broadly to advancing
NSF’s mission using the statutory
Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts
Merit Review criteria. MRX invites
suggestions on the implementation of
the Merit Review criteria. We especially
invite feedback that would (a) clarify
how they can be used in preparing and
reviewing proposals, (b) ensure
proposals, reviews, and funding
decisions demonstrate full
consideration of both criteria while
maintaining openness to the full
spectrum of potential activities under
each, and (c) better recognize and
support potentially transformative and
high-risk/high-reward activities.
Individuals responding to this request
are encouraged to indicate whether their
perspectives are informed by
experience(s) preparing and/or
reviewing proposals to NSF.
3. MRX is interested in the
experiences and perspectives of those
who have considered submitting and/or
submitted proposals in the past. We
invite you to share your insights and
describe any opportunities you believe
would improve implementation of the
Merit Review criteria, policy, and
processes based on your experience as
a proposer or investigator. This includes
any experiences that may have
encouraged or dissuaded you from
submitting proposals to NSF. We are
especially interested in learning (a) how
NSF guidance (e.g., as provided in the
NSF PAPPG, program solicitations, or
other funding opportunity
announcements), may have played a
part in your decision(s) whether to
submit proposals, and (b) how NSF
might best support investigators
interested in submitting a proposal to
NSF.
Individuals responding to this request
are encouraged to indicate whether they

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