1219-0030 60-Day FRN Published 12-27-2024

105632

Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Notices

Mine Safety and Health Administration

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

[OMB Control No. 1219–0030]

I. Background

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

A. Legal Authority

Proposed Extension of Information
Collection; Main Fan Operation and
Inspection (I–A, II–A, III, and V–A
Mines)
Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
AGENCY:

khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES

SUMMARY: 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 Main Fan Operation and
Inspection (I–A, II–A, III, and V–A
Mines).

Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine
Act) as amended, 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. 30 U.S.C. 813(h). 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.
B. Information Collection
In order to fulfill the statutory
mandates to promote miners’ health and
safety, MSHA requires the collection of
information under the information
request titled ‘‘Main Fan Operation and
Inspection (I–A, II–A, III, and V–A
Mines).’’ The information collection is
intended to ensure that mine ventilation
is constantly monitored and that unsafe
conditions are identified early and
corrected.

DATES:

1. Daily Main Fan Inspection and
Certification (I–A, II–A, III, and V–A
Mines)

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

Maintaining proper ventilation is
critical to providing miners with a safe
working environment. Potentially
dangerous conditions in underground
mines due to explosive gases are largely
controlled by the main fans. When
accumulations of explosive gases, such
as methane, are not quickly removed
from the mine by the main fans, they
may reasonably be expected to come in
contact with an ignition source and
cause explosions. The results of such
explosions are often severe and have
previously included incidents with
multiple fatalities.
Under 30 CFR 57.22204, which
applies to underground metal and
nonmetal mines that are categorized as
I–A, II–A, III or V–A mines, the main
fans must have a pressure-recording
system. This standard also requires
main fans to be inspected daily while
operating if persons are underground,
and certification of inspections must be
made by signature and date.
Certifications and pressure recordings
must be retained for at least one year
and made available to an authorized
representative of the Secretary.

All comments must be received
on or before February 25, 2025.
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–
2024–0068.
• 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.
• 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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20:34 Dec 26, 2024

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II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments
concerning the proposed information
collection titled ‘‘Main Fan Operation
and Inspection (I–A, II–A, III, and V–A
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
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.
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
This information collection request
concerns provisions for Main Fan
Operation and Inspection (I–A, II–A, III,
and V–A 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.

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27DEN1

Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Notices
OMB Number: 1219–0030.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit.
Number of Annual Respondents: 6.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Annual Responses: 3,960.
Annual Time Burden: 2,112 hours.
Annual Other Burden Costs $6,000.
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.

• Federal E-Rulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
on-line instructions for submitting
comments for docket number MSHA–
2024–0067.
• 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.
• 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.

Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer, Mine Safety and Health
Administration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mine Safety and Health Administration

S.
Aromie Noe, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances,
MSHA, at
[email protected]
(email); (202) 693–9440 (voice); or (202)
693–9441 (facsimile). These are not tollfree numbers.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[OMB Control No. 1219–0026]

I. Background

[FR Doc. 2024–30942 Filed 12–26–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–43–P

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Proposed Extension of Information
Collection; Ground Control for Surface
Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of
Underground Coal Mines
Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.

khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES

AGENCY:

SUMMARY: 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 Ground Control for Surface Coal
Mines and Surface Work Areas of
Underground Coal Mines.
DATES: All comments must be received
on or before February 25, 2025.
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.

VerDate Sep<11>2014

20:34 Dec 26, 2024

Jkt 265001

A. Legal Authority
Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine
Act) as amended, 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.
B. Information Collection
In order to fulfill the statutory
mandates to promote miners’ health and
safety, MSHA requires the collection of
information under the information
collection request titled ‘‘Ground
Control for Surface Coal Mines and
Surface Work Areas of Underground
Coal Mines.’’ The information collection
is intended to ensure that mine
operators are properly maintaining the
highwalls, pits, and spoil banks of
surface coal mines and underground
coal mines with surface work areas so
that a safe environment is provided for
mine employees, management, and
others who visit the mine property.
Mine operators are required to (1)
develop ground control plans for
highwalls, pits, and spoil banks and (2)
submit the ground control plans. Details
on the two requirements are following:

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105633

1. Development of Ground Control Plans
of Highwalls, Pits and Spoil Banks
Under 30 CFR 77.1000, each operator
must establish and follow a ground
control plan for the safe control of all
highwalls, pits and spoil banks, which
must be consistent with prudent
engineering design and will ensure safe
working conditions. The mining
methods employed by the operator must
be selected to ensure highwall and spoil
bank stability.
2. Submission of Ground Control Plans
Under 30 CFR 77.1000–1, the mine
operator must file a copy of the ground
control plan, and revisions thereof, with
the MSHA District Office in which the
mine is located, and must identify: the
name and location of the mine; the
MSHA identification number if known;
and the name and address of the mine
operator.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments
concerning the proposed information
collection titled ‘‘Ground Control for
Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work
Areas of 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
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

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