[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28242-28243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11341]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Proposed Information Collection; Cleanup Program for
Accumulations of Coal and Float Coal Dusts, Loose Coal, and Other
Combustibles
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, 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 and continuing collections
of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA). This program helps to assure 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. Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is
soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection for
developing and updating a cleanup program for accumulations of coal and
float coal dusts, loose coal, and other combustibles in underground
coal mines.
DATES: All comments must be postmarked or received by midnight Eastern
Standard Time on July 15, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements
of this notice must be clearly identified with ``OMB 1219-NEW'' and
sent to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by any of the
methods listed below.
Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket
number [MSHA-2013-0017].
Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350,
Arlington, VA 22209-3939.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, Deputy 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
A program for regular cleanup and removal of accumulations of coal
and float coal dusts, loose coal, and other combustibles is essential
to protect miners from explosions. Effective and frequent rock dust
application is necessary to protect miners from the potential of a
float coal dust explosion or, if one occurs, to reduce its propagation.
Rock dust standards were published (35 FR 17097, November 20, 1970) as
part of a final rule that implemented requirements contained in the
1969 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act.
Section 75.400-2 requires that mine operators establish and
maintain a ``program for regular cleanup and removal of accumulations
of coal and float coal dusts, loose coal, and other combustibles.'' In
addition, the cleanup program must be available to the Secretary or
authorized representative (AR).
On September 23, 2010, MSHA issued an emergency temporary standard
(ETS) on the maintenance of incombustible content of rock dust. The
ETS, which became a final rule on June 21, 2011, increased the total
incombustible
[[Page 28243]]
content of combined coal dust, rock dust, and other dust to at least 80
percent in underground areas of bituminous coal mines. To clarify
MSHA's standards under the ETS, the Agency issued Program Information
Bulletin (PIB) No. P10-18, ``Accumulation of Combustible Materials and
Rock Dust'', which included information on a mine operator's
responsibility to establish and maintain a program for the regular
cleanup and removal of accumulations of coal and float coal dusts and
other combustibles.
Based on its investigation of the April 5, 2010 explosion at the
Upper Big Branch mine (UBB), MSHA issued a report on December 6, 2011,
in which the Agency concluded that accumulations of coal and float coal
dusts, and loose coal were contributing factors to the explosion. In
response to the UBB explosion, MSHA determined that it is necessary to
place more emphasis on improved rock dusting in underground coal mines,
including improved operators' cleanup programs. A written cleanup
program documents how an operator plans to conduct regular cleanup and
removal of accumulations of coal and float coal dust, loose coal and
other combustibles to better protect miners from the hazard of coal
dust explosions.
The standard for mine operators to establish and maintain a cleanup
program predates the PRA, and MSHA discovered that it lacked OMB
approval. This collection of information provides the required OMB
clearance under the PRA.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed information collection related to the
Cleanup Program for Accumulations of Coal and Float Coal Dusts, Loose
Coal, and Other Combustibles. 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
Address the use of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms
of information technology (e.g., permitting electronic submissions of
responses), to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond.
OMB clearance requests are available on MSHA's Web site at http://www.msha.gov under ``Federal Register Documents'' on the right side of
the screen by selecting ``New and Existing Information Collections and
Supporting Statements.'' The document will be available on MSHA's Web
site for 60 days after the publication date of this notice, and on
http://www.regulations.gov. Comments submitted in writing or in
electronic form will be made available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov. Because comments will not be edited to remove any
identifying information, MSHA cautions the commenter against including
any information in the submission that should not be publicly
disclosed.
The public also may examine publicly available documents at MSHA,
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard,
Room 2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939.
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
The information obtained from mine operators is used by MSHA during
inspections to determine compliance with safety and health standards.
MSHA has used 2012 data for the number of respondents and responses, as
well as the total burden hours and burden costs supporting this
information collection request.
MSHA does not intend to publish the results from this information
collection and is not seeking approval to either display or not display
the expiration date for the OMB approval of this information
collection.
There are no certification exceptions identified with this
information collection and the collection of this information does not
employ statistical methods.
Summary
Type of Review: New Information Collection.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Cleanup Program for Accumulations of Coal and Float Coal
Dusts, Loose Coal, and Other Combustibles.
OMB Number: 1219-NEW.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR 75.400-2.
Total Number of Respondents: 375.
Frequency: Various.
Total Number of Responses: 337.
Total Burden Hours: 510 hours.
Total Other Annual Cost Burden: $0.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a
matter of public record.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).
Dated: May 8, 2013.
George F. Triebsch,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-11341 Filed 5-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P