[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 101 (Friday, May 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31598-31599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12398]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Operations Under Water
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: 60-Day Notice.
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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.
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.
DATES: All comments must be postmarked or received by midnight Eastern
Standard Time on July 23, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements
of this notice may be sent 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-2013-0009].
Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 21st floor, 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
Title 30 CFR 75.1716, 75.1716 1 and 75.1716 3 require operators of
underground coal mines to provide MSHA notification before mining under
bodies of water and to obtain a permit to mine under a body of water
if, in the judgment of the Secretary, it is sufficiently large to
constitute a hazard to miners. The regulation is necessary to prevent
the inundation of underground coal mines with water that has the
potential of drowning miners. Section 103(h) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C.
813, authorizes MSHA to collect information necessary to carry out its
duty in protecting the safety and health of miners.
The coal mine operator submits an application for the permit to the
District Manager in whose district the mine is located. Applications
contain the name and address of the mine; projected mining and ground
support plans; a mine map showing the location of the river, stream,
lake or other body of water and its relation to the location of all
working places; and a profile map showing the type of strata and the
distance in elevation between the coal bed and the water involved. MSHA
has provided an exemption from notification and permit application for
mine operators where the projected mining is under any water reservoir
constructed by a Federal agency as of December 30, 1969, and where the
operator is required by such agency to operate in a manner that
adequately protects the safety of miners. The exemption for such mining
is addressed by 30 CFR 75.1716 and 75.1717.
MSHA also encourages a mine operator to provide more information in
an application. When the operator files an application for a permit, in
addition to the information required under 30 CFR 75.1716-3, MSHA
recommends mine operators include a map of the active areas of the mine
under the body of water showing the following: Bottom of coal
elevations (minimum 10-ft contour intervals); the limits of the body of
water and the estimated quantity of water in the pool; the limits of
the proposed ``safety zone'' within which precautions will be taken;
overburden thickness (depth of cover) contours; corehole locations; and
known faults, lineaments, and other geologic features.
If the body of water is contained within an overlying mine, then
MSHA recommends a map of the overlying mine showing bottom of coal
elevations (minimum 10-ft contour intervals), when available; corehole
locations; the limits of the body of water with the estimated quantity
of water in the pool; and, interburden to active mine below be
provided. Operators are also encouraged to submit other information
such as the methods used to estimate the quantity of water in the pool;
borehole logs, including geotechnical information (RQD, fracture logs,
etc.) if available; rock mechanics data on the overburden, interburden,
mine roof, and mine floor, if available; mining height of the seam
being mined; pillar and floor stability analyses for the active mine;
[[Page 31599]]
whether second mining is planned; whether mining will be conducted
down-dip or up-dip; where water will flow to in the active mine if
encountered; pumping capabilities for dewatering; a comprehensive
evacuation plan for the miners, and a statement of what in-mine
conditions would trigger the implementation of the evacuation plan; and
training that will be provided to the miners regarding the potential
hazards.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed extension of the information
collection related to Operations Under Water. 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 the 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.
The public may examine publicly available documents, including the
public comment version of the supporting statement, at MSHA, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room
2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939. 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. Comments submitted in writing or in
electronic form will be made available for public inspection on
regulations.gov. Because comments will not be edited to remove any
identifying or contact information, MSHA cautions the commenter against
including any information in the submission that should not be publicly
disclosed. 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
The information obtained from applicants will be used to determine
compliance with safety and health standards. MSHA has updated the data
in respect to 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: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Operations Under Water.
OMB Number: 1219-0020.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 30 CFR 75.1716-3 and 75.1716-1.
Total Number of Respondents: 70.
Frequency: Various.
Total Number of Responses: 70.
Total Burden Hours: 385 hours.
Total Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost Burden: $1,060.
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 20, 2013.
George F. Triebsch,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-12398 Filed 5-23-13; 8:45 am]
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