[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 121 (Wednesday, June 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34484-34485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16759]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public
Comment and Recommendations; Operations Under Water
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a preclearance
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. 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.
Currently, 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 which:
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
[[Page 34485]]
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 submissions of responses.
A copy of the proposed information collection request can be
obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the For Further
Information Contact section of this notice.
DATES: Submit comments on or before August 24, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Room 627,
Arlington, VA 22203-1984. Commenters are encouraged to send their
comments on a computer disk, or via E-mail to [email protected], along
with an original printed copy. Ms. Silvey can be reached at (703) 235-
1910 (voice) or (703) 235-5551 (facsimile).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theresa M. O'Malley, Program Analysis
Officer, Office of Program Evaluation and Information Resources, U.S.
Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Room 715,
4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203-1984. Mrs. O'Malley can be
reached at [email protected] (Internet E-Mail), (703) 235-8378 (voice),
or (703) 235-1563 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Title 30, CFR 75.1716, 75.1716-1 and 75.1716-3 require operators of
underground coal mines to notify MSHA of proposed 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. This is a statutory provision contained in Section
317(r) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The
regulation is necessary to prevent the inundation of underground coal
mines with water, which has the potential of drowning 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; a profile map showing the type of strata and the
distance in evaluation between the coal bed and the water involved.
II. Current Actions
Section 317(r) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
requires that when a mine operator mines coal from a mine that requires
construction, operation, and maintenance of tunnels under any river,
stream, lake or other body of water that could potentially pose a
hazard to miners, such operator is required to obtain a permit from the
Secretary, which shall include such terms and conditions as deemed
appropriate to protect the safety of miners working or passing through
such tunnels from cave-ins and other hazards. This section of the Act
is enforced through application 30 CFR 75.1716, which requires the
underground mine operators to notify MSHA prior to mining under any
body of water (30 CFR 75.1716-1) and to submit a permit application to
mine under a body of water (30 CFR 75.1716-3), for the MSHA District
Manager's approval prior to mining under the body of water. MSHA is
obligated to respond in writing to the notice (30 CFR 75.1716-2) and to
the permit application (30 CFR 75.1716-4). MSHA routinely receives the
notice and the permit application as a single correspondence due to the
annual review of the mine ventilation plan map one year mining
projections [30 CFR 75.317(b)(14)] and the annual submittal of a
certified mine map, which is required to show the locations of mines
above and below and bodies of water above the active mine [30 CFR
75.1200-(I and j) and 30 CFR 75.1203). The annual review of these maps
provide early detection of potential inundation hazards and as a result
reduce or eliminate the need for a separate notice under 30 CFR
75.1716-1.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Operations Under Water.
OMB Number: 1219-0020.
Agency Number: MSHA 207.
Recordkeeping: The CFR does not mention whether or not a record of
the permit should be kept and for how long. However, MSHA maintains a
copy of the permit application and the correspondence granting the
permit in the mine file through the active life of the mine. In
addition, both the permitted mine workings and the location and extent
of the body of water are a permanent part of the information required
on the certified mine map. MSHA occasionally will require the
conditions under which a permit application is approved to be included
in the mine roof control plan (30 CFR 75.220) where the District
Manager determines such information is necessary to adequately protect
miners.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Average time per
Cite/reference respondents Frequency Total responses response Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
75.1716....... Included in Occasional............... Included in 5 hours......... Included in
75.1716-3. 75.1716-3. 75.1716-3.
75.1716.1..... ................ Included in 75.1716-3.... Included in 5 hours......... Included in
75.1716-3. 75.1716-3.
75.1716-3..... 14 new or On occasion.............. 14.............. 5 hours......... 70 hours.
revised notices/
permit appls.
Totals.... 14.............. On occasion.............. 14.............. 5 hours......... 70 hours.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Total Burden Cost: $3,010.00.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): Certified Mail $210.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): None.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or 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.
Dated: June 18, 1998.
Theresa M. O'Malley,
Acting Director, Program Evaluation and Information Resources.
[FR Doc. 98-16759 Filed 6-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M