[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66345-66346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26406]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
30 CFR Part 100
[Docket No. MSHA-2014-0009]
RIN 1219-AB72
Criteria and Procedures for Assessment of Civil Penalties
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearings; close of comment
period.
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SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will hold two
public hearings on the Agency's proposed rule for Criteria and
Procedures for Assessment of Civil Penalties.
DATES: MSHA will hold public hearings on December 4, 2014, and December
9, 2014, at the locations listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document. Post-hearing comments must be received or
postmarked by midnight Eastern Time on January 9, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments, informational materials, and requests to
speak, identified by RIN 1219-AB72 or Docket No. MSHA-2014-0009, by one
of the following methods:
Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
E-Mail: [email protected]. Include RIN 1219-AB72 or
Docket No. MSHA-2014-0009 in the subject line of the message.
Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and
Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209-
3939.
Hand Delivery or Courier: MSHA, 1100 Wilson Boulevard,
Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. Sign in at the receptionist's
desk on the 21st floor.
Fax: 202-693-9441.
Instructions: All submissions must include ``MSHA'' and ``RIN 1219-
AB72'' or ``Docket No. MSHA-2014-0009.'' Do not include personal
information that you do not want publicly disclosed; MSHA will post all
comments without change to http://www.regulations.gov and http://www.msha.gov/currentcomments.asp, including any personal information
provided. For additional instructions for participation in Public
Hearings on this rulemaking, see the ``Public Hearings'' heading of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received, go to
http://www.regulations.gov or http://www.msha.gov/currentcomments.asp.
To read background documents, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Review
the docket in person at MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and
Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia,
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal
Holidays. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.
[[Page 66346]]
Email notification: To subscribe to receive an email notification
when MSHA publishes rules, program information, instructions, and
policy, in the Federal Register, go to http://www.msha.gov/subscriptions/subscribe.aspx.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, Acting 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
On July 31, 2014, (79 FR 44494), MSHA published a proposed rule, to
amend its civil penalty regulation to simplify the criteria, which will
promote consistency, objectivity, and efficiency in the proposed
assessment of civil penalties and facilitate the resolution of
enforcement issues. The proposal would place a greater emphasis on the
more serious safety and health conditions and provide improved safety
and health for miners. MSHA is also proposing alternatives that would
address the scope and applicability of its civil penalty regulation.
The comment period was scheduled to close on September 29, 2014.
MSHA extended the comment period until December 3, 2014 (79 FR 55408)
in response to commenters.
II. Public Hearings
In response to requests from the public, MSHA will hold two public
hearings on the proposed rule to provide the public an opportunity to
present their views on this rulemaking. The public hearings will begin
at 9 a.m. and end no later than 5 p.m., or earlier if the last person
presenting testimony has spoken. MSHA is holding the hearings on the
following dates at the locations indicated:
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Date Location Contact No.
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Thursday, December 4, 2014..... Department of Labor, 202-693-9440
Mine Safety and
Health
Administration, 1100
Wilson Boulevard,
25th Floor,
Arlington, VA 22209-
3939.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014...... Courtyard by Marriott 303-571-1114
Denver Downtown, 934
16th Street, Denver,
CO 80202.
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The hearings will begin with an opening statement from MSHA,
followed by oral presentations from members of the public. Persons do
not have to make a written request to speak; however, MSHA will give
priority to persons who have notified us, in advance, of their intent
to speak and will provide others an opportunity to present oral
testimony if time allows. Persons and organizations wishing to speak
are encouraged to notify MSHA in advance for scheduling purposes. MSHA
requests that parties making presentations at the hearings submit them
no later than five days prior to the hearing. Testimony, presentations,
and accompanying documentation will be included in the rulemaking
record.
The hearings will be conducted in an informal manner. Formal rules
of evidence and cross examination will not apply. The hearing panel may
ask questions of speakers and speakers may ask questions of the hearing
panel. Verbatim transcripts of the proceedings will be prepared and
made a part of the rulemaking record. Copies of the transcripts will be
available to the public on http://www.regulations.gov and on MSHA's Web
site at http://www.msha.gov/tscripts.htm.
Dated: November 3, 2014.
Joseph A. Main,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2014-26406 Filed 11-6-14; 8:45 am]
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