Proposed Information Collection; Slope and Shaft Sinking Plans (Pertains to Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines)

Federal Register, Volume 78 Issue 213 (Monday, November 4, 2013)

Federal Register Volume 78, Number 213 (Monday, November 4, 2013)

Notices

Pages 66071-66072

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2013-26127

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

OMB Control No. 1219-0019

Proposed Information Collection; Slope and Shaft Sinking Plans (Pertains to Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines)

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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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, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A). 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 (MSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information collection for Slope and Shaft Sinking Plans, 30 CFR 77.1900.

DATES: All comments must be postmarked or received by midnight Eastern Standard Time on January 3, 2014.

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-2013-0031.

Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, Deputy Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at

Page 66072

McConnell.Sheila.A@dol.gov (email); 202-693-9440 (voice); or 202-693-

9441 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

   Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (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.

   Title 30 CFR 77.1900 requires underground coal mine operators to submit for approval a plan that will provide for the safety of workmen in each slope or shaft that is commenced or extended from the surface to the underground coal mine. Each slope or shaft sinking operation is unique in that each operator uses different methods and equipment and encounters different geological strata which make it impossible for a single set of regulations to ensure the safety of the miners under all circumstances. This makes an individual slope or shaft sinking plan necessary. The plan must be consistent with prudent engineering design. Plans include the name and location of the mine; name and address of the mine operator; a description of the construction work and methods to be used in construction of the slope or shaft, and whether all or part of the work will be performed by a contractor; the elevation, depth and dimensions of the slope or shaft; the location and elevation of the coalbed; the general characteristics of the strata through which the slope or shaft will be developed; the type of equipment which the operator proposes to use; the system of ventilation to be used; and safeguards for the prevention of caving during excavation.

2. Desired Focus of Comments

   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;

   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.

   This information collection request is available on MSHA's Web site listed in order of OMB number at http://www.msha.gov/regs/fedreg/informationcollection/informationcollection.asp. The information collection request will be available on MSHA's Web site for 60 days after the publication date of this notice, and on http://www.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.

   The public may also examine publicly available documents at MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington VA 22209-3939 by signing in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.

   Questions about the information collection requirements may be directed to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

3. Current Actions

   This request for collection of information contains provisions for the Extension of the Information Collection Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Slope and Shaft Sinking Plans, 30 CFR 77.1900.

   MSHA does not intend to publish the results from this information collection and is not seeking approval to not display the expiration date for the OMB approval of this information collection.

   There are no certification exceptions identified and this information collection and the collection of this information does not employ statistical methods.

   Type of Review: Extension

   Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration

   Title: Slope and Shaft Sinking Plans

   OMB Number: 1219-0019

   Affected Public: Business of other for-profit

   Total Number of Respondents: 31

   Frequency: On occasion

   Total Number of Responses: 68

   Total Burden Hours: 1,360 hours

   Total Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost Burden: $51

   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.

   Dated: October 29th, 2013.

   George F. Triebsch,

   Certifying Officer.

   FR Doc. 2013-26127 Filed 11-1-13; 8:45 am

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