[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84627-84629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24500]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0121]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Safety Standards 
for Roof Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines and Underground Coal Mines

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), 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 collections 
of information, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 
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. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is 
soliciting comments on the information collection entitled Safety 
Standards for Roof Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines and Underground 
Coal Mines.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before December 23, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements 
of this notice may be sent by any of the methods listed below. Please 
note that late comments received after the deadline will not be 
considered.
    <bullet> Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket 
number MSHA-2024-0026.
    <bullet> Mail/Hand Delivery: DOL-MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, 4th Floor West, 
Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Before visiting MSHA in person, call 202-693-
9455 to make an appointment.
    <bullet> MSHA will post all comments as well as any attachments, 
except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in the 
docket at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. Aromie Noe, Director, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#de938d969ff0b7b0b8b1acb3bfaab7b1b0f0bdb1b2b2bbbdaab7b1b0ad9ebab1b2f0b9b1a8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b1608131a7532353d3429363a2f32343575383437373e382f323435281b3f3437753c342d">[email protected]</span></a> (email); (202) 693-9440 (voice); 
or (202) 693-9441 (facsimile). These are not toll-free numbers.

[[Page 84628]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

A. Legal Authority

    Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act) as amended, 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes the Mine Safety and 
Health Administration (MSHA) to collect information necessary to carry 
out its duty in protecting the safety and health of miners. Further, 
section 101(a) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 811(a), authorizes the 
Secretary of Labor (Secretary) to develop, promulgate, and revise, as 
may be appropriate, improved mandatory health or safety standards for 
the protection of life and prevention of injuries in coal, metal and 
nonmetal mines.

B. Information Collection

    In order to fulfill the statutory mandates to promote miners' 
health and safety, MSHA requires the collection of information under 
the information collection request entitled Safety Standards for Roof 
Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines and Underground Coal Mines. The 
information collection is intended to ensure that mine roof, face, and 
rib are adequately supported and that ground control systems are 
effective.
    Accidents involving falls of mine roof, face, and rib in 
underground mines or falls of highwall in surface mines, historically, 
have been among the leading causes of injuries and deaths. Preventing 
or controlling roof, face, or rib falls is uniquely difficult because 
of the variety of conditions encountered in mines that can affect the 
stability of various types of strata. Additionally, the nature of the 
forces affecting ground stability at any given operation and time are 
constantly changing. Roof and rock bolts and accessories are integral 
parts of ground control systems and are used to prevent the fall of 
roof, face, and rib. Advancements in the technology of roof and rock 
bolts and accessories have aided in reducing the hazards associated 
with falls of roof, face, and rib.
1. Providing Manufacturers' Certifications
    It is necessary to ensure that roof and rock bolts and accessories 
are up to safety standards as they are imperative to protecting miners' 
safety and health. Under 30 CFR 56.3203, 57.3203 and 75.204, the 
quality of roof and rock bolts and accessories and their installation 
are addressed.
    These provisions incorporate by reference the American Society for 
Testing and Materials (ASTM) F432-95 entitled ``Standard Specification 
for Roof and Rock Bolts and Accessories.'' This ASTM standard, a 
consensus standard used throughout the United States, contains 
specifications for the chemical, mechanical, and dimensional 
requirements for roof and rock bolts and accessories used for ground 
support systems. These regulations ensure the quality and effectiveness 
of roof and rock bolts and accessories and, as technology evolves, 
allow for the use of new materials which are proven to be reliable and 
effective in controlling the mine roof, face, and rib.
1-1. MNM Mines
    Roof and rock bolts and accessories must be certified to the ASTM 
standard, or otherwise tested in similar circumstances to the ones in 
which they are being used. Certifications of purchase or tests must be 
made available upon request.
    Under 30 CFR 56.3203(a) and 57.3203(a), mine operators of MNM 
mines, both surface and underground, must obtain a certification from 
the manufacturer that roof and rock bolts and accessories are 
manufactured and tested in accordance with the applicable ASTM 
specifications, and that the manufacturer's certification is made 
available to an authorized representative of the Secretary and to the 
representative of miners.
    Under 30 CFR 56.3203(h) and 57.3203(h), if mine operators of MNM 
mines use other tensioned and non-tensioned fixtures and accessories 
for ground control that are not addressed by the applicable ASTM 
standards listed in 30 CFR 56.3203(a) and 57.3203(a), test methods must 
be established by the mine operator and used to verify their ground 
control effectiveness.
    Under 30 CFR 56.3203(i) and 57.3203(i), the mine operator must 
certify that the tests developed under 30 CFR 56.3203(h) and 57.3203(h) 
were conducted and such certifications be made available to an 
authorized representative of the Secretary.
1-2. Coal Mines
    Under 30 CFR 75.204(a), mine operators of underground coal mines 
must obtain a certification from the manufacturer that roof bolts and 
accessories are manufactured and tested in accordance with the 
applicable ASTM specifications, and that the manufacturer's 
certification is made available to an authorized representative of the 
Secretary and to the representative of miners.
2. Bolt Tension Measurements of Coal Mines
    Bolt tension must be adjusted so that tension is not too high or 
too low for anchored roof bolts. Therefore, tension must be measured, 
and mine operators must take corrective action if the tension on roof 
bolts is not optimal.
    Under 30 CFR 75.204(f)(5), in working places from which coal is 
produced during any portion of a 24-hour period, the actual torque or 
tension on at least one out of every 10 previously installed 
mechanically anchored tensioned roof bolts must be measured from the 
outby corner of the last open crosscut to the face in each advancing 
section. The mine operator must take corrective action if the majority 
of the bolts measured either:
    (a) Do not maintain at least 70 percent of the minimum torque or 
tension specified in the roof control plan, 50 percent if the roof bolt 
plates bear against wood; or
    (b) Have exceeded the maximum specified torque or tension by 50 
percent.
    Under 30 CFR 75.204(f)(6), mine operators of a coal mine or a 
person designated by the operator must certify by signature and date 
that the measurements required by 30 CFR 75.204(f)(5) have been made. 
This certification must be maintained for at least one year and must be 
made available to an authorized representative of the Secretary and 
representatives of miners.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Safety Standards for Roof Bolts in Metal and 
Nonmetal Mines and Underground Coal Mines. MSHA is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA's estimate of the burden of 
the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    <bullet> Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and
    <bullet> 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.

[[Page 84629]]

    The information collection request will be available on https://www.regulations.gov. MSHA cautions the commenter against providing any 
information in the submission that should not be publicly disclosed. 
Full comments, including personal information provided, will be made 
available on https://www.regulations.gov and https://www.reginfo.gov.
    The public may also examine publicly available documents at DOL-
MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, 201 12th Street 
South, 4th Floor West, Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Sign in at the 
receptionist's desk on the 4th Floor via the West elevator. Before 
visiting MSHA in person, call 202-693-9455 to make an appointment. 
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

    This information collection request concerns provisions for Safety 
Standards for Roof Bolts in Metal and Nonmetal Mines and Underground 
Coal Mines. MSHA has updated the data with respect to the number of 
respondents, responses, time burden, and burden costs supporting this 
information collection request from the previous information collection 
request.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0121.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Annual Respondents: 484.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Annual Responses: 79,167.
    Annual Time Burden: 740 hours.
    Annual Other Burden Costs: $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 proposed information collection request; they will 
become a matter of public record and be available at https://www.reginfo.gov.

Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer, Mine Safety and Health Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-24500 Filed 10-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P


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