[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 85988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25028]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Mine Mapping and Records of Opening, Closing, 
and Reopening of Mines

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Mine Safety 
and Health Administration (MSHA)-sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that the agency 
receives on or before November 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Howell by telephone at 202-
693-6782, or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#01454e4d5e5153405e5154434d484241656e6d2f666e77"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2763686b78777566787772656b6e646743484b09404851">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information collection protects miners 
by assuring that up-to-date, accurate mine maps contain the information 
needed to clarify the best alternatives for action during an emergency 
operation. Also, coal mine operators routinely use maps to create safe 
and effective development plans.
    Mine maps are schematic depictions of critical mine infrastructure, 
such as water, power, transportation, ventilation, and communication 
systems. Using accurate, up-to-date maps during a disaster, mine 
emergency personnel can locate refuges for miners and identify sites of 
explosion potential; they can know where stationary equipment was 
placed, where ground was secured, and where they can best begin a 
rescue operation. During a disaster, maps can be crucial to the safety 
of the emergency personnel who must enter a mine to begin a search for 
survivors.
    Mine maps may describe the current status of an operating mine or 
provide crucial information about a long-closed mine that is being 
reopened.
    Coal mine operators use map information to develop safe and 
effective plans and to help determine hazards before beginning work in 
areas, such as abandoned underground mines or the worked-out and 
inaccessible areas of an active underground or surface mine. Abandoned 
mines or inaccessible areas of active mines may have water inundation 
potentials and explosive levels of methane or lethal gases. If an 
operator, unaware of the hazards, were to mine into such an area, 
miners could be killed or seriously injured. For additional substantive 
information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the 
Federal Register on July 12, 2024 (89 FR 57168).
    Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless the OMB approves it and displays a currently valid 
OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions 
of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to 
comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid 
OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    Agency: DOL-MSHA.
    Title of Collection: Mine Mapping and Records of Opening, Closing, 
and Reopening of Mines.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0073.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profits.
    Number of Respondents: 376.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 1,540.
    Annual Burden Hours: 8,308 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $5,134,836.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D))

Michael Howell,
Senior Paperwork Reduction Act Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2024-25028 Filed 10-28-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>