[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86840-86841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25237]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0082]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Records of Preshift 
and Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas at 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 Records of 
Preshift and Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas at Coal 
Mines.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before December 30, 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-2024-0027.
    <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#cf829c878ee1a6a1a9a0bda2aebba6a0a1e1aca0a3a3aaacbba6a0a1bc8faba0a3e1a8a0b9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5f120c171e71363139302d323e2b363031713c3033333a3c2b3630312c1f3b303371383029">[email protected]</span></a> (email); (202) 693-9440 (voice); 
or (202) 693-9441 (facsimile). These are not toll-free numbers.

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 Records of Preshift and 
Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas at Coal Mines. The 
information collection is intended to assist slope and shaft 
supervisors and employees, State mine inspectors, and Federal mine 
inspectors in making decisions that will ultimately affect the safety 
and health of slope and shaft sinking employees based on the records 
that show the examinations and tests that were conducted.
    The working environment is typically a confined area in close 
proximity to moving equipment. The sinking of slopes and shafts is a 
particularly hazardous operation where conditions change drastically in 
short periods of time. Explosive methane and other harmful gases can be 
expected to infiltrate the work environment at any time. Preshift and 
onshift inspections, as well as inspections before and after blasting, 
are fundamental to ensuring that no changes have occurred, and that the 
working environment is in a condition that is optimal for miner health 
and safety.
1. Preshift and Onshift Inspections
    Preshift inspections need to be completed close to the beginning of 
shifts to ensure that there is little time for conditions to change, 
and during shifts to ensure that conditions are stable. Under 30 CFR 
77.1901, slope and shaft areas must be examined by a certified person 
for hazardous conditions, including tests for methane and oxygen 
deficiency, within 90 minutes before each shift, at least once during 
each shift when employees are inside any slope or shaft during 
development, and before and after blasting. The surface area 
surrounding each slope and shaft is also required to be inspected by a 
certified person for hazards and all hazards in the vicinity must be 
corrected before miners are permitted to enter the excavation.
    It is also important to keep records of these conditions and any 
corrective actions upon the discovery of hazardous conditions. Under 30 
CFR 77.1901(f), operators must keep records of the results of the 
inspections. The record includes a description of any hazardous 
condition found and the corrective action taken to abate it. The record 
is necessary to ensure that the inspections and tests are conducted in 
a timely fashion and that corrective action is taken when hazardous 
conditions are identified, thereby ensuring a safe working environment 
for the slope and shaft sinking employees. The record is maintained at 
the mine site for the duration of the operation.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Records of Preshift and Onshift Inspections of 
Slope and Shaft Areas at 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;

[[Page 86841]]

    <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.
    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 CONTACT 
section of this notice.

III. Current Actions

    This information collection request concerns provisions for Records 
of Preshift and Onshift Inspections of Slope and Shaft Areas at 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: 1219-0082.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Annual Respondents: 15.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Annual Responses: 6,600.
    Annual Time Burden: 8,250 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. 2024-25237 Filed 10-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P


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