[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86839-86840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25235]



[[Page 86839]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0051]


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Escape and 
Evacuation Plans for Surface Coal Mines, Surface Facilities and 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 (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 Escape and 
Evacuation Plans for Surface Coal Mines, Surface Facilities and Surface 
Work Areas of Underground 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 eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket 
number MSHA-2024-0033.
    <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#0e435d464f20676068617c636f7a676160206d6162626b6d7a6761607d4e6a616220696178"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2a6779626b0443444c4558474b5e43454404494546464f495e434544596a4e4546044d455c">[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 Escape and Evacuation Plans 
for Surface Coal Mines, Surface Facilities and Surface Work Areas of 
Underground Coal Mines. The information collection is intended to train 
persons working at surface installations on how to safely escape and 
evacuate these sites in case of a fire hazard.
    Individuals working at surface installations are at risk if a fire 
breaks out at a mine. To protect workers' safety and health in mines or 
at surface installations at mines, mine operators must keep escape, and 
evacuation plans up to date. Under 30 CFR 77.1101(a), each operator of 
a mine must establish and keep current a specific escape and evacuation 
plan to be followed in the event of a fire. Under 30 CFR 77.1101(b), 
each operator must instruct all their employees in current escape and 
evacuation plans, fire alarm signals, and applicable procedures to be 
followed in case of fire. Under 30 CFR 77.1101(c), plans for escape and 
evacuation plans must include the designation and proper maintenance of 
adequate means for exit from all areas where persons are required to 
work or travel, including buildings, equipment, and areas where persons 
normally congregate during the work shift.
    Fire protection requirements for underground coal mines is covered 
by OMB Control Number 1219-0054.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection related to Escape and Evacuation Plans for Surface Coal 
Mines, Surface Facilities and Surface Work Areas of 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.
    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 Escape 
and Evacuation Plans for Surface Coal Mines, Surface Facilities and 
Surface Work Areas of 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.

[[Page 86840]]

    Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0051.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Annual Respondents: 31.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Annual Responses: 62.
    Annual Time Burden: 130 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. 2024-25235 Filed 10-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P


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