Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 239 / Thursday, December 12, 2024 / Notices 100543 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The TAC 

provides advice to the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics on technical aspects of data 

collection and the formulation of 

economic measures and makes 

recommendations on areas of research. 

On some technical issues, there are 

differing views and receiving feedback 

at public meetings provides BLS with 

the opportunity to consider all 

viewpoints. 

The Committee consists of 

approximately 16 members who serve as 

Special Government Employees. 

Members are appointed by the BLS and 

are approved by the Secretary of Labor. 

Committee members are experts in 

economics, statistics, data science, and 

survey design. Members typically have 

Ph.D.s in their field and have significant 

experience. They are prominent experts 

in their fields and recognized for their 

professional achievements and 

objectivity. The economic experts will 

have research experience with technical 

issues related to BLS data and will be 

familiar with employment and 

unemployment statistics, price index 

numbers, compensation measures, 

productivity measures, occupational 

and health statistics, or other topics 

relevant to BLS data series. The 

statistical experts will have experience 

with sample design, data analysis, 

computationally intensive statistical 

methods, non-sampling errors or other 

areas which are relevant to BLS work. 

The data science experts will have 

experience compiling, modeling, 

analyzing, and interpreting large sets of 

structured and unstructured data. The 

survey design experts will have 

experience with questionnaire design, 

usability, or other areas of survey 

development. Collectively, the members 

will provide a balance of expertise in all 

of these areas. 

BLS invites persons interested in 

serving on the TAC to submit their 

names for consideration for committee 

membership. Typically, TAC members 

are appointed to three-year terms and 

serve as unpaid Special Government 

Employees. 

The Bureau often faces highly 

technical issues while developing and 

maintaining the accuracy and relevancy 

of its data on employment and 

unemployment, prices, productivity, 

and compensation and working 

conditions. These issues range from 

how to develop new measures to how to 

make sure that existing measures 

account for the ever-changing economy. 

BLS presents issues and then draws on 

the specialized expertise of Committee 

members representing specialized fields 

within the academic disciplines of 

economics, statistics and data science, 

and survey design. Committee members 

are also invited to bring to the attention 

of BLS issues that have been identified 

in the academic literature or in their 

own research. 

The TAC was established to provide 

advice to the Commissioner of Labor 

Statistics on technical topics selected by 

the BLS. Responsibilities include, but 

are not limited to providing comments 

on papers and presentations developed 

by BLS research and program staff, 

conducting research on issues identified 

by BLS on which an objective technical 

opinion or recommendation from 

outside of BLS would be valuable, 

recommending BLS conduct internal 

research projects to address technical 

problems with BLS statistics that have 

been identified in the academic 

literature, participating in discussions of 

areas where the types or coverage of 

economic statistics could be expanded 

or improved and areas where statistics 

are no longer relevant, and establishing 

working relationships with professional 

associations with an interest in BLS 

statistics, such as the American 

Statistical Association and the 

American Economic Association. 

Nominations: BLS is looking for 

committed TAC members who have a 

strong interest in, and familiarity with, 

BLS data. The Agency is looking for 

nominees who use and have a 

comprehensive understanding of 

economic statistics. BLS is committed to 

bringing greater diversity of thought, 

perspective, and experience to its 

advisory committees. Nominees from all 

races, gender, age, and disabilities are 

encouraged to apply. Interested persons 

may nominate themselves or may 

submit the name of another person who 

they believe to be interested in and 

qualified to serve on the TAC. 

Nominations may also be submitted by 

organizations. Nominations should 

include the name, address, and 

telephone number of the candidate. 

Each nomination should include a 

summary of the candidate’s training or 

experience relating to BLS data 

specifically, or economic statistics more 

generally, and a curriculum vitae. In 

selecting TAC members, BLS will 

consider individuals nominated in 

response to this notice, as well as other 

qualified individuals. Candidates 

should not submit information they do 

not want publicly disclosed. BLS will 

conduct a basic background check on 

candidates before their appointment to 

the TAC. The background check will 

involve accessing publicly available, 

internet-based sources. BLS will contact 

nominees for information on their status 

as registered lobbyists. Anyone 

currently subject to federal registration 

requirements as a lobbyist is not eligible 

for appointment to the TAC. Nominees 

should be aware of the time 

commitment for attending meetings and 

actively participating in the work of the 

TAC. Historically, this has meant a 

commitment of at least two days per 

year. 

Authority: This notice was prepared 

in accordance with the provisions of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act 

(FACA), 5 U.S.C. 10. 

Signed at Washington, DC, this 9th day of 

December 2024. 

Leslie Bennett, 

Chief, Division of Management Systems. 

[FR Doc. 2024–29271 Filed 12–11–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–24–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Mine Safety and Health Administration 

Petition for Modification of Application 

of Existing Mandatory Safety 

Standards 

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health 

Administration, Labor. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice is a summary of 

a petition for modification submitted to 

the Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA) by Rockwell 

Mining, LLC. 

DATES: All comments on the petition 

must be received by MSHA’s Office of 

Standards, Regulations, and Variances 

on or before January 13, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by Docket No. MSHA–2024– 

0106 by any of the following methods: 

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments 

for MSHA–2024–0106. 

2. Fax: 202–693–9441. 

3. Email: petitioncomments@dol.gov. 

4. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: 

MSHA, Office of Standards, 

Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th 

Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, 

Virginia 22202–5452. 

Attention: S. Aromie Noe, Director, 

Office of Standards, Regulations, and 

Variances. Persons delivering 

documents are required to check in at 

the receptionist’s desk, 4th Floor West. 

Individuals may inspect copies of the 

petition and comments during normal 

business hours at the address listed 

above. Before visiting MSHA in person, 

call 202–693–9455 to make an 

appointment. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. 

Aromie Noe, Office of Standards, 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
100544 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 239 / Thursday, December 12, 2024 / Notices 

Regulations, and Variances at 202–693– 

9440 (voice), Petitionsformodification@

dol.gov (email), or 202–693–9441 (fax). 

[These are not toll-free numbers.] 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 

101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and 

Health Act of 1977 and Title 30 of the 

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 

44 govern the application, processing, 

and disposition of petitions for 

modification. 

I. Background 

Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine 

Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine 

Act) allows the mine operator or 

representative of miners to file a 

petition to modify the application of any 

mandatory safety standard to a coal or 

other mine if the Secretary of Labor 

determines that: 

1. An alternative method of achieving 

the result of such standard exists which 

will at all times guarantee no less than 

the same measure of protection afforded 

the miners of such mine by such 

standard; or 

2. The application of such standard to 

such mine will result in a diminution of 

safety to the miners in such mine. 

In addition, sections 44.10 and 44.11 

of 30 CFR establish the requirements for 

filing petitions for modification. 

II. Petition for Modification 

Docket Number: M–2024–081–C. 

Petitioner: Rockwell Mining, LLC, 250 

West Main Street, Suite 2000 Lexington 

KY 40507. 

Mine: Flying Eagle Mine, MSHA ID 

No. 46–09471, located in Wyoming 

County, West Virginia. 

Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 

75.1002(a), Permissible electric 

equipment. 

Modification Request: The petitioner 

requests a modification of 30 CFR 

75.1002(a) to allow the use of 

unapproved Powered Air Purifying 

Respirators (PAPRs) within 150 feet of 

pillar workings or longwall faces. 

Specifically, the petitioner is requesting 

to utilize the CleanSpace EX PAPR and 

sealed motor/blower/battery power pack 

assembly, and the 3M Versaflo TR–800 

Intrinsically Safe PAPR motor/blower 

and battery with battery pack. 

The petitioner states that: 

(a) The 3M Versaflo TR–800 PAPR 

with motor/blower and battery qualifies 

as intrinsically safe. 

(b) The CleanSpace EX PAPR also 

qualifies as intrinsically safe. 

(c) Both the CleanSpace EX and the 

3M Versaflo TR–800 PAPRs provide a 

constant flow of air inside the mask or 

helmet. This airflow provides 

respiratory protection and comfort in 

hot working conditions. 

(d) Neither the 3M Versaflo TR–800 

nor the CleanSpace EX PAPR is MSHAapproved as permissible. 

(e) Neither the 3M nor the CleanSpace 

is pursuing MSHA approval. 

(f) Flying Eagle Mine currently makes 

available to all miners NIOSH-approved 

high efficiency l00 series respirators to 

protect the miners against potential 

exposure to respirable coal mine dust, 

including crystalline silica, during 

normal mining conditions. Flying Eagle 

Mine desires to expand the miners’ 

option in choosing a respirator that 

provides the greatest degree of 

protection as well as comfort while 

being worn. Powered PAPRs provide a 

constant flow of filtered air and serve 

that purpose. 

(g) On June 17, 2024, MSHA’s final 

rule Lowering Miners’ Exposure to 

Respirable Crystalline Silica and 

Improving Respiratory Protection took 

effect. The rule requires the mine 

operator to have a written respiratory 

protection program in place when 

miners are required to use respirators. 

Adding the CleanSpace EX and the 3M 

TR–800 Versaflo PAPRs to the 

respiratory protection program as 

additional options will provide the 

miners with alternatives to the series 

100 high efficiency respirators already 

in use at the mine. The PAPRs will also 

serve as a respirator option to protect 

the miners with facial hair who may not 

be able to pass the ‘‘fit test’’ requirement 

of the program. In addition, the positive 

flow of filtered air provided by the 

PAPRs will provide a solution for the 

miners who are unable to wear a tightfitting respirator. 

(h) Since the 3M Airstream HeadgearMounted PAPR System has been 

discontinued by the manufacturer, there 

are no other MSHA-approved units 

available that can be used within 150 

feet of pillar workings or longwall faces. 

(i) The alternative method in the 

petition will at all times guarantee no 

less than the same measure of protection 

afforded to the miners by the standard. 

The petitioner proposes the following 

alternative method: 

(a) All miners who will be involved 

with or affected by the use of the 3M 

Versaflo TR–800 or CleanSpace EX 

PAPRs shall receive training in 

accordance with 30 CFR 48.7 on the 

requirements of the Proposed Decision 

and Order (PDO) granted by MSHA and 

manufacturer guidelines. Such training 

shall be completed before any 3M 

Versaflo TR–800 or CleanSpace EX 

PAPR can be used within 150 feet of 

pillar workings or longwall faces. The 

operator shall keep a record of such 

training and provide such record to 

MSHA upon request. 

(b) The PAPRs, battery packs, and all 

associated wiring and connections shall 

be inspected before use to determine if 

there is any damage to the units that 

would negatively impact intrinsic 

safety. If any defects are found, the 

PAPR shall be removed from service. 

(c) A separate logbook shall be 

maintained for the 3M Versaflo TR–800 

and CleanSpace EX PAPRs that will be 

kept with the equipment, or in a 

location with other mine record books 

and shall be made available to MSHA 

upon request. The equipment shall be 

examined at least weekly by a qualified 

person as defined in 30 CFR 75.512–1 

and the examination results recorded in 

the logbook. Examination records shall 

be maintained for one year. 

(d) All 3M Versaflo TR–800 and 

CleanSpace EX PAPRs to be used within 

150 feet of pillar workings or longwall 

faces shall be physically examined prior 

to initial use and each unit shall be 

assigned a unique identification 

number. Each unit shall be examined by 

the person to operate the equipment, 

prior to taking the equipment 

underground, to ensure that the 

equipment is used according to the 

original equipment manufacturer’s 

recommendations and maintained in a 

safe operating condition. The 

examinations for the 3M Versaflo TR– 

800 PAPRs shall include: 

(1) Check the equipment for any 

physical damage and the integrity of the 

case. 

(2) Remove the battery and inspect for 

corrosion. 

(3) Inspect the contact points to 

ensure a secure connection to the 

battery. 

(4) Reinsert the battery and power up 

and shut down to ensure proper 

connections. 

(5) Check the battery compartment 

cover or battery attachment to ensure 

that it is securely fastened. 

(6) For equipment utilizing lithium 

type cells, ensure that lithium cells and/ 

or packs are not damaged or swelled in 

size. 

The CleanSpace EX PAPR does not 

have an accessible/removable battery. 

The internal battery and motor/blower 

assembly are both contained within the 

‘‘power unit’’ assembly, and the battery 

cannot be removed, reinserted or 

fastened. Therefore, examination of the 

CleanSpace EX PAPR shall include any 

indications of physical damage. 

(e) All 3M Versaflo TR–800 and 

CleanSpace EX PAPR units shall be 

serviced according to the manufacturer’s 

recommendations. 

(f) Prior to energizing and during use 

of the 3M Versaflo TR–800 or the 

CleanSpace EX PAPR within 150 feet of 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 239 / Thursday, December 12, 2024 / Notices 100545 

pillar workings or longwall faces, 

procedures in accordance with 30 CFR 

75.323 shall be followed. 

(g) Only the 3M TR–830 Battery Pack, 

which meets lithium battery safety 

standard UL 1642 or IEC 62133, in the 

3M Versaflo TR–800 PAPR shall be 

used. Only the CleanSpace EX Power 

Unit, which meets lithium battery safety 

standard UL 1642 or IEC 62133, in the 

CleanSpace EX shall be used. 

(h) If battery packs for the 3M Versaflo 

TR–800 PAPR are provided, all battery 

‘‘change outs’’ shall occur in intake air 

outby the last open crosscut. 

(i) The following maintenance and 

use conditions shall apply to equipment 

containing lithium type batteries: 

(1) Neither the 3M TR–830 Battery 

Pack nor the CleanSpace EX Power Unit 

shall be disassembled or modified by 

anyone other than permitted by the 

manufacturer of the equipment. 

(2) The 3M TR–830 Battery Pack shall 

be charged only in an area free of 

combustible material and in intake air 

outby the last open crosscut. The 3M 

TR–830 Battery Pack shall be charged 

only by a manufacturer’s recommended 

battery charger, such as: 

(i) 3M Battery Charger Kit TR–641N, 

which includes one 3M Charger Cradle 

TR–640 and one 3M Power Supply TR– 

941N; or 

(ii) 3M 4-Station Battery Charger Kit 

TR–644N, which includes four 3M 

Charger Cradles TR–640 and one 3M 4- 

Station Battery Charger Base/Power 

Supply TR–944N. 

(3) The CleanSpace EX internal 

battery, which is contained within the 

power unit assembly, shall be charged 

in areas located outby the last open 

crosscut in intake air, and only the 

manufacturer’s recommended battery 

chargers shall be used, such as the 

CleanSpace EX Battery Charger, Product 

Code PAF–0066. 

(4) Neither the 3M TR–830 Battery 

Pack nor the CleanSpace EX power unit 

which contains the internal battery, 

shall be exposed to water, allowed to get 

wet or immersed in liquid. This does 

not preclude incidental exposure of the 

3M TR–830 Battery Pack or the 

CleanSpace EX power unit assembly. 

(5) Neither the 3M Versaflo TR–800 

PAPR nor the CleanSpace EX PAPR, 

including the internal battery, shall be 

used, charged or stored in locations 

where the manufacturer’s recommended 

temperature limits are exceeded. 

Neither the 3M Versaflo TR–800 PAPR 

or the CleanSpace EX PAPR shall be 

placed in direct sunlight nor stored near 

a source of heat. 

(j) Annual retraining shall be given to 

all miners who will be involved with or 

affected by the use of the 3M Versaflo 

TR–800 or CleanSpace EX PAPRs in 

accordance with 30 CFR 48.8. Training 

of new miners on the requirements of 

the PDO granted by MSHA in 

accordance with 30 CFR 48.5, and 

training of experienced miners on the 

requirements of the PDO granted by 

MSHA in accordance with 30 CFR 48.6 

shall be given. The operator shall keep 

a record of such training and provide 

such record to MSHA upon request. 

(k) The miners at Rockwell Mining 

LLC, Flying Eagle Mine, are not 

represented by a labor organization and 

there are no representatives of miners at 

the mine. A copy of this petition has 

been posted on the bulletin board at 

Rockwell Mining LLC, Flying Eagle 

Mine, on November 21, 2024. 

The petitioner asserts that the 

alternative method in the petition will 

at all times guarantee no less than the 

same measure of protection afforded to 

the miners by the standard. 

Song-ae Aromie Noe, 

Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, 

and Variances. 

[FR Doc. 2024–29212 Filed 12–11–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4520–43–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Mine Safety and Health Administration 

Petition for Modification of Application 

of Existing Mandatory Safety 

Standards 

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health 

Administration, Labor. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice is a summary of 

a petition for modification submitted to 

the Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA) by Rockwell 

Mining, LLC. 

DATES: All comments on the petition 

must be received by MSHA’s Office of 

Standards, Regulations, and Variances 

on or before January 13, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by Docket No. MSHA–2024– 

0105 by any of the following methods: 

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments 

for MSHA–2024–0105. 

2. Fax: 202–693–9441. 

3. Email: petitioncomments@dol.gov. 

4. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: 

MSHA, Office of Standards, 

Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th 

Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, 

Virginia 22202–5452. 

Attention: S. Aromie Noe, Director, 

Office of Standards, Regulations, and 

Variances. Persons delivering 

documents are required to check in at 

the receptionist’s desk, 4th Floor West. 

Individuals may inspect copies of the 

petition and comments during normal 

business hours at the address listed 

above. Before visiting MSHA in person, 

call 202–693–9455 to make an 

appointment. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. 

Aromie Noe, Office of Standards, 

Regulations, and Variances at 202–693– 

9440 (voice), Petitionsformodification@

dol.gov (email), or 202–693–9441 (fax). 

[These are not toll-free numbers.] 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 

101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and 

Health Act of 1977 and Title 30 of the 

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 

44 govern the application, processing, 

and disposition of petitions for 

modification. 

I. Background 

Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine 

Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine 

Act) allows the mine operator or 

representative of miners to file a 

petition to modify the application of any 

mandatory safety standard to a coal or 

other mine if the Secretary of Labor 

determines that: 

1. An alternative method of achieving 

the result of such standard exists which 

will at all times guarantee no less than 

the same measure of protection afforded 

the miners of such mine by such 

standard; or 

2. The application of such standard to 

such mine will result in a diminution of 

safety to the miners in such mine. 

In addition, sections 44.10 and 44.11 

of 30 CFR establish the requirements for 

filing petitions for modification. 

II. Petition for Modification 

Docket Number: M–2024–080–C. 

Petitioner: Rockwell Mining, LLC, 250 

West Main Street, Suite 2000, 

Lexington, KY 40507. 

Mine: Flying Eagle Mine, MSHA ID 

No. 46–09471, located in Wyoming 

County, West Virginia. 

Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.507– 

1(a), Permissible electric equipment. 

Modification Request: The petitioner 

requests a modification of 30 CFR 

75.507–1(a) to allow the use of 

unapproved Powered Air Purifying 

Respirators (PAPRs) taken into or used 

inby the last open crosscut or used in 

the return air outby the last open 

crosscut. Specifically, the petitioner is 

requesting to utilize the CleanSpace EX 

PAPR and sealed motor/blower/battery 

power pack assembly, and the 3M 

Versaflo TR–800 Intrinsically Safe PAPR 

motor/blower and battery with battery 

pack. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1