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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 248 (Friday, December 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 105633-105634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30941]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0026]

Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Ground Control for 
Surface Coal Mines 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 Ground 
Control for Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of Underground 
Coal Mines.

DATES: All comments must be received on or before February 25, 2025.

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.
     Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket 
number MSHA-2024-0067.
     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.
     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 
[email protected] (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 titled ``Ground Control for Surface 
Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines.'' The 
information collection is intended to ensure that mine operators are 
properly maintaining the highwalls, pits, and spoil banks of surface 
coal mines and underground coal mines with surface work areas so that a 
safe environment is provided for mine employees, management, and others 
who visit the mine property. Mine operators are required to (1) develop 
ground control plans for highwalls, pits, and spoil banks and (2) 
submit the ground control plans. Details on the two requirements are 
following:
1. Development of Ground Control Plans of Highwalls, Pits and Spoil 
Banks
    Under 30 CFR 77.1000, each operator must establish and follow a 
ground control plan for the safe control of all highwalls, pits and 
spoil banks, which must be consistent with prudent engineering design 
and will ensure safe working conditions. The mining methods employed by 
the operator must be selected to ensure highwall and spoil bank 
stability.
2. Submission of Ground Control Plans
    Under 30 CFR 77.1000-1, the mine operator must file a copy of the 
ground control plan, and revisions thereof, with the MSHA District 
Office in which the mine is located, and must identify: the name and 
location of the mine; the MSHA identification number if known; and the 
name and address of the mine operator.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information 
collection titled ``Ground Control for Surface Coal Mines and Surface 
Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines.'' MSHA is particularly interested 
in comments that:
     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;
     Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA's estimate of the burden of 
the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
     Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and
     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

[[Page 105634]]

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 Ground 
Control for Surface Coal Mines 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.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0026.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Annual Respondents: 349.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Annual Responses: 349.
    Annual Time Burden: 2,398 hours.
    Annual Other Burden Costs: $663.
    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. 2024-30941 Filed 12-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520-43-P
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