105632 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Notices 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Mine Safety and Health Administration 

[OMB Control No. 1219–0030] 

Proposed Extension of Information 

Collection; Main Fan Operation and 

Inspection (I–A, II–A, III, and V–A 

Mines) 

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health 

Administration, Labor. 

ACTION: Request for public comments. 

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 Main Fan Operation and 

Inspection (I–A, II–A, III, and V–A 

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– 

2024–0068. 

• 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 

MSHA.information.collections@dol.gov 

(email); (202) 693–9440 (voice); or (202) 

693–9441 (facsimile). These are not tollfree 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. 30 U.S.C. 813(h). 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 

request titled ‘‘Main Fan Operation and 

Inspection (I–A, II–A, III, and V–A 

Mines).’’ The information collection is 

intended to ensure that mine ventilation 

is constantly monitored and that unsafe 

conditions are identified early and 

corrected. 

1. Daily Main Fan Inspection and 

Certification (I–A, II–A, III, and V–A 

Mines) 

Maintaining proper ventilation is 

critical to providing miners with a safe 

working environment. Potentially 

dangerous conditions in underground 

mines due to explosive gases are largely 

controlled by the main fans. When 

accumulations of explosive gases, such 

as methane, are not quickly removed 

from the mine by the main fans, they 

may reasonably be expected to come in 

contact with an ignition source and 

cause explosions. The results of such 

explosions are often severe and have 

previously included incidents with 

multiple fatalities. 

Under 30 CFR 57.22204, which 

applies to underground metal and 

nonmetal mines that are categorized as 

I–A, II–A, III or V–A mines, the main 

fans must have a pressure-recording 

system. This standard also requires 

main fans to be inspected daily while 

operating if persons are underground, 

and certification of inspections must be 

made by signature and date. 

Certifications and pressure recordings 

must be retained for at least one year 

and made available to an authorized 

representative of the Secretary. 

II. Desired Focus of Comments 

MSHA is soliciting comments 

concerning the proposed information 

collection titled ‘‘Main Fan Operation 

and Inspection (I–A, II–A, III, and V–A 

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 

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 Main Fan 

Operation and Inspection (I–A, II–A, III, 

and V–A 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. 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Notices 105633 

OMB Number: 1219–0030. 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit. 

Number of Annual Respondents: 6. 

Frequency: On occasion. 

Number of Annual Responses: 3,960. 

Annual Time Burden: 2,112 hours. 

Annual Other Burden Costs $6,000. 

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. 2024–30942 Filed 12–26–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–43–P 

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. 

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 

MSHA.information.collections@dol.gov 

(email); (202) 693–9440 (voice); or (202) 

693–9441 (facsimile). These are not tollfree 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 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES