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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 15 (Friday, January 24, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8160-8161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01523]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in 
Underground Coal Mines

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Mine Safety 
and Health Administration (MSHA)-sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that the agency 
receives on or before February 24, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Howell by telephone at 202-
693-6782, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Section 101(a) of the Federal Mine 
Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the Mine Act), the Secretary may by rule 
in accordance with procedures set forth in this section and in 
accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code (without 
regard to any reference in such section to sections 556 and 557 of such 
title), 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 or other mines. In addition, section 303 
requires that all coal mines be ventilated by mechanical ventilation 
equipment installed and operated in a manner approved by an authorized 
representative of the Secretary and such equipment be examined daily 
and a record be kept of such examination.
    Underground coal mines usually present harsh and hostile working 
environments. The ventilation system is the most vital life support 
system in underground mining and a properly operating ventilation 
system is essential for maintaining a safe and healthful working 
environment. Lack of adequate ventilation in underground mines has 
resulted in fatalities from asphyxiation and explosions.
    An underground mine is a maze of tunnels that must be adequately 
ventilated with fresh air to provide a safe environment for miners. 
Methane is liberated from the strata, and noxious gases and dusts from 
blasting and other mining activities may be present. The explosive and 
noxious gases and dusts must be diluted, rendered harmless, and carried 
to the surface by the ventilating currents. Sufficient air must be 
provided to maintain the level of respirable dust at or below 2 
milligrams per cubic meter of air and air quality must be

[[Page 8161]]

maintained in accordance with MSHA standards. Mechanical ventilation 
equipment of sufficient capacity must operate at all times while miners 
are in the mine. Ground conditions are subject to frequent changes, 
thus sufficient tests and examinations are necessary to ensure the 
integrity of the ventilation system and to detect any changes that may 
require adjustments in the system. Records of tests and examinations 
are necessary to ensure that the ventilation system is being maintained 
and that changes which could adversely affect the integrity of the 
system, or the safety of the miners are not occurring. These 
examination, reporting and recordkeeping requirements of Sec. Sec.  
75.310, 75.312, 75.342, 75.351, 75.360 through 75.364, 75.370, 75.371, 
and 75.382 also incorporate examinations of other critical aspects of 
the underground work environment such as roof conditions and electrical 
equipment which have historically caused numerous fatalities if not 
properly maintained and operated. For additional substantive 
information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the 
Federal Register on October 9, 2024 (89 FR 81942).
    Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless the OMB approves it and displays a currently valid 
OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions 
of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to 
comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid 
OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    Agency: DOL-MSHA.
    Title of Collection: Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Examinations in 
Underground Coal Mines.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0088.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profits.
    Number of Respondents: 225.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 1,910,978.
    Annual Burden Hours: 150,674 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $69,865.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D)).

Michael Howell,
Senior Paperwork Reduction Act Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2025-01523 Filed 1-23-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
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