32068 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 16, 2021 / Notices 

II. Desired Focus of Comments 

MSHA is soliciting comments 

concerning the proposed information 

collection related to Diesel-Powered 

Equipment in 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. 

Background documents related to this 

information collection request are 

available at https://regulations.gov and 

in DOL–MSHA located at 201 12th 

Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, 

VA 22202–5452. 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 Diesel-Powered 

Equipment in Underground Coal Mines. 

MSHA has updated the data with 

respect to the number of respondents, 

responses, burden hours, 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: 1219–0119. 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit. 

Number of Respondents: 126. 

Frequency: On occasion. 

Number of Responses: 170,641. 

Annual Burden Hours: 13,844 hours. 

Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper 

Cost: $312,294. 

Comments submitted in response to 

this notice will be summarized 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 

will be available at https://

www.reginfo.gov. 

Jessica Senk, 

Certifying Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2021–12606 Filed 6–15–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–43–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 includes the 

summary of a petition for modification 

submitted to the Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA) by the party 

listed below. 

DATES: All comments on the petition 

must be received by MSHA’s Office of 

Standards, Regulations, and Variances 

on or before July 16, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit your 

comments including the docket number 

of the petition by any of the following 

methods: 

1. Electronic Mail: zzMSHAcomments@dol.gov. Include the docket 

number of the petition in the subject 

line of the message. 

2. Facsimile: 202–693–9441. 

3. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: 

MSHA, Office of Standards, 

Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th 

Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, 

Virginia 22202–5452, 

Attention: Jessica D. Senk, Director, 

Office of Standards, Regulations, and 

Variances. Persons delivering 

documents are required to check in at 

the receptionist’s desk in Suite 4E401. 

Individuals may inspect copies of the 

petition and comments during normal 

business hours at the address listed 

above. 

MSHA will consider only comments 

postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service or 

proof of delivery from another delivery 

service such as UPS or Federal Express 

on or before the deadline for comments. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jessica D. Senk, Office of Standards, 

Regulations, and Variances at 202–693– 

9440 (voice), Senk.Jessica@dol.gov, 

(email), or 202–693–9441 (facsimile). 

[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–2021–001–M. 

Petitioner: Haile Gold Mine, Inc., 7980 

Haile Gold Mine Rd., Kershaw, SC (ZIP 

29067). 

Mine: Haile Gold Mine, MSHA ID No. 

38–00600, located in Lancaster County, 

South Carolina. 

Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 49.2(c) 

(Availability of mine rescue teams). 

Modification Request: The petitioner 

requests a modification of the existing 

standard, 30 CFR 49.2(c), to permit an 

alternative method of compliance with 

the standard with respect to the 

requirement for a minimum of one year 

underground mine rescue experience for 

all members of an underground rescue 

team. 

The petitioner states that: 

(a) Haile Gold Mine is a small and 

remote mine, with no underground 

mine rescue coverage located in the 

State of South Carolina. 

(b) The closest underground mine 

rescue stations that could provide mine 

rescue coverage are located in Luttrell, 

Tennessee, and Ellijay, Georgia. These 

are 275 miles and 341 miles away, 

respectively, by ground travel. 

(c) Pursuant to 30 CFR 49.2(f), except 

where alternative compliance is 

permitted under 30 CFR 49.3 or 30 CFR 

49.4, no mine served by a mine rescue 

team shall be located more than two 

hours ground travel time from the mine 

rescue station with which the rescue 

team is associated. 

(d) The Haile Gold Mine currently 

employs approximately 536 miners and 

produces approximately 100,000 tons 

per day. The mine operates open pit and 

will commence underground mining in 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 16, 2021 / Notices 32069 

2021 with two production shifts per 

day, operating seven days per week. 

(e) The Haile Gold Mine proposes to 

provide the required mine rescue 

coverage during the expanded 

underground development with 12 fully 

trained employees. The underground 

development team will be comprised of 

current surface mine rescue, safety, and 

underground department employees, 

not all of whom will meet the required 

one year of underground rescue 

experience. 

The petitioner proposes the following 

alternative method: 

(a) Prior to initiation of underground 

development, each underground mine 

rescue team member will receive the 

following training from a fully qualified 

MSHA Underground Mine Rescue 

instructor: 

1. 40 hours of 30 CFR. part 48 

Underground Mining Safety Training; 

2. Successful completion of physical/ 

medical fitness exam in compliance 

with 30 CFR 49.7; 

3. 20 hours of initial underground 

mine rescue training on the use, care, 

and maintenance of a BG–4 positive 

pressure closed circuit breathing 

apparatus; 

4. First Aid and CPR certification; and 

5. All other training required in 30 

CFR part 49. 

(b) A mine rescue station will be 

established on site compliant with 30 

CFR 49.5. 

(c) As the underground mine 

develops, additional surface mine 

rescue personnel onsite will receive the 

following training from a fully qualified 

MSHA Underground Mine Rescue 

instructor: 

1. Successful completion of physical/ 

medical fitness exam in compliance 

with 30 CFR 49.7; 

2. 40 hours of 30 CFR part 48 

Underground Mining Safety Training; 

3. 20 hours of initial underground 

mine rescue training on the use, care, 

and maintenance on a BG–4 positive 

pressure closed circuit breathing 

apparatus; and; 

4. All other training required in 30 

CFR part 49. 

(d). All underground rescue team 

members will attend monthly training 

following 30 CFR part 49 requirements 

after completion of their initial 20 hours 

of training. 

The petitioner asserts that the 

alternate method proposed will at all 

times guarantee no less than the same 

measure of protection afforded the 

miners under the mandatory standard. 

Jessica Senk, 

Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, 

and Variances. 

[FR Doc. 2021–12607 Filed 6–15–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4520–43–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Mine Safety and Health Administration 

[OMB Control No. 1219–0040] 

Proposed Extension of Information 

Collection; Independent Contractor 

Registration and Identification 

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health 

Administration, Labor. 

ACTION: Request for public comments. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as 

part of its continuing effort to reduce 

paperwork and respondent burden, 

conducts a pre-clearance request for 

comment 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 request 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. Currently, the Mine 

Safety and Health Administration 

(MSHA) is soliciting comments on the 

information collection for Independent 

Contractor Registration and 

Identification. 

DATES: All comments must be received 

on or before August 16, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comment 

as follows. Please note that late, 

untimely filed comments will not be 

considered. 

Electronic Submissions: Submit 

electronic comments in the following 

way: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

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

instructions for submitting comments 

for docket number MSHA–2021–0012. 

Comments submitted electronically, 

including attachments, to https://

www.regulations.gov will be posted to 

the docket, with no changes. Because 

your comment will be made public, you 

are responsible for ensuring that your 

comment does not include any 

confidential information that you or a 

third party may not wish to be posted, 

such as your or anyone else’s Social 

Security number or confidential 

business information. 

• If your comment includes 

confidential information that you do not 

wish to be made available to the public, 

submit the comment as a written/paper 

submission. 

Written/Paper Submissions: Submit 

written/paper submissions in the 

following way: 

• Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit 

DOL–MSHA, Office of Standards, 

Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th 

Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, 

VA 22202–5452. 

• MSHA will post your comment 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: 

Jessica Senk, Director, Office of 

Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 

MSHA, at 

MSHA.information.collections@dol.gov 

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

693–9441 (facsimile). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine 

Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine 

Act), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes 

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, authorizes the Secretary of Labor 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 or other mines. 

Independent contractors perform 

services or construction at a mine. They 

may be engaged in every type of work 

performed at a mine, including 

activities such as clearing land, 

excavating ore, processing minerals, 

maintaining or repairing equipment, or 

constructing new buildings or new 

facilities, such as shafts, hoists, 

conveyors, or kilns. Independent 

contractors vary in the number of 

employees, the type of work performed, 

and the time spent working at mine 

sites. Some contractors work exclusively 

at mining operations while others may 

work a single contract at a mine and 

never return to MSHA jurisdiction. 

MSHA uses the contractor information 

in this information collection request 

during inspections to determine the 

responsibility for compliance with 

safety and health standards. 

II. Desired Focus of Comments 

MSHA is soliciting comments 

concerning the proposed information 


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