Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/04/21/03-9655/standards-for-sanitary-toilets-in-coal-mines
Timestamp: 2018-04-27 09:18:17
Document Index: 801218409

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u200971', '§\u2009553', '§\u200971', '§\u200975', '§\u20093', '§\u2009605', '§\u2009202', '§\u2009203', '§\u200971', '§\u200975']

This direct final rule is effective June 20, 2003 without further notice, unless MSHA receives significant adverse comment by May 21, 2003. If MSHA receives such comment, the Agency will publish a timely withdrawal of this direct final rule in the Federal Register.
19347-19352 (6 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/03-9655 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/03-9655
MSHA is removing an application and approval requirement from existing mandatory standards. Currently, MSHA must approve sanitary toilets for use in underground coal mines, and MSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) must jointly approve sanitary toilets for use in surface coal mines. MSHA and NIOSH base their approval on criteria drawn from the American National Standard Institute's (ANSI's) American National Standard for Sanitation—Nonsewered Waste-Disposal Systems—Minimum Requirements. MSHA is amending its regulations to state which sanitary toilets meet the standard in order to eliminate the need for an application for Start Printed Page 19348approval and its associated paperwork burden. This action also directly informs manufacturers, mine operators, miners, and miners' representatives about which sanitary toilets meet the standard. Removing the application requirements has no substantive effect on the sanitation standards.
Clearly identify comments as such and submit them either electronically to comments@msha.gov; by facsimile to 202-693-9441; or by regular mail or hand delivery to MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2313, Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939. Comments are posted for public viewing at http://www.msha.gov/​currentcomments.htm.
The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) current approval for §§ 71.500 and 75.1712-6 under control number 1219-0101 expires on November 30, 2003. OMB approval was contingent on MSHA initiating rulemaking “to update and simplify this standard with the goal of eliminating unnecessary requirements and reducing the unnecessary burdens.” In response to OMB concerns, MSHA developed this direct final rule to eliminate the need for applications for approval of sanitary toilets and their associated paperwork burden. This direct final rule does not address any other aspect of MSHA's standards for sanitary facilities at coal mines. Sanitary toilet facilities for surface work areas of underground mines remain subject to the provisions of 30 CFR 75.1712-3, which is unchanged.
Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, we are publishing a companion proposed rule under § 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act to speed notice and comment rulemaking should we withdraw this direct final rule. The companion proposed rule and this direct final rule are substantively identical. All interested parties should comment by May 21, 2003 because we will not initiate an additional comment period.
The existing standards' requirements for an application for approval of a sanitary toilet can pose an unnecessary burden on manufacturers and mine operators. To effectively evaluate a sanitary toilet for use at a coal mine, MSHA requires that the application for approval contain—
When reviewing the application for approval, MSHA and NIOSH review and evaluate the sanitary features of each toilet for the use intended. Currently, MSHA and NIOSH use portions of the American National Standard Institute's (ANSI's) American National Standard for Sanitation—Nonsewered Waste-Disposal Systems—Minimum Requirements, ANSI Z4.3-1987 (Reaffirmed 1995), as the criteria for evaluating these sanitary features. At a minimum, MSHA and NIOSH use the definitions for the various types of toilets and components of the toilet facility in Section 2; the general requirements for auxiliary features in Sections 3.7, 3.8, and 3.9; and the specific design criteria in Section 7.
The following table contains excerpts from ANSI Z4.3-1987 (Reaffirmed 1995) for those types of sanitary toilets that are approved for use in coal mines. MSHA will consider any toilet facility that is one of the types of toilets listed in the Agency's revised standards and meets these same criteria, to be in compliance. Start Printed Page 19349
2.2.2 A vault toilet facility is one wherein the waste is deposited without flushing in a permanently installed, watertight, below-ground container 7.1.1. The vault-toilet tank shall be durable and corrosion-resistant and shall provide a minimum capacity of 378 L (100 gal) per seat. 7.1.2. Where a caustic chemical issued, the charge per seat shall be a minimum of 11.3 kg (25 lbs.) of caustic dissolved in 37.5 L (10 gal) of water.
7.1.3. The chemical shall be drained and the receptacle recharged every 6 months when in continuous use, or at least at the beginning of each season of operation when in intermittent use, or when three-fourths full, whichever occurs first.
7.1.4. Tanks shall be vented to the outside with a minimum nominal venting area of 45 cm2 (7 in2).
7.1.5. The tank shall be equipped with a manhole external to the structure for cleaning and for removal of caustic chemicals. The manhole shall be covered so as to prevent escape of gases and odors.
2.2.3 A sealed-bag toilet facility is one wherein the waste of each user is deposited, without flushing, into a bag, generally plastic, which is then sealed for later disposal. The structure housing a sealed-bag-toilet facility may be permanent or portable 7.2.1. All materials and fittings shall be corrosion resistant. 7.2.2. The bag shall be made of material of sufficient strength so as not to leak and, once sealed, so as to retain the waste until such time as the bag is removed from the toilet for disposal.
2.3 A combustion- or incinerating-toilet facility is one wherein the waste is deposited, with or without flushing, into a combustion chamber, where it is incinerated. The structure housing a combustion- or incinerating-toilet facility may be permanent or portable 7.3.1 All external surfaces, including bowl and hopper, shall be easy to clean. 7.3.2. The residue of combustion or incineration shall be sterile and inert. 7.3.3. The flue effluents shall be free of viable bacteria. 7.3.4. The combustion system and all fuel and electrical parts shall be safe and in compliance with applicable gas and electrical codes of local authorities. Where such codes do not exist, the installation shall comply with American National Standard National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70-1987, or with American National Standard for Gas-Fired Toilets, ANSI Z21.61-1983, and American National Standard National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1-1984 and ANSI Z223.1a-1987.
2.2.1 A chemical-toilet facility is a nonflush-toilet facility wherein the waste is deposited directly into a container containing a solution of water and chemical. It may be housed in a permanent or portable structure 2.4 A biological-toilet facility is one wherein the waste is deposited, with or without flushing, into a waste container integral to the toilet facility, where it is treated by means of biological agents or aeration. 7.4.1. Waste containers shall be fabricated from nonabsorbent, watertight materials. 7.4.2. Portable chemical and biological toilets and urinals that are free-standing and not installed in a toilet room do not require a ventilation system. 7.4.3. Chemicals or biological agents, if used in the waste container, shall be in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local provisions.
2.1.2 A nonwater-flush-toilet facility is one wherein the waste is flushed from the bowl and the bowl cleansed by a fluid other than water, with the fluid deposited in a container or receptacle, or treated and recirculated as in 2.1.1; such facilities include, but are not limited to, oil-flush-toilet facilities 7.5.1. All materials such as bowl, piping, and fittings that are in contact with waste and chemicals shall be nonabsorbent and corrosion-resistant. 7.5.2. Waste passages shall have smooth surfaces and shall be free of obstructions, recesses, or chambers that would permit fouling. 7.5.3. Flushing shall be accomplished by controls operable without special knowledge. Upon flushing, fluid shall enter the bowl and pass through with a vigorous flow sufficient to carry the waste from the bowl into the waste container.
7.5.4. Chemicals, if used in the waste container, shall be in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal provisions.
2.1.1 A water-flush-toilet facility is one wherein the waste is carried from the bowl and the bowl cleansed by water, and the combined water and waste is deposited into a container or receptacle, or recirculated by a closed system for flushing purposes; such facilities include, but are not limited to, vacuum-toilet facilities 7.6.1. All materials such as bowl, piping, and fittings that are in contact with waste and chemicals shall be nonabsorbent and corrosion-resistant. 7.6.2. Waste passages shall have smooth surfaces and shall be free of obstructions, recesses, or chambers that would permit fouling. 7.6.3. Flushing shall be accomplished by controls operable without special knowledge. 7.6.4. Chemicals, if used, shall be in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal provisions.
Source: American National Standard Institute (ANSI), American National Standard for Sanitation—Nonsewered Waste-Disposal Systems—Minimum Requirements, (ANSI Z4.3-1987) (Reaffirmed 1995).
Existing § 71.500 requires all surface coal mine operators' to provide at least one approved sanitary toilet at a location convenient to each surface work site and one additional approved sanitary toilet for each 10 miners working at a location. MSHA and NIOSH jointly approve sanitary toilets for use at surface mines.
Existing § 75.1712-6 requires all underground coal mine operators to provide and maintain one approved sanitary toilet in a dry location under protected roof within 500 feet of each working place where miners regularly work. Under the existing standard, MSHA must approve sanitary toilets for use at underground locations.
In accordance with Executive Order (E.O.) 12866, MSHA has analyzed the estimated costs and benefits associated with this direct final rule, and has included its Regulatory Economic Analysis (REA) in this preamble. This direct final rule includes no additional costs for the mining industry and eliminates the costs associated with filing an application for approval. This direct final rule is not an economically significant regulatory action under § 3(f)(1) of E.O. 12866.
In accordance with § 605 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), MSHA certifies that this direct final rule does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) amendments to the RFA, the Agency must include the factual basis for this certification in the direct final rule. Accordingly, the Agency is publishing the factual basis for its regulatory flexibility certification statement in the Federal Register, as part of this preamble, and is providing a copy to the Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Advocacy. MSHA also will mail a copy of the direct final rule, including the preamble and certification statement, to coal mine operators and miners' representatives and post it on the Agency's Internet Home Page at http://www.msha.gov.
Traditionally, MSHA has considered a small mine to be one with fewer than 20 employees. Based on MSHA's definition, the mine operator is considered large because it employs 20 or more workers. The Small Business Administration (SBA) definition for a small business in the mining industry is one with 500 or fewer employees. The mine operator that filed the application is considered a small business by SBA's definition in that it employs fewer than 500 workers. Based on SBA's definition, manufacturers of portable toilets (plastics), NAICS Code 326191 (SIC Code 3088), are defined as small if they have fewer than 500 employees. All of the portable toilet manufacturers are small businesses, according to SBA, because each employs fewer than 500 workers.[1]
The annual cost savings of $296 for manufacturers is derived in the following manner. On average, a first-line supervisor at a toilet manufacturing facility, earning $20.82 per hour,[2] takes 8 hours to prepare an application (1.75 applications × 8 hours × $20.82 per hour = $291.48). In addition, a clerical worker, earning $12.66 per hour,[3] takes Start Printed Page 193510.1 hour to copy and mail an application (1.75 applications × 0.1 hour × $12.66 per hour = $2.22). Furthermore, MSHA estimates that, on average, each application is two pages long, photocopying costs are $0.15 per page, and postage is $1 [1.75 applications × ((2 pages × $0.15 per page) + $1) = $ 2.28].
We have determined, for purposes of § 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, that this direct final rule does not include any Federal mandate that may result in increased expenditures by state, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate of more than $100 million, or increased expenditures by the private sector of more than $100 million. We also determined, for purposes of § 203, that this direct final rule does not significantly or uniquely affect these entities.
Start List of Subjects Start Printed Page 19352
(Note to § 71.500: Sanitary toilet facilities for surface work areas of underground mines are subject to the provisions of § 75.1712-3 of this chapter.)
1. Small Business Administration, Small Business Size Standards Matched to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), Effective July 1, 2002. (http://www.sba.gov/​size/​sizetable.html).
2. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Career Guide to Industries—Chemicals Manufacturing, Except Drugs. (http://www.bls.gov/​oco/​cgs/​cgs008.htm).
3. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics—2001 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. (http://www.bls.gov/​oes/​2001/​oes433021.htm).