[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 142 (Thursday, July 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44546-44548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15960]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0116]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Examinations and
Testing of Electrical Equipment, Including Examination, Testing, and
Maintenance of High Voltage Longwalls
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance
consultation program to provide the general public
[[Page 44547]]
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. Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration
(MSHA) is soliciting comments on the information collection for
Examinations and Testing of Electrical Equipment, Including
Examination, Testing, and Maintenance of High Voltage Longwalls.
DATES: All comments must be received on or before September 21, 2020.
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-
2020-0022. 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 you want to submit a comment with 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: Roslyn Fontaine, Deputy Director,
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at
[email protected] (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 (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
or other mines. The Mine Act and 30 CFR parts 75 and 77, mandatory
safety standards for coal mines, make this collection of information
necessary.
Inadequate maintenance of electric equipment is a major cause of
serious electrical accidents in the coal mining industry. It is
imperative that mine operators adopt and follow an effective
maintenance program to ensure that electric equipment is maintained in
a safe operating condition to prevent electrocutions, mine fires, and
mine explosions. MSHA regulations require the mine operator to
establish an electrical maintenance program by specifying minimum
requirements for the examination, testing, and maintenance of electric
equipment. The regulations also contain recordkeeping requirements that
help operators in implementing an effective maintenance program.
(a) Examinations of Electric Equipment
(1) Section 75.512 requires that all electric equipment be
frequently examined, tested, and maintained by a qualified person to
assure safe operating conditions and that a record of such examinations
be kept. Section 75.512-2 specifies that required examinations and
tests be made at least weekly.
(2) Section 75.703-3(d)(11) requires that all grounding diodes be
tested, examined, and maintained as electric equipment and records of
these activities be kept in accordance with the provisions of Sec.
75.512.
(3) Section 77.502 requires that electric equipment be frequently
examined, tested, and maintained by a qualified person to ensure safe
operating conditions and that a record of such examinations be kept.
Section 77.502-2 requires these examinations and tests at least
monthly.
(b) Examinations of High-Voltage Circuit Breakers
(1) Section 75.800 requires that circuit breakers protecting high-
voltage circuits, which enter the underground area of a coal mine, be
properly tested and maintained as prescribed by the Secretary. Section
75.800-3 requires that such circuit breakers be tested and examined at
least once each month. Section 75.800-4 requires that a record of the
examinations and tests be made.
(2) Section 75.820 requires persons to lock-out and tag
disconnecting devices when working on circuits and equipment associated
with high-voltage longwalls.
(3) Section 75.821(a) requires testing and examination of each unit
of high-voltage longwall equipment and circuits to determine that
electrical protection, equipment grounding, permissibility, cable
insulation, and control devices are being properly maintained to
prevent fire, electrical shock, ignition, or operational hazards. These
tests and examinations, including the activation of the ground-fault
test circuit, are required once every seven days. Section 75.821(b)
requires that each ground-wire monitor and associated circuits be
examined and tested at least once every 30 days. Section 75.821(d)
requires that, at the completion of examinations and tests, the person
making the examinations and tests must certify that they have been
conducted. In addition, a record must be made of any unsafe condition
found and any corrective action taken. These certifications and records
must be kept at least 1 year.
(4) Section 77.800 requires that circuit breakers protecting high-
voltage portable or mobile equipment be properly tested and maintained.
Section 77.800-1 requires that such circuit breakers be tested and
examined at least once each month. Section 77.800-2 requires a record
of each test, examination, repair, or adjustment of all circuit
breakers protecting high-voltage circuits.
(c) Examinations of Low- and Medium-Voltage Circuits
(1) Section 75.900 requires that circuit breakers protecting low-
and medium-voltage power circuits serving three-phase alternating-
current equipment be properly tested and maintained. Section 75.900-3
requires that such circuit breakers be tested and examined at least
once each month. Section 75.900-4 requires that a record of the
required examinations and tests be made.
(2) Section 77.900 requires that circuit breakers protecting low-
and medium-voltage circuits which supply power to portable or mobile
three-phase alternating-current equipment be properly tested and
maintained. Section 77.900-1 requires that such circuit breakers be
tested and examined at least once each month. Section 77.900-2
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requires that a record of the examinations and tests be made.
(d) Tests and Calibrations of Automatic Circuit Interrupting Devices
Section 75.1001-1(b) requires that automatic circuit interrupting
devices that protect trolley wires and trolley feeder wires be tested
and calibrated at intervals not to exceed 6 months. Section 75.1001-
1(c) requires that a record of the tests and calibrations be kept.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection related to Examinations and Testing of Electrical Equipment,
Including Examination, Testing, and Maintenance of High Voltage
Longwalls. 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 from the previous collection of information.
III. Current Actions
This information collection request concerns provisions for
Examinations and Testing of Electrical Equipment, Including
Examination, Testing, and Maintenance of High Voltage Longwalls. 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: 1219-0116.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 674.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Responses: 291,074.
Annual Burden Hours: 55,339 hours.
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $0.
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.
Roslyn B. Fontaine,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-15960 Filed 7-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P