[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58412-58413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23776]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Safety Standards
for Underground Coal Mine Ventilation--Belt Entry Used as an Intake Air
Course To Ventilate Working Sections and Areas Where Mechanized Mining
Equipment Is Being Installed or Removed
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 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 Safety Standards
for Underground Coal Mine Ventilation--Belt Entry Used as an Intake Air
Course to Ventilate Working Sections and Areas Where Mechanized Mining
Equipment is Being Installed or Removed.
DATES: All comments must be received on or before December 30, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements
of this notice may be sent by any of the methods listed below.
Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket
number MSHA-2019-0042.
Regular Mail: Send comments to USDOL-MSHA, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite
4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452.
Hand Delivery: USDOL--Mine Safety and Health
Administration, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, VA
22202-5452. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 4th floor via the
East elevator.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, 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
and metal and nonmetal mines.
MSHA allows operators to use air from a belt air course to
ventilate a working section, or an area where mechanized mining
equipment is being installed or removed, only under certain conditions.
The belt air use must be evaluated and approved by the district manager
in the mine ventilation plan and operators must follow a number of
other requirements that provide additional protection.
Section 75.350(b) requires that the mine operator must include in a
ventilation plan a justification that the use of air from a belt entry
would afford at least the same measure of protection as where belt
haulage entries are not used. The plan also must include information
regarding point feeds and regulators and designated areas for dust and
air velocity measurements.
Section 75.351(b)(3) and 75.351(b)(4) require a mine operator to
post a map or schematic, at a designated surface location, which shows
the locations and type of Atmospheric Monitoring System (AMS) sensors
at each location and the intended air flow direction at these
locations. This map or schematic must be updated within 24 hours of any
change in this information. Contact information for AMS and other
appropriate personnel also must be posted at this location.
Section 75.351(j) requires approval of the CO ambient levels, and
the means to determine those levels, in the mine ventilation plan.
Section 75.351(m) permits a mine to incorporate time delays into
the AMS,
[[Page 58413]]
or to use other methods for reducing non-fire alerts and alarm levels,
provided they are specified and approved in the mine ventilation plan.
Permission for such time delays, or other methods of reducing non-fire
alerts and alarms, would be granted based on associated documentation
that justifies these changes.
Sections 75.351(n)(2) and 75.351(n)(3) require that alarms for AMS
be tested every seven days and CO, smoke, or methane sensors be
calibrated, every 31 days, respectively.
Section 75.351(o)(1)(i) requires that a record be made if the AMS
emits an alert or alarm signal. The record would consist of the date,
time, location, and type of sensor, and the reason for its activation.
Section 75.351(o)(1)(ii) requires that, if an AMS malfunctions, a
record be made of the date, the extent and cause of the malfunction,
and the corrective action taken to return the system to proper
operating condition.
Section 75.351(o)(1)(iii) requires that the persons doing the
weekly test of alert and alarm signals, the monthly calibration, or
maintenance of the system make a record of these tests, calibrations,
or maintenance.
Section 75.351(o)(3) requires that all records concerning the AMS
be kept in a book or electronically in a computer system that is secure
and not susceptible to alteration.
Section 75.351(p) requires the mine operator to keep these records
for at least one year at a surface location and to make them available
for inspection by authorized representatives of the Secretary and
representatives of miners.
Section 75.351(q)(3) requires that a record of annual AMS operator
training be kept. The record will include the content of training, the
person conducting the training, and the date the training is conducted.
The record needs to be maintained at the mine site by the mine operator
for at least one year.
Sections 75.352(a), 75.352(b) and 75.352(c) require the designated
AMS operator or other appropriate personnel to notify, investigate, or
evacuate when malfunction, alert, or alarm signals are received.
Section 75.371(hh) requires reporting within the mine ventilation
plan of the ``ambient level in parts per million of carbon monoxide,
and the method for determining the ambient level, in all areas where
carbon monoxide sensors are installed.'' This provision is impacted by
section 75.351(j).
Section 75.371(kk) requires the locations where air quantities are
measured as set forth in section 75.350(b)(6) be included in the mine
ventilation plan.
Section 75.371(ll) requires the locations and use of point feed
regulators, in accordance with Sections 75.350(c) and 75.350(d)(5),to
be in the mine ventilation plan.
Section 75.371(mm) requires the location of any diesel-
discriminating sensor and additional carbon monoxide or smoke sensors
installed in the belt air course to be included in the mine ventilation
plan.
Sections 75.371(nn), 75.371(oo), and 75.371(pp) require
modification of the mine ventilation plan to show the length of the
time delay or any other method used for reducing the number of non-fire
related alert and alarm signals from CO sensors, the lower alert and
alarm setting for CO sensors, and the alternate instrument and the
alert and alarm levels associated with the instrument, respectively.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection related to Safety Standards for Underground Coal Mine
Ventilation--Belt Entry Used as an Intake Air Course to Ventilate
Working Sections and Areas Where Mechanized Mining Equipment is Being
Installed or Removed. 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 http://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 www.regulations.gov and www.reginfo.gov.
The public may also examine publicly available documents at USDOL--
Mine Safety and Health Administration, 201 12th South, Suite 4E401,
Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 4th
floor via the East elevator.
Questions about the information collection requirements may be
directed to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of
this notice.
III. Current Actions
This request for collection of information contains provisions for
Safety Standards for Underground Coal Mine Ventilation--Belt Entry Used
as an Intake Air Course to Ventilate Working Sections and Areas Where
Mechanized Mining Equipment is Being Installed or Removed. MSHA has
updated the data with respect to the number of respondents, responses,
burden hours, and burden costs supporting this information collection
request.
Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved
collection.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
OMB Number: 1219-0138.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 12.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Responses: 161.
Annual Burden Hours: 2,478 hours.
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $38,640.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a
matter of public record.
Sheila McConnell,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-23776 Filed 10-30-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P