Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Application for Waiver of Surface Facilities Requirements

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 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 Application for Waiver of Surface Facilities Requirements.

DATES:

All comments must be received by the Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before May 22, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Comments concerning the information collection requirements of this notice may be sent by any of the methods listed below. Please note that late, untimely filed comments will not be considered.

• Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket number MSHA-2022-0074.

• Mail/Hand Delivery: DOL-MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Before visiting MSHA in person, call 202-693-9455 to make an appointment, in keeping with the Department of Labor's COVID-19 policy. Special health precautions may be required.

• MSHA will post all comments 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:

S. Aromie Noe, Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at MSHA.information.collections@dol.gov (email); (202) 693-9440 (voice); or (202) 693-9441 (facsimile). These are not toll-free numbers.

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 and metal and nonmetal mines.

30 CFR 71.400 (Bathing facilities; change rooms; sanitary flush toilet facilities), 71.401 (Location of facilities), 71.402 (Minimum requirements for bathing facilities, change rooms, and sanitary flush toilet facilities) and 75.1712-1 (Availability of surface bathing facilities; change rooms; and sanitary facilities), 75.1712-2 (Location of surface facilities), 75.1712-3 (Minimum requirements of surface bathing facilities, change rooms, and sanitary toilet facilities) require coal mine operators to provide bathing facilities, clothing change rooms, and sanitary flush toilet facilities in a location that is convenient for use of the miners. If the operator is unable to meet any or all of the requirements, the operator may apply for a waiver. 71.403 (Waiver of surface facilities requirements; posting of waiver), 71.404 (Application for waiver of surface facilities requirements), 75.1712-4 (Waiver of surface facilities requirements), and 75.1712-5 (Application for waiver of surface facilities) provide procedures by which an operator may apply for and be granted a waiver. Applications must be submitted to the MSHA District Manager for the district in which the mine is located and must contain the name and address of the mine operator, name and location of the mine, and a detailed statement of the grounds on which the waiver is requested.

Waivers for surface mines may be granted by the District Manager for a period not to exceed 1 year. If the waiver is granted, surface mine operators may apply for annual extensions of the approved waiver. Waivers for underground mines may be granted by the District Manager for the period of time requested by the underground mine operator as long as the circumstances that were used to justify granting the waiver remain in effect. Waivers are not transferable to a successor coal mine operator.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection related to Application for Waiver of Surface Facilities Requirements. 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 https://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 DOL-MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 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. Before visiting MSHA in person, call 202-693-9455 to make an appointment, in keeping with the Department of Labor's COVID-19 policy. Special health precautions may be required.

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 request for collection of information contains provisions for Application for Waiver of Surface Facilities Requirements. 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: 1219-0024.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 186.

Frequency: On occasion.

Number of Responses: 186.

Annual Burden Hours: 74 hours.

Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $930.

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.