[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9375-9376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3594]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

[OMB Control No. 1219-0142]


Proposed Extension of Existing Information Collection; Sealing of 
Abandoned Areas

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration.

ACTION: Notice of 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 and continuing collections 
of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
[44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to assure 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 concerning the extension 
of the information collection for 30 CFR 75.335 Seal strengths, design 
applications, and installation; 75.336 Sampling and monitoring 
requirements; 75.337 Construction and repair of seals; and 75.338 
Training.

DATES: All comments must be received or postmarked by midnight Eastern 
Standard Time on April 18, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments must clearly be identified with the rule title and 
may be submitted to MSHA by any of the following methods:
    (1) Electronic mail: [email protected].
    (2) Facsimile: 202-693-9441.
    (3) Regular Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and 
Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, VA 22209-3939.
    (4) Hand Delivery or Courier: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, 
Arlington, VA 22209-3939. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 
21st floor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mario Distasio, Chief of the Economic 
Analysis Division, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 
MSHA, at [email protected] (e-mail), 202-693-9445 (voice mail), or 
202-693-9441 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Adequate seal design and construction and monitoring of the 
atmosphere behind seals are crucial requirements to prevent potentially 
explosive or toxic gases from migrating into the active working areas 
of underground coal mines. Seals must be designed to withstand elevated 
pressures from explosions, and the atmosphere behind the seal must be 
monitored to prevent methane from reaching the explosive range. Miners 
rely on seals to protect them from the hazardous and explosive 
atmosphere within the sealed area. Records collected under these 
standards help assure that the construction and maintenance of seals 
are done correctly; certified persons conducting sampling in sealed 
areas are adequately trained; and the sampling results are recorded. 
The respondents for the paperwork provisions of these standards are 
coal mine operators.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    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 the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
     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 the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of responses.
    A copy of the information collection request can be obtained by 
contacting the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section of this notice, or viewed on the Internet at http://www.msha.gov and by selecting FedReg. Docs under Rules & Regs on the 
right side of the screen. On the next screen, select Information 
Collection Requests to view documents supporting this Federal Register 
notice.

III. Current Actions

    This notice contains the request for an extension of the existing 
collection of information in 30 CFR 75.335 Seal strengths, design 
applications, and installation; 75.336 Sampling and monitoring 
requirements; 75.337 Construction and repair of seals; and 75.338 
Training. MSHA does not intend to publish the results from this 
information collection and is not seeking approval to either display or 
not display the expiration date for the OMB approval of this 
information collection.
    There are no certification exceptions identified with this 
information collection and the collection of this information does not 
employ statistical methods.
    Type of Review: Three-year update.
    Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
    OMB Number: 1219-0142.
    Frequency: As necessary.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Cost to Federal Government: Minimal cost because records are 
reviewed during the course of inspections.
    Total Burden Respondents: 361 per year.
    Total Number of Responses: 90,360 per year.
    Total Burden Hours: 9,057 hours.
    Total Hour Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $750,730 per year.
    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.


[[Page 9376]]


    Dated: February 11, 2011.
Roslyn B. Fontaine,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, 
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-3594 Filed 2-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P