2020-13001. Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Escape and Evacuation Plans (OMB Control No. 1219-0046)

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 Escape and Evacuation Plans.

DATES:

All comments must be received on or before August 17, 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-2020-0020. 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 B. Fontaine, Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at [e-mail] (email); [phone] (voice); or [phone] (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 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.

Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 57.11053 requires the development of specific escape and evacuation plans that address the unique conditions of each underground metal and nonmetal mine. Section 57.11053 also requires that mine operators make revisions to the escape and evacuation plan for an underground metal and nonmetal mine as mining progresses. The plan must be available to representatives of MSHA and conspicuously posted at the mine at locations convenient to all persons on the surface and underground. The mine operator and MSHA are required to jointly review the plan at least once every 6 months.

The following information is required with each escape and evacuation plan submission:

(1) Mine maps or diagrams showing directions of principal air flow, location of escape routes, and locations of existing telephones, primary fans, primary fan controls, fire doors, ventilation doors, and refuge chambers;

(2) Procedures to show how the miners will be notified of an emergency;

(3) An escape plan for each working area in the mine, including instructions showing how each working area should be evacuated;

(4) A firefighting plan;

(5) Procedures for surface personnel to follow in an emergency, including the notification of proper authorities and the preparation of rescue equipment and other equipment which may be used in rescue and recovery operations; and

(6) A statement of the availability of emergency communication and transportation facilities, emergency power, and ventilation, and the location of rescue personnel and equipment.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection related to Escape and Evacuation Plans. 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 section of this notice from the previous collection of information.

III. Current Actions

This information collection request concerns provisions for Escape and Evacuation Plans. 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: 1219-0046.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 193.

Frequency: On occasion.

Number of Responses: 386.

Annual Burden Hours: 3,281 hours.

Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $1,930.

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.