2024-18184. Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Underground Retorts

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Department of Labor

Mine Safety and Health Administration

1. [OMB Control No. 1219-0096]

AGENCY:

Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION:

Request for public comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance request for comment 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 request 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. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments on the information collection entitled Underground Retorts.

DATES:

All comments must be received on or before October 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

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

• Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket number MSHA-2024-0013.
• Mail/Hand Delivery: DOL-MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, 4th Floor West, 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 athttps://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

S. Aromie Noe, Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at [e-mail] (email); [phone] (voice); or [phone] (facsimile). These are not toll-free numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended (Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes the Mine Safety and Health Administration (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(a), 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, metal, and nonmetal mines.

In order to fulfill the statutory mandates to promote miners' health and safety, MSHA requires the collection of information entitled Underground Retorts. The information collection addressed by this notice is intended to ensure that combustible gases at underground oil shale mines are kept at acceptable levels and do not expose miners to explosive or other hazardous conditions.

Title 30 CFR 57.22401 sets forth safety requirements for using a retort to extract oil from shale in underground metal and nonmetal I-A and I-B mines (mines that operate in a combustible ore and either liberate methane or have the potential to liberate methane based on the history of the mine or the geological area in which the mine is located). Prior to ignition of underground retorts, mine operators must submit a written ignition operation plan to the MSHA District Manager for the area where the mine is located. The ignition operation plan must contain site-specific safeguards and safety procedures for the underground areas of the mine which are affected by the retorts. The required contents listed in 30 CFR 57.22401(b) include:

(1) Acceptable levels of combustible gases and oxygen in retort off-gases during start-up and during burning; levels at which corrective action will be initiated; levels at which personnel will be removed from the retort areas, from the mine, and from endangered surface areas; and the conditions for reentering the mine;

(2) Specifications and locations of off-gas monitoring procedures and equipment;

(3) Specifications for construction of retort bulkheads and seals, and their locations;

(4) Procedures for ignition of a retort and for reignition following a shutdown; and

(5) Details of area monitoring and alarm systems for hazardous gases and ( print page 66454) actions to be taken to ensure safety of personnel.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection related to Underground Retorts. 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 https://www.regulations.gov and https://www.reginfo.gov.

The public may also examine publicly available documents at DOL-MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, 201 12th Street South, 4th Floor West, Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 4th Floor via the West 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 section of this notice.

III. Current Actions

This information collection request concerns provisions for Underground Retorts. MSHA has updated the data with respect to the number of respondents, responses, time burden, 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: 1219-0096.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Annual Respondents: 1.

Frequency: On occasion.

Number of Annual Responses: 1.

Annual Time Burden: 160 hours.

Annual Other Burden Costs: $0.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included 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 be available at https://www.reginfo.gov.

Song-ae Aromie Noe,

Certifying Officer, Mine Safety and Health Administration.